# The future of the App Store

DevFeed: [The future of the App Store](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-future-of-the-app-store-38590.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://marco.org/2021/09/13/future-of-the-app-store>)

Author: Marco Arment

Published: 2021-09-13T21:18:11Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Marco.org](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/marco-org.md>)

Topics: [App](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/app.md>), [browser](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/browser.md>), [Payment Fraud](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/payment-fraud.md>)

Tags: [apple](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apple.md>), [apple-pay](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apple-pay.md>), [browser](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/browser.md>), [fraud-prevention](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/fraud-prevention.md>), [payment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/payment.md>), [payment-fraud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/payment-fraud.md>), [processors](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/processors.md>)

## AI overview

An opinion article predicts that changes to Apple's App Store payment rules will preserve in-app purchases while allowing external purchase links. It argues that most apps will need to offer both options, with reader apps receiving an exemption, and that external payments could increase competition and enable new business models.

## Source excerpt

After the dust settles from the developer class-action settlement, the South Korean law, the JFTC announcement, and the Apple v. Epic decision, I think the most likely long-term outcome isn't very different from the status quo -- and that's a good thing. Allowing external purchases Here's what I think we'll end up with: Apple will still require apps to use their IAP system for any qualifying purchases that occur in the apps themselves. All app types will be allowed to link out to a browser for other purchase methods. Most apps will be required to also offer IAP side-by-side with any external methods.1 Only "Reader apps" will be exempt from this requirement.2 Apple will have many rules regarding the display, descriptions, and behavior of external purchases, many of which will be unpublished and ever-changing. App Review will be extremely harsh, inconsistent, capricious, petty, and punitive with their enforcement.3 Apple won't require price-matching between IAP and external purchases. These few but important corrections reduce Apple's worst behavior and should relieve most regulatory pressure. The result won't look much different than the status quo: Most big media apps (qualifying as "reader" apps) won't offer IAP, but will finally be allowed to link to their websites from their apps and offer purchases there. Many games will offer both IAP and external purchases, with the external choice offering a discount, bonus gems, extra loot boxes, or other manipulative tricks to optimize the profitability of casino games for children (commissions from which have been the largest portion of Apple's "services revenue" to date). Most importantly, many products, services, and business models will become possible that previously weren't, leading to more apps, more competition, and more money going to more places. External purchase methods will evolve to be almost as convenient as IAP (especially if Apple Pay is permitted in this context), and payment processors will reduce the burd