Fortnite: How to Play on iOS With NVIDIA GeForce Now

Fortnite has once again found its way back to iOS devices, but this time it's not through the App Store; players can use Nvidia GeForce Now instead.

In an unforeseen turn of events, Fortnite has returned to iPhone and other iOS devices, but not through the app store. Back in August 2020, Apple kicked Epic Games off of the App store over a Fortnite legal battle that alleged Epic Games broke Apple's terms of service by circumventing Apple fees when selling Fortnites' in-game currency, V-Bucks. Now, iPhone and iPad users can play Fortnite using Nvidia's GeForce Now service, which is launching a Fortnite closed beta later next week.

GeForce Now is a game streaming service that streams games off high-end PC rigs. There's a free membership option that allows one-hour sessions of gameplay streamed from a basic PC rig. Then, there's Priority membership, which allows up to six-hour sessions of streamed gameplay from a high-end, RTX-enabled PC rig for $100 a year. Finally, there's the RTX 3080 membership, which allows eight hours of gameplay at a time, streamed off an RTX 3080 rig, for $200 a year. Fortnite's return to iOS is only available through GeForce Now and any of these membership options.

The Fortnite that will be running via GeForce Now's closed beta is the mobile version of the game, which is optimized for touch controls as well as other third-party gamepad devices. This makes Fortnite the only game in GeForce Now's catalog with a dedicated mobile version. All other games on the streaming service must be played with some kind of gamepad in order to work, which makes Fortnite far more accessible than the rest of the services offered so far. The beta will only run for a limited time and is expected to begin this Thursday, January 20, so players will have to act fast if they want to use Spider-Man's Web-Shooters on the go.

Fortnite: How To Play On IOS With NVIDIA GeForce Now

In order to play Fortnite on iOS devices, players will have to be a GeForce Now member and sign up for the closed beta. Once the Closed Beta begins, players should follow these steps to set up their game:

1. Register or sign in to GeForce Now. Players do not need a paid membership to participate.

2. Sign up for the Fortnite closed beta.

Wait for the beta to start rolling out on January 20.

3. Once the beta begins, players will be able to load Fortnite on GeForce Now in the mobile Safari browser and play the game.

Fortnite mobile has somehow found its way back on iOS devices, and while it may not be the most convenient way to access the game, it is back nonetheless. Though the beta is closed, everyone who signs up should be granted access in the weeks after the beta begins. Players should be prepared to wait a bit for entry. Fortnite's return to iOS comes just in time for the return of the iconic Tilted Towers location, so returning iOS players should expect much of the lobby to land there.