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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteEpic Games won an important round in its fight with Apple: on December 11, 2025, the Ninth Circuit upheld Apple’s civil contempt finding and left most of the court’s injunction in place. But the ruling did not settle the fee Apple may charge for purchases made after users follow links to outside payment options, and the Supreme Court later agreed to hear a limited part of Apple’s appeal. As of the Supreme Court docket’s September 21, 2026 entries, that case was still pending.
What Epic won in the Ninth Circuit
Epic sued Apple in 2020 over App Store rules for app distribution and transactions on iOS. The dispute continued after Apple allowed developers to link to outside payment options, subject to restrictions. Epic argued that Apple’s approach did not comply with the court’s injunction.
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
On December 11, 2025, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s civil contempt finding. It concluded the district court had not abused its discretion and that contempt was established by clear and convincing evidence. The appeals court modified parts of the district court’s April 30 order and sent part of the dispute back for further proceedings, but it did not vacate the injunction. The court’s conclusion said: “The Injunction and April 30 Order should otherwise remain in full effect.” Ninth Circuit opinion Opinion conclusion
What the ruling means for links and fees
Apple may set some rules for links
The Ninth Circuit said Apple may limit developers’ buttons and links to terms no more favorable than Apple’s own in prominence, and may apply general content standards. Those allowances concern presentation and content; they do not undo the contempt finding.
#1 Best Overall
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
The amount of any linked-purchase fee is unresolved
The appeals court remanded the commission issue for further work. Under its guidance, any fee must be tied to costs genuinely and reasonably necessary to coordinate outside links. Apple cannot charge a fee for security and privacy features it provides with its own in-app purchase system, and no fee on linked purchases may be charged until the district court approves an appropriate amount. Ninth Circuit guidance on fees
The figures that framed the earlier dispute are historical policy terms reported by Reuters: Apple charged 27% on certain purchases made through outside payment systems within seven days after a user clicked a link, compared with 30% for purchases made within the App Store. Those figures describe the policy at issue in that reporting; they are not the fee approved by the Ninth Circuit or a current court-approved rate. Reuters on the earlier policy
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Why the Supreme Court has not resolved the dispute
On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court granted Apple’s petition for review, limited to Question 1 presented in Apple’s petition. That grant means the Court will consider that specified question; it does not itself reverse the Ninth Circuit or decide the case’s merits.
Apple also sought temporary relief while appealing. The Supreme Court denied its request to block the contempt-related order on May 6, 2026, and later denied a stay request filed August 13, after briefly entering an administrative stay through that date. These were procedural decisions about pausing the order, not final judgments on Apple’s legal challenge. Apple filed its merits brief on September 14, 2026. The docket lists Epic’s response brief as due November 13, 2026, and its entries through September 21, 2026 show neither a final merits decision nor an argument date. Supreme Court docket, No. 25-1311 Docket entry on stay request Reuters on the May 2026 denial Docket status through September 21, 2026
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Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
What this means for app users and developers
For developers, the ruling preserves the ability to link users to outside payment options under the injunction, subject to the Ninth Circuit’s rules on presentation and content. It does not establish the final amount Apple may charge, if any, for purchases made after those links are used; that question awaits district-court proceedings and Supreme Court review of Apple’s limited appeal.
For users, the decision is not a blanket ruling that every purchase outside the App Store is cheaper, nor does it guarantee a particular price or payment experience in an app. The dispute concerns Apple’s rules and potential fees, not a court-set price for any individual purchase.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Key dates in the case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 11, 2025 | The Ninth Circuit affirmed the civil contempt finding, modified parts of the district court’s order, and remanded the fee issue. |
| May 6, 2026 | The Supreme Court denied Apple’s request to temporarily block the contempt-related order. |
| June 30, 2026 | The Supreme Court granted Apple’s petition, limited to Question 1 presented. |
| August 13, 2026 | The Supreme Court denied Apple’s stay request after an administrative stay through that date. |
| September 14, 2026 | Apple filed its merits brief. |
| November 13, 2026 | Epic’s response brief was listed as due on the Supreme Court docket. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
