Latest News: Apple Revises App Store Link-Out Rules per the EU DMA, however the fees remain high.
Apple changed its App Store's rules in order to be better compliant to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), but the fees associated with Apple's revisions are still quite high in accordance with an article in The Verge.
The major changes are described in six bullet points on Apple's News and Updates page, with readers encouraged to visit a more detailed description of the latest changes in the developer's documentation.
The highlights include mentions of advertising "offers to purchase items at the location of their preference," developers being able to "use an actionable hyperlink that can be tapped, clicked or scan, in order in order to direct users to their destination," and that "Updated the business terms used by apps that utilize the External Purchase Link Entitlement are being implemented to be in line with changes in these features."
They are expected to take effects "this fall" (no date for a more precise start date has been given).
'Nearly Endless 20 Percent Fee For Developers'
According to the report from The Verge, "Apple has added a $20 percent developer fee in latest EU update," the updates appear to allow developers greater flexibility regarding linking to purchase options outside of Apple's App Store.
However, the fees associated with this new feature are so prohibitive and expensive that "it's hard to imagine anyone using the feature."
It's because for developers who opt into the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (EU) Addendum, the costs associated include a five percent initial acquisition fee and a 20% Store services fee applicable on "sales of digital products and services, made on any platform, within a set twelve-month time frame from the date of an install, including app updates and Reinstalls."
The Verge informs us that app updates or reinstalls that users make reset the timer back to the 12 months remaining for the ongoing store fees. Other programs and methods are able to lower costs by allowing support for third-party app stores, charging for certain auto-renewing subscriptions that qualify, or becoming a developer under Apple's small business program. The ongoing charges of twelve months reset at reinstalls or updates is what makes them potentially "endless."
A recent TechCrunch report, "Apple revises DMA approval for App Store link-outs, with fewer restrictions, and an entirely new fee structure" further clarifies some of the differences between Apple's various terms and their associated fees. These are both old and new. As an example there is the "Store Services Fee" will comprise "a 10% standard commission fee or a 5 discount commission (e.g. developer commissions for those who are enrolled in the App Store's small business program) under Apple's new business terms; or 20% standard or 7percent discount in accordance with Apple's existing terms."
Information on the fees associated with and both of the Alternate Terms Addendum for Apps within the EU and the StoreKit external Purchase link Entitlement (EU) Addendum can be viewed on the Commissions section on this Apple Support page.
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Gaming studios use this method to sell across the world. For nearly two decades it has served as a payment supplier that allows you to offer games and other in-game items on your site, online shop or directly in your game using fully customized and branded checkouts just for the game. allows you to offload the complexity of global payment processing, sales tax and VAT compliance, player payments support, and many other aspects of payments management. Spend less time managing your payments and compliance and more time making great games!
