Apple drops Fortnite from App Store over direct payment plan

Apple has dropped hugely popular Fortnite game from its App Store after game's developer introduced a direct payment plan that bypasses Apple's platform.

Apple takes a 30% cut from in-app revenue purchases, which has long been a sore spot with developers.

Fortnite is free, but users can pay for in game accoutrements like weapons and skins. Its developer, Epic Games, said in a blog post Thursday that it was introducing Epic Direct payments, a direct payment plan for Apple's iOS and Google Play. Epic said system is same payment system it already uses to process payments on PC and Mac computers and Android phones.

Apple said service violated its guidelines. Google did t immediately return a request for comment.

“Epic enabled a feature in its app which was t reviewed or approved by Apple, and y did so with express intent of violating App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services," Apple said in statement.

Apple added that Epic has had apps on App Store for a decade and benefited from its tools, testing and distribution. It said it was working with Epic to resolve violations and return Fortnite to app store.

Epic Games did t immediately return a request for comment. Epic's Fortnite Twitter account said company would debut a new short film called “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite," a seeming parody of Apple's iconic “1984" commercial that introduced Macintosh computer. It has also filed a complaint against Apple in U.S. District Court in rr California for dropping Fortnite.