Two of Apple's platforms now count as gatekeepers under the DMA, which opens sideloading/alternative app stores for any developer who wishes to use them!
…but of course, virtually nobody will because of the toxic Core Technology Fee, which leaves a Sword of Damocles hanging over any business that dares to participate — the rules of which Apple can rewrite, at any time, in their favor. The consequences of which have already forced the @delta devs out of the App Store in the EU
@stroughtonsmith@delta@EU_Commission As a user, I disagree. We see the problem already with Delta: if I want to use it, I have no choice but to enable (and pay for!) this AltstorePAL thing. Now multiply that by a hundred apps, including all the most abusive Big Tech operators. I get that is better for developers, but how is any of that better for users?
@riotnrrd@delta@EU_Commission that's literally what my post is about 😛 They are forced into that situation because of Apple’s new fee structure. Delta would be on the App Store otherwise
@Frosty as they've opted into the new EU terms (to build AltStore), any App Store app they release also has to pay the CTF. So it couldn't be free — which makes it an easier target for Nintendo — but also would have to factor in Apple's 30% + the yearly CTF into every purchase, which means it would be an expensive subscription app. If they left it free, they would probably owe Apple millions of € right now, considering it's still no. 1 on the App Store
@stroughtonsmith@Frosty Isn’t it simply Apple showing the middle finger to the EU in response to the DMA?
Seems like an effective strategy of Apple (in the short term), because users in the EU now get confused and blame the DMA/EU, instead of Apple…
Hopefully the EU will respond with an even stricter law. In any case, the DMA is a first step in the right direction, and i think nobody expected it would solve 100% of all the problems right away.
@stroughtonsmith@delta@EU_Commission Also, isn’t the CTF €0.50? So why is AltstorePAL €1.50? That can’t be blamed on either the EU or Apple; it’s an app store funding model that is alternative to Apple’s percentage cut on sales, but it’s not a charity. Which is fine! But the end result for me as a user is that if I were outside the EU, I could get Delta for free via the official App Store, but in the EU it is both more complicated and more expensive.
@riotnrrd@delta@EU_Commission AltStore includes Delta, so that’s 50c * 2 plus 33% wiggle room for taxes and unforeseen fees. It would otherwise be free
@stroughtonsmith@delta@EU_Commission Or Delta could have stuck with the App Store rules, which it apparently can do perfectly well in other territories?
I realise people will say that it was only the threat of EU-style regulation everywhere that forced Apple to relent on banning emulator apps, which is probably not untrue, but my point is that between Apple’s intransigence and the EU’s failure to consider obvious impact, the result is worse for users.
@riotnrrd@delta@EU_Commission it can’t, because the App Store rules only changed after they'd already signed up to the new terms that include the CTF for all apps distributed in the EU. There was zero indication Apple would add emulators to the App Store, and they did it in a way they knew would screw over Delta with the CTF
@stroughtonsmith@delta@EU_Commission Well, maybe; it strikes me as somewhat improbable that Apple would target one indie dev in this way. Regardless, my point stands: what is to stop e.g. Epic from pulling the same move? Users would be worse off: Epic could have any policies they like about refunds, family sharing, and so on, and it’s doubtful that parental control from the App Store would span to other app stores.
@stroughtonsmith@delta@EU_Commission I mean maybe. My wider point stands: people like the ATP crew are always bemoaning that they can’t have a more direct relationship with their users, but they don’t get the benefit that we users receive from not having to have a direct relationship with each and every developer. I wouldn’t mind that with you or Marco; I would mind with Meta or Epic. I like a big filter between them and me, the bigger the better.
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