Alongside the multitude of adjustments Apple is implementing to adhere to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the company is also revising its regulations concerning streaming game services and other applications facilitating access to mini-apps or games. These revisions could have implications for entities like Netflix, which have recently ventured into mobile and cloud gaming, as well as endeavors from tech behemoths such as OpenAI, known for its GPT shop, and Meta, which, in 2022, discontinued its solo Facebook Gaming app due to lackluster reception.
As per a statement released by Apple on Thursday, developers globally can now submit a unified game capable of streaming the entire array of games available in their library.
This marks a departure from the previous guidelines stipulating that each adult game provided to iOS users must have its distinct listing on a separate App Store page — a prerequisite Apple deemed essential for the comprehensive assessment of each app’s age rating and adherence to the App Store Review Guidelines.
The primary objective likely revolves around encouraging companies inclined to establish a dedicated app store for gaming — a practice permissible in the EU under the DMA — to opt for Apple’s App Store instead, where Apple receives a percentage of the in-app transactions.
Reports surfaced last month indicating that Microsoft had been contemplating launching its specialized mobile entertainment venture. Conversely, Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, sought to expand its operations through its proprietary games store, litigating against Apple on antitrust grounds in pursuit of that opportunity. However, Apple predominantly emerged victorious in the U.S. legal battle, albeit being compelled to comply with a provision enabling developers to direct users to their payment mechanisms and websites from within their applications.
The response of these firms to Apple’s new provisions remains to be observed.
In addition to permitting apps to host streaming games, Apple asserts that small games, mini-apps, chatbots, and plugins can now integrate Apple’s in-app purchase system into their offerings.
This adjustment appears tailored to address concerns surrounding OpenAI’s GPT Store, functioning akin to an app marketplace for customized AI bots akin to ChatGPT but tailored for specific purposes. With the advent of the GPT Store and the broader proliferation of AI, Apple could potentially forfeit a revenue stream if users were to peruse and access paid or subscription-based chatbots within a larger application. This move solidifies that even such services will be subject to Apple’s in-app purchase regulations — encompassing the 15% to 30% commissions it levies.
Apple underscored that each minor software, in-app game, or in-game encounter must still adhere to its App Store Review Guidelines, necessitating Apple’s evaluation of AI chatbots or GPTs should OpenAI opt to introduce them to iPhone users rather than solely web users. Furthermore, the app’s overall rating must reflect the highest age-rated content present within the app.
In conjunction with these and other amendments, Apple is introducing over 50 new analytics reports to developers via the App Store Connect API. These reports will aid developers in assessing their app’s performance across engagement metrics (user interaction and sharing), commerce insights (sales, pre-orders, downloads, transactions via IAP), app usage statistics (crashes, active devices, installations, deletions), and framework utilization (interactions with CarPlay, Widgets, PhotoPicker, etc.).
Moreover, Apple is eliminating the mandate requiring developers to include “Sign in with Apple” alongside the various sign-in alternatives provided for their apps. Alternatively, developers utilizing third-party or social logins must incorporate another “privacy-focused login service” should they opt for such authentication methods.
