The App Store continues to cause controversy with developers. As always, it’s the guidelines Apple has put in place for its App Store for iOS users that aren’t for everyone. After the antitrust allegations against the old guidelines, it is App Improvement’s turn to face the developer slingshot.
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Many of them have complained about this new policy, which they believe harms both independent developers and those who work on games.
Apple’s Discord email
A few days ago, the Cupertino-based company sent a letter to some developers regarding the update of the applications available on the App Store. With the title “App Improvement Notice”, Apple points out that Apple now intends to remove applications from the App Store that have not received an update for some time.
Upon receiving this letter, many developers have denounced this new policy, which they believe would be very damaging to independent developers and games. That’s why protopop games, known for games like MotiVoto, Nimian Legends, Wilderless, shared on Twitter a screenshot of the email Apple sent him. You can read about it there:
“This app has not been updated for a while and is scheduled to be retired in 30 days. No action is required to keep the app available to users who have already downloaded it.
You can keep this app available for new users who discover it and download it from the App Store by submitting an update for review within 30 days. If no update is submitted within 30 days, the app will be withdrawn from sale.
Another showdown between Apple and app developers?
We have to admit that the App Store’s new policy is more of a good initiative in favor of users. As developers need to update their applications regularly, they become compatible with Apple’s latest APIs. Which should normally improve the user experience on new devices.
However, it might prove too restrictive for developers who don’t have the means to make regular updates. However, the new policy does not currently specify the frequency with which applications must be updated to avoid being removed from the App Store.
In protest of the app improvement, some developers decided to remove some of their apps from the App Store. Such is the case of developer Émilia Lazer-Walker who has done this for some of her old games found on the Apple Application Store. She later explained that:
“Games can exist as finished objects. Not eligible for updates or a live service model, these free projects are finished works of art dating back several years. »
We can therefore imagine that Apple is very likely to draw the wrath of developers again with this new measure. It should also be remembered that the company is currently facing a fine of more than 50 million dollars in the Netherlands. Blame it on a controversy over App Store policies deemed unfavorable to dating apps.
Source: 9TO5MAC