Apple is to allow EU developers to distribute iOS apps over the web in a new tweak to App Store rules.
EU-based developers who sign up to the new business terms will now be able to distribute their apps directly from their own website, according to the latest rule change.
The update text from Apple says ‘Web Distribution’ will be available with a software update later this spring, allow authorised developers to distribute iOS apps to EU users directly from “a website owned by the developer”.
“Apple will provide authorized developers access to APIs that facilitate the distribution of their apps from the web, integrate with system functionality, back up and restore users’ apps, and more,” it says.
There are some caveats, of course, tucked away on a different ‘Getting ready for Web Distribution in the EU‘ page: developers who wish to distribute iOS apps through their own website must “be a member of good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more,” and have an app that had “more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.”
Apple also says that “users will first need to approve the developer to install apps in Settings on their iPhone” to install the app direct from a website.
“When installing an app, a system sheet will display information that developers have submitted to Apple for review, like the app name, developer name, app description, screenshots, and system age rating,” Apple adds.
There’s also been a tweak to how developers can link out to purchase, meaning studios no longer have to use Apple-mandated templates for external payments. Instead, “developers can choose how to design promotions, discounts, and other deals” when directing users to complete a transaction for digital goods or services on an external webpage.
The latest twist in the take comes after an eventful week in which Apple first terminated Epic Games’ developer account, then reinstated it, apparently under pressure from the EU, which had just issued the tech giant with a record €1.8bn fine for surpressing competition in the music streaming business. Epic Games plans to release its own Games Store, containing flagship game Fortnite, in EU markets later this year.
Apple announced new business terms for EU developers who want to use alternative distribution and payments in January, which included a new runtime fee-style per-install payment.
