Epic Games and Spotify Review Apple’s New App Store Regulations

Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, is challenging Apple’s new App Store regulations alongside Spotify by submitting previously restricted apps for review. Both companies submitted updated app versions to Apple’s App Review process on Friday.

For Epic Games, this could facilitate Fortnite’s re-entry into the App Store— the game was removed in 2020 after Epic contested Apple’s App Store policies by introducing direct payment features, prompting an antitrust lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Spotify plans to allow users to directly purchase individual audiobooks and enable Premium subscribers to buy extra hours for audiobook listening, once they exceed the 15 free hours available each month.

This development from Spotify follows Apple’s recent approval of the Amazon Kindle app, which now includes a “Buy Book” button for the first time. Additionally, it comes after Spotify received approval to display subscription pricing information to U.S. users within the app, among other enhancements.

It’s probable that more apps will soon join Epic Games and Spotify in taking advantage of the new App Store policies.

While companies like Epic and Spotify view these policy changes as ways to boost their profits, smaller developers might find these adjustments vital for their survival, encouraging innovative business models.

These updated App Store policies were announced last week following a significant legal defeat for Apple in the antitrust case filed by Epic Games, where a federal judge ruled that Apple had not complied with court orders regarding in-app purchases. Although Apple won in many aspects of the lawsuit, the judge mandated that the company enhance its competitiveness in payment processing.

Previously, Apple required developers to gain permission to link to their websites for alternative payment methods for virtual goods or subscriptions. If granted, developers had to create those links in accordance with Apple’s guidelines, which included “scare screens” warning users about the risks associated with external purchases.

Most importantly, Apple continued to enforce a hefty commission of 27% on those web transactions, down from the previous 30% before these changes.

None of these conditions aligned with the judge’s intentions, leading to a directive for Apple to abolish its anticompetitive constraints and allow developers to link to web purchase options freely, without additional requirements or commissions.