CARY — Epic Games says Apple’s counter claim contained a bunch of “‘half-truths and outright falsities intended to paint Epic as a bad actor.”

In a 184-page reply filed on Friday evening to Apple’s 37-page opposition brief, the Cary-based game developer maintained the only goal of its preliminary injunction is to “offer consumers an alternative payment processing service that allows consumer choice and lower prices while this litigation proceeds without retaliation.”

It also claimed that Apple’s latest filing seeks to avoid the real issues at the core of the App Store dispute.

“Apple’s papers try to make this dispute about Apple’s innovative products, rather than Apple’s practices,” Epic wrote in its reply. “Many monopolists start with extraordinary products, yet courts have to step in if they use their power to stifle competition.”

Earlier this month, Apple counter-sued Epic Games, accusing the maker of the popular online video game Fortnite of stealing the 30% commissions the iPhone maker takes from app developers.

In a court filing, Apple accused Epic of “self-help and subterfuge” as it embarked on a plan of alleged “commission-theft” by including a workaround in Fortnite that gave players a discount on in-game currency if they paid Epic directly.

Epic is seeking relief from an Apple ban on Fortnite.  A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

The legal war erupted last month when Apple banned Epic for what it calls a “hotfix” that enabled players to make in-game purchases while avoiding Apple’s fees. Apple has said Epic was “no Robin Hood.”

Apple blasts Epic Games, says Fortnite publisher is hardly a ‘Robin Hood’