Tag: App Store

App Store Connect API 3.0 adds support for Game Center content management, pre-orders by regions, export compliance information.

Apple Developer:

• App Store Connect API 3.0
• App Store Connect API 3.0 release notes

Apple now allows to pick specific regions to support pre-orders for apps and games. Release dates now could be set separately as well.

Offering your app or game for pre-order is a great way to build awareness and excitement for your upcoming releases on the App Store. And now you can offer pre-orders on a regional basis. People can pre-order your app in a set of regions that you choose, even while it’s available for download in other regions at the same time. With this new flexibility, you can expand your app to new regions by offering it for pre-order and set different release dates for each region.

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: Pre-orders by region now available

Apple starts accepting App Store application for iOS/iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17. Apps should be built with Xcode 15 Release Candidate.

Xcode 15 release is expected on September 18 together with OS releases.

Starting in April 2024, apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 15 and the iOS 17 SDK, tvOS 17 SDK, or watchOS 10 SDK (or later).

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: App Store submissions now open for the latest OS releases

EU Digital Markets Act discloses gatekeepers. Those include iOS and App Store.

As of now Apple tries to limit effect of DMA to iMessage claiming that it has small marketshare to be governed by this law.

References:

• Digital Markets Act antitrust law does include App Store, as Apple fights on iMessage
• Apple's App Store, Safari, and iOS Officially Designated 'Gatekeepers' in EU

New China law requires mobile application developers to file business details in order to distribute apps in China application stores.

Android applications stores started implementing required changes. Apple App Store apparently already supports all the requirements.

References:

• Android app stores comply with latest China law; Apple appears to have taken no action

Appfigures reports that overall app downloads are decreasing. Revenue index though is increasing according to the same report.

Appfigures: Are Your Downloads Down? You're Not the Only One...

Reference: Developers are making more money despite declining App Store downloads

Apple announces that App Store for Vision Pro will be available for developers this fall. It will include dedicated visionOS apps as well as compatible iOS and iPadOS applications.

Developers and publishes might need to check UIRequireDeviceCapabilities and verify app availability in App Store Connect.

By default, your iPad and/or iPhone apps will be published automatically on the App Store on Apple Vision Pro. Most frameworks available in iPadOS and iOS are also included in visionOS, which means nearly all iPad and iPhone apps can run on visionOS, unmodified. Customers will be able to use your apps on visionOS early next year when Apple Vision Pro becomes available.

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: Take your iPad and iPhone apps even further on Apple Vision Pro

References:

• Beta Version of visionOS App Store to Be Available to Developers This Fall
• Details About the Apple Vision Pro App Store Announced
• App Store launching on visionOS for developers later this year

Setapp is approaching developers to participate in alternate App Store which it expects it will be able to run following Digital Millennium Act (DMA) approval in EU.

While it is still not clear, if Apple will have to follow DMA rules on opening platform for alternate App Stores, companies are now trying to get developers onboard.

Setapp promises 90% revenue share with developers. Apple pays 85% to developers eligible for App Store Small Business program (developer should make less than $1 million on App Store sales) while also providing access to all world markets.

Setapp: Grow your app with Setapp

Reference: Setapp readies alt app store for iPhone, entices devs with up to 90% revenue share

Apple responds to App Danger Project analysis by removing offending applications from App Store.

App Danger Project reports on applications that have reviews indicating dangers to child safety.

The App Danger Project

Reference: Apple removed 10 apps from App Store after being flagged by App Danger Project AI tool

Speculations arise that China government will require application developers (publishers, to be more specific) to establish local business organization in China or partner with local publishing agency.

This might significantly impact indie developers and small businesses targeting China market from outside.

Apple might find a way to present itself as single publisher allowing developers to avoid this registration process. No comments are available so far on this topic.

Reference: China to Require Apps to Register With Government