Spotify, Epic Games, and Microsoft criticize new Apple App Store rules – find out their concerns

Apple recently unveiled its updated App Store regulations following pressure from the European Union to alter its business practices in the region. Although the company has permitted third-party apps for iPhones in the area, it has faced backlash for imposing a fee of 50 euro cents on app developers. This decision has drawn criticism from major tech players such as Spotify, Epic Games, and now Microsoft. The consequences of Apple’s actions could potentially affect third-party app stores, developers, and the apps housed within them. Microsoft has recently expressed its disapproval of Apple’s App Store rules, describing them as “a step in the wrong direction.”

How Microsoft reacts to Apple’s new App Store rules

To comply with European Union technology requirements, Apple has announced new rules for its App Store, allowing third-party app stores for iPhones with a core technology fee for app developers. According to a report by The Verge, app developers will have to pay 50 cents for each annual app install after 1 million downloads. In addition, Apple charges a 17 percent fee for third-party payment processors. After the announcement, several applications criticized the change. Sarah Bond, president of Xbox shared a statement with X: “Apple’s new policy is a step in the wrong direction. We hope they listen to feedback on their proposed plan and work towards a more inclusive future for everyone.”

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Microsoft is currently working on launching its Xbox mobile store, which features popular gaming titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile, Candy Crush Saga and more. This mobile store is completely separated from the Apple and Google stores, so it works independently.

Now, with the new rules for Apple’s app store, it can create an obstacle for running a mobile store in the region. Earlier, the CEO of Epic Games had reacted by saying that the new rules are “hot garbage”. Epic has had a long-running dispute with Apple over its App Store rules, with the case dragging through the courts until recently.

Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, in an X message: “Apple’s DMA announcement (which took a while) is vague and misleading at best.”

The new App Store rules have hundreds of millions of dollars for all popular apps running on third-party app stores, and there’s still debate over whether Apple will pull back and announce new rules.