Apple has terminated the Epic Games developer account on the App Store

Apple has terminated the Epic Games developer account on the App Store.

It means the Fortnite maker can no longer submit new apps or updates to Apple’s digital distribution platform.

The move is the latest strike in an escalating battle between the two companies, which began earlier this month after Epic moved to circumvent Apple’s platform fees with a new direct payment option, leading to Fortnite’s removal from the App Store.

Other Epic Games titles including Battle Breakers and Infinity Blade Stickers have also been removed from the App Store following the termination of the company’s developer account.

Apple had also wanted to close the developer account of Epic International, a separate account tied to Epic’s Unreal Engine used by third-party developers, but a judge issued a temporary restraining order stopping it from doing so.

In a statement (via Mac Rumours), Apple said: “We are disappointed that we have had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store. We have worked with the team at Epic Games for many years on their launches and releases.

“The court recommended that Epic comply with the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward, guidelines they’ve followed for the past decade until they created this situation. Epic has refused.

“Instead they repeatedly submit Fortnite updates designed to violate the guidelines of the App Store. This is not fair to all other developers on the App Store and is putting customers in the middle of their fight.

“We hope that we can work together again in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.”

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney responded to Apple’s statement on Twitter.

While Fortnite is still playable on iPhone and iPad for those who downloaded it prior to its App Store removal, Epic can no longer update the game, meaning the iOS version doesn’t offer the newly launched, Marvel-themed Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 4.

Further Reading

Epic’s ‘final’ Fortnite iOS update adds a lawsuit parody character

Tart Tycoon added as cross-play is removed