Xbox calls changes to App Store rules ‘a step in the wrong direction’ – Technology

MADRID, 30 years (Portaltic/EP)

Xbox has expressed dissatisfaction with the announced changes to Apple’s App Store regulation, calling the new terms a “step in the wrong direction” given developers’ obligation to continue paying “core technology” fees.

Apple announced last Friday a series of changes to its App Store to adapt its services to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will become mandatory in the European Union from December 6th. March this year. These changes will be implemented in iOS 17.4.

Changes affecting app distribution in the App Store will allow developers to download their software from an alternative store in the App Store, as well as install an application from an external store and calculate the necessary updates through it.

Following this line, Apple also announced last week that its app store is now open to video game streaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvida GeForce Now, which will be able to publish their apps and no longer be browser-dependent – now that until now access to its services was limited to the Internet.

However, this new regulation also includes different commercial terms for iOS apps. Those “apps” distributed on the App Store will pay a reduced rate of 10 percent after the first year, or 17 percent for digital transactions.

Likewise, Apple has also established a “core technology fee” whereby iOS apps distributed from the App Store and/or an alternative app store will pay €0.50 for each first annual installation if they exceed the million threshold.

“A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION”

In this context, Microsoft has spoken out, demonstrating its opposition to these new rules for the App Store. This was stated by Xbox President Sarah Bond in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where she described Apple’s new policy as a “step in the wrong direction.”

“We believe constructive conversations are driving change and progress towards open platforms and increased competition,” Bond said, while noting that they hope the Tim Cook-led company will “listen to comments” on the proposed plan and “work for a more inclusive future.” for all.”

Thus, the person responsible for the Xbox platform has revealed that the company does not agree with the new changes adopted by Apple for the App Store, as it continues to charge fees to developers, as well as the introduction of a new base technology fee.

Other affected companies have weighed in similarly, such as Spotify, which characterized Apple’s new DMA rules as a “vague and misleading” change.

“While Apple has been bad for years, what they did yesterday represents a new low even for them,” Spotify CEO Daniel EK said in a post on X, detailing that it was a “classic” move from the “old , the dominant approach.” a company that believes the rules do not apply to them.

Likewise, Daniel E.K. also condemned Apple’s misrepresentation of the situation by making it appear as if regulators were “at fault.” Additionally, he was also disgraced that the tech company is “pretending” that its new App Store rules are about security, “when it’s clearly a ploy to increase its own profits.”

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also weighed in, calling the App Store changes “junk fees” on downloads and new payment taxes that “are not being processed.”