This Week in Apps: Unreal Engine saved, Fortnite banned and TikTok talks to everyone

In 2019, mobile-first companies had a combined $544 billion valuation, 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus.In this series, we help you keep up with the latest news from the world of apps, delivered on a weekly basis.This week, two big stories dominated the news: Apple’s fight with Fortnite maker Epic Games and TikTok’s negotiations with top U.S. tech firms over a sale. Yes, Walmart!One has to wonder if the TikTok that emerges from an acquisition like this will even be the TikTok that people today love to use, what with all these new corporate synergies that come into play.Apple gets petty in fight with Epic GamesImage credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesImage credit: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesSorry, Apple, but this is not a good look.On Friday, the $2 trillion company took its battle with Fortnite maker Epic Games to a whole new level of petty. Just as Fortnite for iOS and Mac was officially blocked from being able to issue updates for its apps, Apple featured Fortnite top competitor PUBG Mobile in the App Store in an editorial story on the Today tab. Being featured on the App Store drives downloads for an app, which helps an app find new users and reconnect with existing ones.Apple made its point, but it sure was an ugly way to do it.In a surprise move, Microsoft came out in support of Epic Games this week. And when Facebook complains that Apple wouldn’t allow its gaming app into the store, or when it rejected Facebook’s app for informing users of Apple’s 30% cut, it’s easy enough to shrug and move on. In Jobs’ own words: “Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing.”How times have changed.TikTok nears U.S. deal and loses CEO (Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)(Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)TikTok is busy.