Tag Archives: app store

Over the past few months, new international laws and external pressure has forced Apple’s hand into relaxing many of its rules surrounding iOS and the Apple App Store. Between the addition of cloud streaming apps and the promised arrival of the Epic Games Store later this year, the iPhone creator has now started to allow game emulators to be added to the iOS App Store.

When the iPhone launched with its App Store all those years ago, the software industry shifted from a buy-once business model towards ‘free to play', offering up apps for free, with monetisation coming through microtransactions and advertising. Nowadays, the popularity of free apps on mobile vastly outweighs paid-for apps. With …

All the way back in 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from its iOS App Store in response to efforts by Epic to circumvent the company’s store fees. 3 and a half years later and the ever-popular battle royale game is finally returning to the iPhone “later this year.” Apple recently updated …

Over the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of game streaming services, including but not limited to Microsoft’s xCloud and Nvidia’s GeForce Now. Unfortunately, Apple has for years stood in the way of these services coming to its iOS platform – until now. Making the …

Last year, the EU announced law changes that will force Google and Apple to allow third-party stores on iOS and Android devices. Now, it looks like Microsoft is preparing to capitalise on this opportunity with its own mobile Xbox store.  In an interview with the Financial Times this week, Xbox …

Since the iPhone's inception, Apple has taken a ‘walled garden' approach to iOS, blocking methods for side-loading content and banning third-party app stores. However, due to changes to EU law, Apple is now forced to rethink this approach and is reportedly preparing to allow third-party app stores on iOS for …

Currently, Apple and Google have rules in place to force developers to use their own first-party App Store and Play Store payment systems. This is something that developers have been protesting in recent years, sparking further scrutiny from regulators. Last year, South Korea passed a bill to force Apple (and …

At this point, it is well established that Diablo Immortal has one of the greediest gacha systems we've seen in a mobile game to date. Still, the controversy didn't scare off those who can afford to drop piles of cash on mobile games. In the two weeks since launch, Diablo …

Apple is making some controversial changes to its App Store this year. Moving forward, any app that hasn't been updated for a certain amount of time will be automatically removed from the store, which is causing a panic amongst some indie game developers.  As part of Apple's new App Store …

Despite supply chain struggles and slower production lines, Apple managed to make record amounts of revenue in Q4 2021, bringing in a whopping $123.9 billion, beating out even the highest estimations. As you would expect, this revenue surge was largely driven by iPhone sales, expanding Apple's reach to 1.8 billion …

Each year, thousands of apps release on the iOS App Store, garnering hundreds of millions of downloads across the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV user base. As 2021 comes to a close, Apple has revealed the top apps on the App Store in 2021, focusing primarily on games that …

Last month, Apple officially appealed the ruling in the Epic Games v Apple lawsuit, despite winning nine out of ten claims. The one claim Apple lost would force the company to change its rules for developers linking to other payment methods for in-app content. Apple was hoping to have the …

Apple is making some more changes to its app rules in 2022. Starting early next year, developers that allow for account creation in iOS, iPadOS or macOS apps must also offer a way to delete the account.  Apple announced this week that this new rule will come into effect on …

Over the weekend, a US judge ruled on the Epic v Apple lawsuit, with Epic Games winning one of its ten claims. The ruling does not force Apple to allow Epic Games back on to the App Store, or reinstate Fortnite on iOS and as a result, Epic will be …

Earlier this month, South Korea passed a new law to force platform holders like Apple and Google to allow developers to use third-party payment systems within their mobile apps. Epic Games is now hoping to use this law to get Fortnite back on iOS, even if it does end up …

Currently, Apple and Google have rules in place to force developers to use their own first-party App Store and Play Store payment systems. This is something that developers have been protesting recently, sparking further scrutiny from regulators and anti-trust organisations. Now, South Korea has passed a bill to address this …

Companies often adjust the prices of their storefront items based on the current exchange rates, with almost all digital stores offering regional pricing differences. In an unexpected twist, the prices for Apple’s App Store will be dropping across the board in the UK, giving iPhone owners better value for money. …

With Epic and Apple seemingly far from settling their legal dispute, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has come out siding with Epic, stating that Apple App Store fees are essentially a “global tax on the Internet”. The dispute between Apple and Epic started almost a year ago when Apple removed Fortnite …

As we all know, currently Apple is under fire on several fronts for ‘anti-competitive' practices with its iOS App Store policies. Apple is already dealing with a lawsuit from Epic Games, an antitrust case from the EU and now, we can add a UK class-action lawsuit to the list as …

Ever since the launch of the iOS App Store, Apple has taken a 30 percent revenue cut from developers. Now known as the ‘Apple Tax', Epic Games is attempting to challenge this revenue split in court. As it turns out, executives within Apple had their doubts that they would be …

The European Commission has launched several antitrust investigations against Apple over the years, including a big investigation over iOS App Store policies and Apple's 30 percent revenue cut. Now, Apple will reportedly face antitrust charges in the EU later this week.  According to Financial Times (via The Verge), the European …

March has been a big month for Crash Bandicoot, not only have we seen Crash Bandicoot 4 launch for next-gen consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC, but a mobile spin-off has also come out, which garnered over 8 million downloads on its first day.  Crash Bandicoot: On the Run launched on …

Back in 2015, Personalised Media Communications (PMC) accused Apple of infringing on seven of its patents. After years of back and forth legal filings, a judge has finally ruled on the case, ordering Apple to pay $308.5 million in damages.  Out of the seven patents, a jury found that Apple …

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has also decided to investigate Apple over anti-competitive business practices. Apple has been accused of violating anti-trust rules a number of times, but things have picked up considerably since Epic Games' legal assault, filing lawsuits and official complaints across the world. The UK's competition …

As we all know, Epic Games is fighting Apple over its iOS App Store policies across many fronts, from lawsuits in multiple countries to official antitrust complaints with regulators. In its efforts to defend itself, Apple attempted to drag Valve into the fight, delivering a subpoena back in late 2020.  …

A large chunk of Apple's annual income comes from the App Store, whether it be on iOS, iPadOS or Mac. In 2020, with many people stuck at home due to COVID-19 lockdowns, Apple's software storefront did better than ever, bringing in $64 billion.  According to analysts at CNBC, Apple's App …

Recently, Apple announced its intentions to reduce its App Store commissions from 30% to 15% to developers who make under $1 million in annual revenue via its store. This new ‘Small Business Program’ is now live, with developers being able to enroll onto the program – though Epic Games is …

We're all well aware of Apple's usual iOS App Store revenue cut, which has been the centre of plenty of legal complaints in recent years. This week, Apple is reassessing its position, halving its revenue cut for smaller app developers.  Starting on January 1st 2021, Apple is introducing the App …

One of the biggest stories of 2020 has been Epic Games' sudden war with Apple and its iOS app store practices, resulting in Fortnite being booted from the App Store. A big lawsuit has been brewing ever since, but there is going to be a bit of a break on …

Last week, Microsoft officially scrapped plans for xCloud streaming on iOS, citing Apple's tight App Store rules as a result. Apple didn't deny this and in fact backed this up by saying that its store does not allow for streaming services like xCloud, GeForce Now etc on its platform. Sure …