The battle between Apple and Fortnite developer Epic Games continued today as Epic said Apple was threatening to terminate its Apple Developer Accounts. Now Apple has responded.

Apple said tonight that it "won't make an exception" for Epic Games with regard to its rules about in-app purchases using Apple's system. "The problem that Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers."

Apple also said that Epic has been one of the most successful developers in the App Store and that it wants to keep both Epic and its apps around.

Here's Apple's full statement to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman:

"The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for users and a great business opportunity for all developers. Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store, growing into a multibillion dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers around the world. We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store. The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers. We won't make an exception for Epic because we don't think it's right to put their business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect our customers."

This situation started when Epic inserted a new "Epic direct payment" option into the iOS version of Fortnite, allowing users to pay Epic directly for in-game currency rather than use Apple's payment method, which would give Apple a 30% cut. Players who chose the "Epic direct payment" would also get a 20% discount compared to the Apple payment option.

Hours after this feature was discovered, Apple pulled Fortnite from the App Store, and Epic responded by filing a lawsuit against Apple and releasing a parody of Apple's 1984 ad. Google also pulled Fortnite from the Google Play Store for Android and Epic followed up by suing Google as well.

Now Epic says that Apple has threatened to terminate its Apple Developer Account by August 28. Today Epic asked a court to block Apple from terminating its Apple Developer Account and to prevent Apple from removing ot refusing to list Fortnite in the App Store.