Apple Blocks Steam

Apple has blocked the plans of the biggest distributor

of PC-based video games to extend its reach into

iPhones, according to the game distributor, a sign that

Apple is serious about protecting its ability to take a cut

of digital purchases made inside games on its mobile

devices.

Steam, the dominant online store for downloaded games

played on Windows PCs, had planned to release a free

mobile phone app called Steam Link so that gamers could

continue playing on their mobile phones while away from

their desktop machines. But Apple has rejected the app,

blocking its release, according to a statement from Steam’s

parent company, the Bellevue, Washington-based Valve

Corp.

“The team here spent many hours on this project and the

approval process, so we’re clearly disappointed,” Valve

spokesman Doug Lombardi said in a statement to Reuters.

“But we hope Apple will reconsider in the future.”