Fortnite hasn’t been obtainable on iOS since Apple yanked it from the App Store in August 2020, however I’ve been in a position to play it on my iPhone as soon as once more due to a closed beta on Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. While it’s not fairly as seamless an expertise as utilizing a local app, this GeForce Now loophole works rather a lot higher than I anticipated.

With this closed beta, you’ll be taking part in a mobile-optimized model of the sport. If you’ve tried Fortnite on iOS or Android earlier than, the format ought to really feel acquainted — the expertise is well-designed for contact, with easy-to-navigate menus and huge (although finicky) onscreen controls. This GeForce Now model additionally helps controllers, and I’ve performed most matches with my iPhone plugged into my Backbone One.

The recreation feels as responsive as if I used to be taking part in on my Nintendo Switch or on my PS5, and I haven’t had any points with latency. Your mileage could fluctuate primarily based in your web connection, after all, and perhaps I’ve simply had a string of excellent luck. But I by no means felt like the actual fact it was streaming from the cloud hindered my capacity to maintain up in an intense firefight. Frankly, my largest grievance with taking part in Fortnite on GeForce Now on my iPhone is that the display feels too small, and that’s in all probability as a result of I’m utilizing an iPhone 12 Mini, which I can’t fault the streaming service for.

Until Apple permits the native Fortnite app again on the App Store, Nvidia and Epic Games have made a superb workaround. My solely different GeForce Now expertise was with Inscryption, and whereas that was additionally very easy, the turn-based card mechanics of that recreation don’t require any twitchy actions that may very well be affected by lag. Fortnite is rather more action-heavy, requiring quick reflexes and fast pondering, however this touch-optimized model of the sport I’ve streamed from GeForce Now performs as if it was put in on my cellphone.

That stated, it’s unclear when this GeForce Now model could be obtainable extra broadly. You need to request entry to the closed beta, and admission isn’t assured, Nvidia says on its web site. The beta can be solely working for a obscure “limited time.” But when you’ve been wanting to leap onto the newly flipped Fortnite island in your iPhone, you may want to enroll in the closed beta. Sure, you may need to attend some time till you possibly can test it out, however you’ll virtually definitely be ready longer for the native app to come back again to the App Store.