STOCKHOLM, May 16 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) has blocked

the "Fortnite" video game on its iPhones in the United States

and through the game maker's own store in the European Union,

its maker Epic Games said on Friday.

Access to Fortnite via Apple's ( AAPL ) iPhone Operating System and

through its App store will be unavailable worldwide until Apple ( AAPL )

unblocks it, Epic Games said.

Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to a request for comment

and Epic Games did not give a reason why Fortnite had been

blocked.

Epic, a U.S.-based studio, backed by China's Tencent ( TCTZF )

, is the world's largest game studio. It was launched

in 2017 and its last-player-standing, "battle royale" format

became an instant hit, drawing millions of players.

Since 2020, however, it has been in a legal battle with

Apple ( AAPL ), after the gaming firm alleged that Apple's ( AAPL ) practice of

charging up to 30% in commission on in-app payments violated

U.S. antitrust rules.

Apple ( AAPL ) banned Fortnite from its store in 2020 but allowed the

game back last year following pressure from European Union

authorities for Big Tech companies to comply with the bloc's

Digital Markets Act.

Last year, it also approved Epic Games' games marketplace

app on iPhones and iPads in Europe.

Epic Games also won a case against Apple ( AAPL ) earlier this month.