Apple escalates Epic Games feud by blocking Fortnite app in EU

March 6 – Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, deepened its fight with Epic Games on Wednesday, preventing the Fortnite video game producer from opening its own online store on iPhones and iPads in Europe.
The two firms have been in a legal dispute since 2020, when the gaming company claimed that Apple’s practice of collecting up to 30% commissions on in-app payments on iPhone Operating System (iOS) devices violated US antitrust laws.
The latest assault from Epic comes as Apple grapples with concerns about sluggish demand for its iPhones in China, and its stock has down 12% this year, trailing its big tech peers in the US. Its stock remained basically unchanged on Wednesday.
Attempts by authorities and competitors like as Epic to open up rival marketplaces on Apple’s devices pose a significant threat to the Silicon Valley powerhouse’s profitability and control over its own ecosystem.