According to an announcement made by Apple on Thursday, developers from around the world can now deliver a single application that allows streaming of all the games they offer.
This is a change from the previous rules, which required each game available to iOS users to be listed on its own separate App Store page; a requirement that Apple deemed necessary to properly verify and check age ratings and compliance with App Store review guidelines.
The aim of this change is likely to encourage companies that would prefer to launch independent game app stores – now possible in the EU thanks to DMA – to do so in the Apple App Store, where Apple collects a commission from in-app purchases.
Microsoft has been considering the possibility of launching its own game store for mobile devices, which was reported last year. Additionally, the creator of Fortnite – Epic Games – also wanted to distribute its games through its own game store and sued Apple over concerns of abusing its monopolistic position in hopes of obtaining such an opportunity. However, Apple has mostly won its legal battle in the US and was forced to comply with the law and allow developers to indicate their own payment systems and websites within their apps.
It remains to be seen how these companies will react to the new options offered by Apple.
In addition to allowing individual apps to host streamed games, Apple has also announced that mini-games, mini-apps, chatbots, and plugins will now be able to use Apple’s in-app payment system.
Apple has stated that each mini-app, in-app game, or in-app experience must still comply with the App Store review guidelines, which would mean that Apple would have to review AI chatbots or GPT if OpenAI decided to make them available to iOS users and not just those using the internet. Apple also stressed that the overall app rating must consider the highest level of app content age.
In conjunction with these and other changes, Apple is also introducing over 50 new reports for developers through the App Store Connect API, which will help them analyze the performance of their apps in areas such as engagement (number of users interacting with or sharing the app), commerce (information on sales, pre-order, download, and in-app transactions), app usage (crashes, active devices, installations, deletions), and framework usage (such as how the app interacts with CarPlay, widgets, choosing photos, and more).
Apple is also removing the requirement to add the “Sign in with Apple” feature alongside other available login options in apps. Instead, developers using third-party or social login will be able to offer an alternative “privacy-focused login service” if they choose.
Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/24/apple-updates-rules-for-streaming-games-mini-apps-and-more-including-gpt-stores/)
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