All articles tagged with #in app purchases
Pokémon TCG Pocket has generated nearly $1.3 billion in its first year, making it the highest-grossing debut for a Pokémon mobile app, driven by over 10 million downloads and continuous updates that keep players engaged.
A Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket player, Weens4Life, spent $1,500 and opened 1,741 booster packs to complete the Genetic Apex set, highlighting the challenges of collecting all cards, especially the rare alternate art ones. Completing the set took significant time and money, with the game offering limited free packs daily. Despite the cost, Weens4Life found the experience worthwhile but plans to focus only on base sets in the future. Pokémon TCG Pocket has been highly successful, earning $120 million in three weeks with 30 million downloads.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, a popular mobile game with over 30 million downloads, will introduce a card trading feature starting January 2025. The update will initially allow trading of certain cards, with plans to expand the selection over time. Additionally, new booster packs are expected by the end of the year, and more features are in development. The game has been generating significant revenue, earning over $5 million daily on November 8th and 9th.
Epic Games has submitted a proposed permanent injunction against Google, seeking to open up the Play Store and allow users to download apps from any source, as well as give developers and users the freedom to choose how they offer and pay for in-app purchases. The injunction also aims to prevent Google from retaliating against Epic or any app or developer for challenging app store practices. If approved, this could lead to significant changes in the Android app ecosystem, potentially allowing third-party app stores onto the Play Store without fees and access to its library of apps.
Epic Games accuses Apple of violating a court ruling by charging "unjustified fees" for in-app purchase links that direct customers to third-party purchase options on the web. Apple is still charging a commission for these purchases, requiring developers to pay between 12 and 27 percent, which Epic Games claims makes the links "commercially unusable." The company is asking the court to hold Apple in contempt and require it to bring its policies into compliance with the injunction.
Google Play announced new features for game listings, including AI-powered FAQs, displaying YouTube videos, immersive ad formats, and support for native PC game publishing. The updates aim to attract more users and drive in-app purchases, with new tools for developers to promote their games and target specific user groups. Additionally, Google is introducing new ad products and expanding its Play Pass and Play Points programs to offer more benefits to users and developers.
Spotify plans to display pricing information for its Premium subscriptions within its iOS app in the EU, following the European Commission's ruling against Apple's anti-steering rules. If approved by Apple, the update will allow users to view subscription prices and features, with links to purchase on Spotify's website. This move comes after the European Commission fined Apple for "abusing its dominant position" and ordered it to remove anti-steering provisions for music streaming apps. Apple has stated its intention to appeal the decision and accused Spotify of attempting to "rewrite the rules of the App Store."
Apple updated its App Store Review Guidelines to require social media apps to use its in-app purchase system for sales of "boosted" posts, resulting in a 30% fee for Meta's advertisers purchasing boosted posts through Facebook and Instagram apps for iOS. Meta will pass on the added cost to its customers and require prepayment for boosted posts. Apple responded, stating that it has always required in-app purchases for digital goods and services, and has given Meta ample opportunity to comply with the guidelines.
Elden Ring is reportedly getting a free-to-play mobile adaptation with in-app purchases, inspired by Genshin Impact and published by Tencent, who acquired licensing rights to the game in 2022. The development has been slow due to differences in business models and company culture between From Software and Tencent. Meanwhile, the release of Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree expansion is eagerly anticipated, with recent Steam updates hinting at a possible February release date.
Apple is updating its rules around streaming game services and mini-apps, allowing developers to submit a single app that can stream all games offered in their catalog. This change could impact companies like Netflix and OpenAI. In addition, mini-games, mini-apps, chatbots, and plug-ins will now be able to incorporate Apple’s in-app purchase system. Apple is also rolling out new reports to help developers analyze their app’s performance and removing the requirement for developers to add sign-in with Apple alongside other sign-in options.
Apple is reportedly considering introducing new fees and restrictions for apps downloaded outside its App Store in the EU, potentially taking commissions on in-app purchases and other sales even if the apps are discovered and installed from other websites. This comes in response to a new EU law allowing users to download apps without going through the App Store, impacting how iOS apps are accessed. The move could pose a challenge to the legislation meant to offer companies a way to do business without being subject to Apple’s commissions. This development follows Apple's compliance with a court ruling in the Epic antitrust case, where it had to allow app developers to point to their own payment options via the web.
Spotify is preparing to implement in-app purchases if Apple complies with the Digital Markets Act, a 2022 EU law that aims to curb anticompetitive practices by tech giants like Apple. The law prohibits gatekeeper services from charging fees for apps to promote their own products and subscriptions or requiring specific payment processors. Spotify hopes to revamp its app to allow full in-app payment functionality, which could benefit its premium subscription, audiobooks, and podcasting verticals. The enforcement of this law could lead to a more competitive space in the tech industry.
Apple updates its App Store rules to comply with a court order, allowing developers to promote alternative payment methods for in-app purchases and subscriptions. However, the new rules come with caveats, including an application process and restrictions on which apps can use external links. Apple's compliance seems to skirt the court's decision, and the new Link Entitlement includes various rules and a 27% commission on out-of-app-store purchases. Epic, Spotify, and app developers have criticized Apple's compliance, but it appears to be legally sound.
The US Supreme Court ruled that Apple must allow developers to offer alternative payment methods in the App Store, but Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney plans to contest Apple's compliance plan, which still requires in-app purchases to use the App Store sales system and imposes a commission on purchases made through alternative payment platforms. Apple's solution is criticized as anticompetitive, and Epic Games will challenge the ruling in District Court. Additionally, Apple is reportedly ready to enable sideloading for iOS users in the EU.
Spotify has confirmed that it has no plans to reintroduce in-app purchases on its iOS app, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. The company removed in-app purchases from its iOS app in 2016 to avoid paying Apple a cut of its revenue. Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, has been critical of Apple and the App Store, accusing the company of having excessive control over the internet.