Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

developer.apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 365 posts

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#11

Post by dartharva »

JustExAWS wrote: post #10
dartharva wrote: post #5

In the same article: 3.1.1 In-App Purchase: If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, cryptocurrencies and cr…

You’ll have to excuse me for not mourning for game developers having to pay 30% for purchases of loot boxes and other pay to win mechanics. It came out in the original Epic trial that this is where 90% of in app revenue comes from.

What about the freemium model that is standard in the industry? Not everything is games.

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#13

Post by fkyoureadthedoc »

dartharva wrote: post #5

In the same article: 3.1.1 In-App Purchase: If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, cryptocurrencies and cr…

Why not? I'd personally never go somewhere else to pay for your subscription or content. Maybe if you were a big time player that didn't have an appealing alternative, like Netflix. But for the average app, like Planta or Breethe, I'm just switching to an app that has an in app purchase if yours doesn't.

Semi-related, but I also always pick an app that has family sharing of subscription over one that doesn't too (Headspace --> Breethe)

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#14

Post by swiftcoder »

dartharva wrote: post #11
JustExAWS wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’ll have to excuse me for not mourning for game developers having to pay 30% for purchases of loot boxes and other pay to win mechanics. It came out in the original Epic trial that this is where 90% of in app revenue comes from.

What about the freemium model that is standard in the industry? Not everything is games.

You mean the model that has shifted to where apps that used to be a single $10 unlock, now have a recurring subscription of $24.99/month?

Personally unclear how much less predatory the shift to subscriptions for trivial feature unlocks is than loot boxes...

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#15

Post by JustExAWS »

dartharva wrote: post #11
JustExAWS wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’ll have to excuse me for not mourning for game developers having to pay 30% for purchases of loot boxes and other pay to win mechanics. It came out in the original Epic trial that this is where 90% of in app revenue comes from.

What about the freemium model that is standard in the industry? Not everything is games.

If you’re an Indy developer making less than 1 million a year, you are paying 15%. Is it really not worth 15% (where if your product has value you should be able to charge enough to make up the difference) for credit card processing (3%-4%) and distribution?

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#16

Post by ocdtrekkie »

netdevphoenix wrote: post #9

I don't get it. Why is Apple changing this in the US now? Is it because the allegation of them lying under oath and being subjected to a criminal review? If so, how does this change absolves them or minimises their fate during the upcoming criminal trial against them?

The injunction prohibits them from restricting outside purchases in any way.

Re: Apple App Store guidelines remove ban on encouraging external payments in US

#19

Post by hnlmorg »

revskill wrote: post #6

Apple store needs to die. We have the web.

Ironically the App Store only exists because of the ridicule Apple received when they announced their new smartphone which then only supported 3rd party applications as web apps. Back then, native apps were considered a “must have” feature for smartphones.

How times have changed.

Post reply on HN