'We did not take any...': Apple denies blocking Fortnite on iPhones in Europe

Apple has refuted claims by Fortnite maker-Epic Games that it is obstructing access to the popular game Fortnite, asserting that it did not block the game's release on alternative distribution platforms in the European Union (EU), a report has said. The statement comes hours after the game company's 'blocking' claims.As per Bloomberg, Apple has asked the game company’s European division, Epic Sweden, to “resubmit the app update without including the US storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies.""We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces,” it added.Earlier on Friday, Epic Games stated on its X account that Apple had "blocked" its latest Fortnite app submission, preventing its release in the US and on the Epic Games Store within the EU. The game developer further claimed, "Fortnite on iOS will be offline until Apple unblocks it."“Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” it said.The latest exchange marks another skirmish in the ongoing dispute between the two companies over Apple's control of app distribution and revenue.The legal battle began in 2020 over Apple's App Store policies. Apple blocked Fortnite on the App Store after it tried to circumvent Apple's payments route. After years of battle, Fortnite returned to the EU via the Epic Games Store but its status on iOS in the US remains unresolved.