Apple is revolutionizing the App Store: New rules for developers in the EU!

Apple is revolutionizing the App Store: New rules for developers in the EU!

Apple today announced significant changes to apps in the European Economic Area to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These adjustments, which are primarily aimed at developers, are intended to enable users to be informed about alternative purchasing options for digital goods and services. stadt-bremerhaven.de recorded this in a current report.

Under the new regulations, developers in the EU are now allowed to point out offers for digital goods or services outside of the App Store. This information can be provided in apps themselves, via web views as well as on websites or in alternative app stores. With a good hand, even more users can now benefit from great products and bargains.

New terms and conditions and fees

But this also comes with new terms and conditions that must be accepted by the developers. This includes an initial acquisition fee and a store services fee. Particularly interesting is the introduction of the Core Technology Commission (CTC), which will apply to apps with external purchasing options. This fee is intended to reflect Apple's continued investment in tools and technologies, as developer.apple.com reports.

To further explain the new framework, Apple has introduced a two-tier system for store services. A distinction is made between two tiers: Tier 1, which is mandatory for all apps with offers, and Tier 2, which is optional and includes all current App Store services.

Technological innovations

Some of the planned changes are already being implemented with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6. A revised user interface for installing alternative app stores and web apps is introduced here. Developers are also allowed to set links to external offers in their apps. Clickable links are permitted without any restrictions on URLs, as macrumors.com states.

In the spirit of ease of use, Apple will provide an API later this year that will allow developers to initiate downloads of alternatively distributed apps directly from their applications. This makes access to various offers even easier for users. The changes are expected to result in a unified business structure, which is expected to be fully implemented by January 1, 2026.

What do the developers expect?

Developers are encouraged to review the new DMA compliance information. If you have any questions, you can even schedule appointments online to provide direct feedback. Apple has already announced that it will appeal against the new requirements. This could lead to further disputes that could affect the future of the app market in Europe.

The key question remains: How will these changes affect the attractiveness of the App Store for developers and users? What is certain is that there is a lot to come with these innovations and the developments should be monitored closely.