Apple makes changes to the App Store to support services such as xCloud and Stadia, among other new features

 Apple makes changes to the App Store to support services such as xCloud and Stadia, among other   new features

Apple just made a series of changes to the rules of the App Store that promise high-value additions. Among them, those referring to streaming game services stand out , as well as apps that offer one-to-one experiences, such as private tutorials or private fitness classes . These are two categories that have generated some attention in recent weeks.

Game streaming services allowed as long as individual apps are in the App Store

You can offer a single subscription that is shared across your own apps and services. Games offered through a subscription streaming gaming service must be downloaded directly from the App Store, must be designed to avoid duplicate payments to the subscriber, and must not be a disadvantage to unsubscribed customers.

This is the modified section in the App Store rules, section 3.1.2 that defines the allowed subscriptions. The most prominent condition is that the games must also be found in the App Store individually . In other words, they are not hosted solely within an app that acts as a store within the App Store. In addition, Apple has created section 4.9 that guides the rest of the rules for streaming games, specifically:

• Each game should be submitted for review as a regular app.
• Have your metadata for search.

• The game must have its own individual app tab, so that it appears in the rankings, has user scores and can be managed in Time of use.

A catalog-type app can be offered to help users sign up for the service and find games compatible with the subscription. This app must link to the games individually in the App Store and follow the rest of the rules. We must emphasize that these are changes that in Applesfera we already indicate as necessary for the future of the App Store . The streaming games will be a vector for future growth and the App Store could not stay out of this new field.

The App Store thus opens to streaming game services such as Microsoft, Google or Facebook, provided they meet the new requirements

Recall that after the mess with Epic Games , Apple added a rule in its App Store to prevent the activation of hidden or sleeping features. This is found in section 2.3.1 of the regulations.

More changes to the App Store rules

The other big change in the App Store occurs in those related to what Apple calls Person-to-Person Experiences . In section 3.1.3 subparagraph (d), Apple states that:

If your app has active the purchase of real-time person-to-person experiences between two individuals (for example, student tutorials, medical consultations, real estate tours or fitness training), you are allowed to use alternative payment methods to in-app purchases to collect those payments. One-to-many or one-to-many real-time experiences should use in-app purchases.

So Apple adds a series of exceptions of great interest to in-app purchases. Recently and due to the pandemic, many apps have chosen to offer digital services through an app. Despite the fact that some apps like Airbnb had requested an exception when offering certain services, the rules of the App Store prevented it.

Now and with this change, Apple opens its hand slightly. When it comes to one-to-one services, the apps can use their own payment system. This means in practice skipping the 30% commission from the App Store.