The App Store is a powerful digital ecosystem.
Despite being Apple’s poster child for iPhone gaming, the developer behind “Genshin Impact” twice tried to get around paying the App Store‘s 30% fee.
The first time, as spotted by 9to5mac, it was via a miHoYo community app. Members get exclusive promotions through this app, and reportedly, customer service staff were trained to direct users to buy directly from the firm’s website.
Apple removed this community app on August 22, 2023. It was back four days later, but without this option to pay on the website.
And then on August 30, 2023, there was a new mini-program in Alipay. It offered the same option of paying by the firm’s website, or rather it did, until Apple blocked it for iPhone users on September 11.
