Microsoft says Apple's Fortnite battle will hurt gaming industry

The tech giant is concerned that the conflict will harm its own gaming business

Fortnite creator Epic Games is involved in a dispute with Apple.

Microsoft has said that the removal of the company behind video game phenomenon Fortnite from Apple's app store will hurt its own gaming business as well as those of other game developers.

The tech giant made the assertion in a court filing on Sunday, following a dispute between Apple and Epic Games.

Apple removed Epic's titles from its App Store after the game maker violated the iPhone maker's in-app payment rules.

“Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services," Apple said in statement.

Epic has been defiant in the face of Apple's move to remove its titles and solicited support from its Twitter followers earlier this month:

Epic said that the iPhone maker has also threatened to cut off its access to Apple tools needed to maintain “Unreal Engine”, a software that many game developers license to create better graphics.

Microsoft said Apple's move would hurt its Forza Street game, which uses the engine for the iOS version.