BRUSSELS, March 7 (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry

Breton on Thursday warned large online platforms against

threatening developers, saying he would look into Apple's ( AAPL )

move to prevent Fortnite video-game maker Epic Games

from launching its own online marketplace on iPhones and iPads

in Europe as a matter of priority.

The iPhone maker on Wednesday terminated a new developer

account created by Epic in Sweden in an attempt to put Fortnite

and other games back on iPhones in Europe by running its own

game store on Apple's ( AAPL ) devices. It cited Epic's past breaches of

contract in the long-running legal dispute.

Epic Games had sought to take advantage of landmark EU rules

known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which kick in on Thursday

and require Apple ( AAPL ) to open up its closed eco-system to rivals.

Breton criticised Apple's ( AAPL ) decision.

"Under the #DMA, there is no room for threats by gatekeepers

to silence developers. I have asked our services to look into

Apple's ( AAPL ) termination of Epic's developer account as a matter of

priority," he said on X social media platform.

The European Commission had earlier on Thursday said it had

asked Apple ( AAPL ) to explain its actions under the DMA.

The EU executive will also evaluate whether Apple's ( AAPL )

actions comply with the DSA (Digital Services Act) and the P2B

(Platform to Business Regulation), "given the links between the

developer programme membership and the App store as designated

VLOP (very large online platform)".

Under the DSA, decisions suspending or terminating accounts

have to be proportionate and with due regard to fundamental

rights while the P2B requires a platform to notify a business

user when terms and conditions are changed and before an account

is closed.

Apple ( AAPL ) reiterated its rights on Thursday.

"Epic's egregious breach of its contractual obligations to

Apple ( AAPL ) led courts to determine that Apple ( AAPL ) has the right to

terminate 'any or all of Epic Games' wholly owned subsidiaries,

affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games' control at

any time and at Apple's ( AAPL ) sole discretion'," an Apple ( AAPL ) spokesperson

said.

"In light of Epic's past and ongoing behaviour, Apple ( AAPL ) chose

to exercise that right."

Epic on Wednesday said Apple ( AAPL ) was removing one of the largest

potential competitors to the Apple App Store.