"Apple started allowing EU users to install alternative marketplaces earlier this year under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). At that time, the installation process was lengthier and involved multiple "scare screens" - warnings about the potential dangers of installing apps from sources other than the App Store. Developers complained that Apple's tactics resulted in people abandoning the installation process. Earlier this year, the EU slapped a $568 million fine on Apple for not complying with DMA rules."
"In July, Apple released a new process for installing third-party app marketplaces on iPhones with iOS 18.6. The new process includes only one screen showing users that they might miss some features, such as subscription management offered by the App Store. The screen also informs users that the alternative app store's developer will handle their data directly. Epic Games said that prior to the iOS 18.6 update, 65% of users attempting to install its game store abandoned the process."
"Despite this improvement, the company remains critical of Apple's policies, including charging a core technology fee, imposing notarization and approval policies, and implementing rules that make it difficult for developers to distribute their apps through alternative app stores. Epic Games repeated an argument from its lawsuit against the iPhone maker: that Apple allows users more freedom to install apps from outside the App Store on Mac computers."
Apple implemented a simplified installation workflow in iOS 18.6 that reduced installation drop-offs for Epic Games. EU rules under the Digital Markets Act required alternative marketplaces, but the earlier process included multiple "scare screens" that drove users to abandon installations and prompted regulatory fines. The iOS 18.6 flow presents a single notice about missing features and data handling by alternative developers, cutting Epic's abandonment rate from 65% to 25%. Epic says the new rate aligns more closely with Windows and macOS rates but continues to criticize Apple's fees, notarization and approval policies, and distribution rules that hinder alternative app stores.
Read at TechCrunch
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]