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Epic direct payment on mobile

epicgames.com

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Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#51

Post by Hamuko »

hugey010 wrote: post #31
Hamuko wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not an issue that [insert digital good here] is cheaper on the seller's website than in the Apple App Store. What Apple prohibits you from is telling your client that the [insert digital good here] is available for purchase somewhere else or that there's a special kind of a markup on the App Store option.

I don't think that's entirely true. Apps can use SMS or open the OS browser to accept payments and not be in direct violation of the guidelines.

>Apps can use SMS or open the OS browser to accept payments and not be in direct violation of the guidelines.

Which apps are allowed to open the browser for payments? I don't think even Netflix isn't allowed to do it. They just say "You can't make an account in the app" (paraphrasing) on the sign in page.

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#52

Post by u10 »

chrismeller wrote: post #38
u10 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a monopolist they provide pretty compelling terms compared to Steam. If anything they are a healthy competitor to Steam, not only for developers but for consumers as well.

Isn’t that usually how monopolies start? They don’t lure you in with the slogan “you can only get it from us now”... The competition today is great, but they could easily become the next App Store tomorrow. I don’t personally have a problem with Apple taking a cut - they are doing work, after all, but I think it should be more along the lines of covering the transaction fees and less “we’re taking a third of your har…

The competition is broken, Steam still has a large majority of the marketshare, and they abuse it just like Apple does. Taking a cut is fine, but 30% margin is unconscionable and I applaud anyone that tries to break that paradigm.

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#53

Post by meheleventyone »

philliphaydon wrote: post #39
meheleventyone wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s the point right? It’s a direct swing at a topic Tim Sweeney has been very vocal about.

He’s only vocal because he wants to be valve. He plays his dirty to win market share.

I don’t think this benefits the Epic Store itself directly? And what’s wrong with a competitor to Steam?

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#56

Post by lacker »

cloudking wrote: post #47

Maybe the Apple cut is too high, but I don't think it's unreasonable for them to take some cut. They are providing the distribution platform to get your app to millions of users, it's not free for them to provide that service. They have their own server, bandwidth and employee costs too.

They forbid you from using any other distribution mechanism on their device, though. The only reason Apple has to pay for App Store overhead for every single app is because Apple mandated it that way.

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#57

Post by uncoder0 »

SuperTachyon wrote: post #50

Epic is conveying that the 30% cut on App Store was raising the prices. But Xbox and PlayStation has the same cut, yet Epic has lower pricing on these platforms.

Are you sure Epic hasn't negotiated some sort of deal with Xbox and playstation to lower the cut to a more reasonable rate given their volume of transactions.

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#58

Post by speedgoose »

cloudking wrote: post #47

Maybe the Apple cut is too high, but I don't think it's unreasonable for them to take some cut. They are providing the distribution platform to get your app to millions of users, it's not free for them to provide that service. They have their own server, bandwidth and employee costs too.

What about billing this cost plus some margin to the app developers instead of taking a cut on everything?

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#59

Post by jamil7 »

mcny wrote: post #43
dgellow wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It looks clearly as if Epic remotely activated this direct payment option, thereby bypassing Apple's App Review. Is that against Apple's store terms? Because that's a common feature of ReactNative based app, you can update them by deploying new JS files without having to pass by a new app store release.

> Is that against Apple's store terms? Because that's a common feature of ReactNative based app, you can update them by deploying new JS files without having to pass by the a new app store release. I think the point of contention is not that people can add new content without a full app store review. Any app that can access the Internet can do that[see rant below]. The point of contention is whether a direct payment…

I've never made any real money from my apps so I can't comment too much but something similar was discussed on ATP podcast fairly recently, I think this approach would go a really long way to solving 90% of iOS developers current frustrations with the appstore.

Re: Epic direct payment on mobile

#60

Post by zacwest »

hugey010 wrote: post #24

Per the App Store Review guidelines: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#una... If payment is taken IN the app, not using Apple Pay, and not to an approved non-profit, it's in direct violation and should be removed. I've had to update multiple apps that took donations, in order to pay for development work, and Apple absolutely won't let that fly anymore. On Apple's behalf, this unacceptable, ille…

Unless you're Amazon, in which case you're absolutely allowed to sell digital goods (e.g. movies, TV shows) without using In-App Purchases. The rules are unfairly applied.
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