Apple recently announced changes it is making to the App Store to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) which will come into full effect on March 7. denounced his plans and requirements for alternative app stores, with Spotify calling the changes a “total farce.” Microsoft's Xbox is one of the latest companies to speak out against Apple's compliance plans. In response to a post on X from Spotify CEO Daniel Ek talking about the changes at Apple, Xbox President Sarah Bond said The company's new policy is “a step in the wrong direction” and it hopes it will listen to feedback to create a “more inclusive future for all.”
We believe that constructive conversations lead to change and progress towards open platforms and greater competition. Apple's new policy is going in the wrong direction. We hope they will listen to feedback on the proposed plan and work toward a more inclusive future for all. https://t.co/mDRI5KPJf6
– BondSarahBond (@BondSarah_Bond) January 29, 2024
Under DMA rules, platform owners like Apple and Google need to open their systems to competing app stores. Apple, however, requires that these alternative application stores have strict rules and moderation tools comparable to its own. Their operators will also need to be able to prove they have access to a minimum amount of around $1.1 million in credit that they can use to pay developers. Apple also imposed a new rule on developers, requiring them to pay a base technology fee of €0.50 (about 54 cents) per installation once an app reaches a threshold of one million downloads for the year. This rule applies whether the application is distributed through the Apple App Store or through an alternative market.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said Apple's plan “is yet another sneaky example of malicious compliance.” He added that Apple is essentially forcing developers to choose between App Store exclusivity and a new “also illegal anti-competitive system, riddled with new, unwanted fees on downloads,” as well as new taxes on payments that The company does not process itself. The App Store is a huge business for Apple, which takes a 15-30% commission on developers' revenue. For fiscal 2022, for example, Apple said the App Store ecosystem “ease $1.1 trillion in billings and sales for developers. »
Epic drawn Fortnite from the App Store in 2020 after willfully violating its rules and offering discounts to players making purchases outside of Apple's ecosystem. The developer recently announcement that it brings Fortnite returning to the iPhone and iPad in Europe this year after the entry into force of the DMA and the launch of its own store for iOS. Spotify, which has also been a vocal critic of Apple, plans to launch its own in-app payment system also for iOS users in Europe.
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