In the US and around the world, Apple has been engaged in a years-long dispute over the App Store, payments, and the like. One big battlefront has been Apple’s prohibition against third-party payment options, but now popular game emulator Delta might just be the first app in the US to support linking to external payment options.
Delta includes in-app link to pay through Patreon
John Voorhees writes at MacStories:
This is a big deal that goes beyond the new features for Delta supporters. According to the app’s developer, Riley Testut, Delta is the first app he’s aware of in the U.S. App Store to include an in-app link that allows users to make purchases outside the App Store using Apple’s External Purchase Link Entitlement that was introduced in January. I’m not aware of any other app that’s used the External Purchase Link Entitlement in the U.S. either, but even if there is one, Delta is certainly the highest-profile app to do so.
Delta is a popular game emulator that’s seen its share of App Store controversy in the past. But now, it may just be the first US app to receive approval for Apple’s new In-App Purchase alternative.
The special entitlement was first detailed by Apple back in January, with the company still getting a cut of sales, but a smaller one—especially for developers in Apple’s App Store Small Business Program.
Apple has published the rules for its ‘External Purchase Link Entitlement’ via its developer website.
To qualify for the entitlement, the app must:
- Be available on the iOS or iPadOS App Store in the United States storefront;
- Offer in-app purchases when distributed through the iOS or iPadOS App Store in the United States storefront; and
- Not participate in the Video Partner Program or News Partner Program.
This last requirement rules out streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ and news apps like The New York Times from benefiting. However, it does leave open the option for a whole bunch of other App Store apps to benefit.
It’s good to see Apple be a little more flexible with App Store payments. We’ll see how many more apps end up applying for and getting granted this special entitlement, but it seems like a nice option especially for indie developers like Testut.
What do you think of Apple’s new App Store payment permission? Let us know in the comments.
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