There are new developments today in the ongoing battle between Apple and some of its biggest App Store adversaries. First, in a new amicus brief filed today in the United States, Meta, Microsoft, X and Match Group have teamed up to oppose Apple's proposed anti-steering changes in the United States.
Meanwhile, Epic Games shared more details about its plans to launch its own iPhone app marketplace in the European Union. The company says it will take a 12% commission on sales…
In the US
As a result of a legal battle with Epic Games in the US, Apple was forced to relax its anti-steering rules, which previously prohibited developers from linking to alternative payment systems in their applications.
As part of its plan, however, Apple said it will still charge fees on purchases made through alternative payment platforms. This fee is 12% for developers who are part of the App Store Small Business Program and 27% for other apps.
Epic Games has already expressed its opposition to Apple's introduction of anti-steering controls. changes, calling on the court to hold Apple liable for contempt of court.
In a new amicus brief filed in court today, Meta, Microsoft, X and Match Group also went on record saying that they do not do so. I don't believe Apple is following orders. The Verge explains:
Amici argue that Apple's 12 to 27 percent fee for external purchases defeats the purpose of the new requirement because it is only a few percentage points lower than what developers would otherwise have to pay for in-app purchases. External purchase fees may make it impossible to even create an external payment system for developers, given that the other transaction costs they might incur through this route could negate any of the 3 percent benefits they would get from switching from Apple's system. Additionally, customers are unlikely to choose an external option if its price is the same or higher.
In the European Union
Meanwhile, Epic revealed a few additional details about its upcoming Epic Games app store in the European Union. The company revealed today at the Game Developers Conference that it hopes to launch its Epic Games Store for iPhone and Android in the EU by the end of the year.
Epic says the developer experience on the Epic Games Store on mobile will be the same as the Epic Games Store on PC. As such, the company will take a 12% commission on all sales through the Epic Games Store. Developer revenue share is 100% for the first six months on the Epic Games Store.
The Epic Games Store will feature Epic's own content, including Fortnite, as well as content from third-party partners. The company says it will share more information ahead of the launch later this year.
Finally, we shared details about our plans to bring the Epic Games Store (EGS) to mobile devices later this year. EGS will be the first-ever multi-platform store focused on games, and will work on Android, iOS, PC and macOS. Mobile app developers will receive the same fair terms for EGS on PC: 88/12 revenue share and the same programs you can use to keep 100% of revenue using your own payments for in-app purchases, Epic First Run and Now On Epic. .
And more information from an Epic representative:
“The Epic Games Store has 88/12 Revenue sharing for developers who distribute paid applications on PC and Mac, and this will continue on mobile platforms. Developers don't pay Epic anything to distribute free apps. If developers offer in-app purchases, they can either use our payment processing system for an 88/12 revenue share, or use a third-party payment processor and keep 100% of that revenue, as they do today.”
As part of the EU changes to DMA, Apple announced in January that it would be lowering its fee structure. Developers who agree to the new terms will pay 17% plus 3% if apps use Apple's in-app purchase system. Small business software developers will pay a fee of 10% plus 3% instead of 15%.
There is also a core technology fee that charges €0.50 per yearly installation for apps that are popular enough to change of more than one million units per year. Apple estimates that less than 1% of developers will pay CTF.
Developers in the EU can also adhere to the existing App Store terms, which set commissions at 30% for large developers or 15% for developers earning less than $1 million per year.
