this post was submitted on 06 May 2025
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I mean that's not wrong. I had no idea Apple was double-dipping like this. I wonder if Google is doing the same thing...
Every store does this. Even Holy Valve
Every company who takes a cut from in-app purchases, be it subscriptions or DLC, should be kneecapped by this ruling.
It's one thing for the hosting marketplace (App Store, Steam, Play Store, etc) to take a cut from the initial purchase of a game/app. But it's a whole other issue for that initial marketplace to keep reaching further into the dev's pockets and take a cut from in-app purchases unrelated to where it was originally obtained.
That just turns paid apps into splash screens for in-app purchases though. That way apple never gets a cut because the "purchase" is in-app. Pay to be listed (maybe tiered depending on downloads) seems fair especially because it doesn't incentivize people to do scammy things with pricing. It's already a fee anyway.
Welcome to Android lol
"This app is Free!"
*opens app*
"Psyche! Get your credit card out..."
I’m not entirely optimistic about this ruling, but we’ll see.
Apple had no reason NOT to give refunds and then use their weight to claw it back from the app developer.
But what happens when not-too-legit apps use non-AppStore external sites to unlock features in an app?
In a perfect world it’s cheap and easy and reliable.
But it can also be a scammy shop that lures you into expensive subscriptions with no easy way to cancel them (eg. gym membership) and what happens when Little Timmy spends $9000 for Nlartbux in a mobile game’s external store?
Could go either way 🤷🏻♂️
Greed.
I suppose we will see what happens. That's a very slippery slope though, full of FUD, and is the same logic that Apple, Microsoft, and others try to use to keep users locked into their walled gardens.
Could be. Multiple alternative markets exist for Android already though, and some shops are scammy as fuck. Google has already put protections in place to prevent sideloading potentially harmful apps (including alternative markets), but the savvy user who knows how to bypass those restrictions should* know how to spot scammy shit.
"For your security" was never about security.
That's why you don't put your credit card info in a phone or tablet and let kids play with it.
And still people do it, they even give their own devices to kids with CC info pre-filled and no safeties on purchases.
Imagine how bad it is when the next fake ad game gets Timmy to subscribe to a $99/day gem pack…
That's a failure of the parent. My 5 year old likes to do the "color by number" things on my phone (waiting at dr appts and whatnot), and even she understands not to click on the ads, or to at least hand it back to me if one comes up.
What? Since when does Valve prohibit companies from redirecting customers to non-Valve purchasing flows? Because that's what this ruling is about, it says Apple can't prohibit apps from telling users to go buy off-platform for lower prices. Valve isn't doing that with Steam afaik, actually I'm not aware of any other platform that does this
Valve will even allow developers to create their own Steam keys free of charge and sell them wherever they want with no commission whatsoever
That’s pretty open I’d say
Lol, as long as you properly plan in advance and coordinate such a thing, not the way that uh... Dead Matter tried to do it.
Dear god what a fustercluck.
Any of the video game console companies.
They literally do not lol
In game purchases in steam games don't have to pay Valve, nor does Valve prevent you from uploading your game to other stores, which is what this ruling was about.
Here comes the Steam defenders.
I have many issues with the gamer deference to the steam monopoly... But they don't partake in this particular abuse: taking a cut from the dev for all in game purchases. They only take a (sizeable) cut for the initial game purchase.
What do you mean "double dipping"? I don't own any Apple products. I purchased through Proton's website.
If someone purchases a Proton plan through their iOS app, Apple got a 30% cut of that. Which is stupid. Because Proton (and every other company with an iOS app) already pays Apple to simply have their app on Apple's app store.
Uhhh I mean they pay a $100/year developer fee, which probably doesn't even cover the infrastructure costs. Is that what you're referring to?
I'm not arguing against you, Apple should consider those costs as a service to their (overpaying) customers. I'm just not sure what other costs you're referring to.
Yes (I thought it was more, but w/e). I'll admit, I don't know a whole lot about development and everything that it entails, but nuance is key here. Say what you will about Proton, but this ruling just set a precedent that a company hosting an app/game download cannot take a cut from purchases completed within said app/game. That affects everyone.
I'm just looking at this from a bigger picture perspective. Apple has more than enough money already, and frankly there are far too many companies like this who need to be cut back down.
Yeah, a fraction of a cent per customer is double dipping. w/e
Precedent is precedent, and now smaller independent devs can use this ruling to their favor.
This won't help small devs. Here's why:
You have zero market. Pay to make your own payment portal, processing, etc etc. With what? Venture funding? Personal investment? Offload to square or PayPal and they take a cut instead?
Apple charges 15% (not 30% for under 2 mil) of each $1. Making 85c per transaction with no upfront costs seems reasonable.
That explains my experience. I just brought proton vpn for the easiest travel solution for me, and when I was shopping around I thought I was losing my mind. Checked the price online and it was one price and then checked from the Apple app for convenience and it was higher. I was confused, but just bought it online and used it on the app after (along with other devices).