Uncuffed: The Latest on iOS App Developer Guidelines
- Breaking News: Apple relaxes grip on app payment methods and NFTs following a U.S. court ruling.
- Developers, rejoice! Now you can easily direct users to alternative payment solutions and purchase NFTs from secondary markets.
- However, some cryptocurrency-related restrictions remain.
State of AffairSCENE
Apple Relaxes Crypto and NFT Guidelines for iOS Apps in Response to Antitrust Decision
Epic Games' antitrust lawsuit against Apple served the crypto realm a win yesterday, as the tech colossus eased limits on developers offering apps that steer users towards non-standard payment channels or digital collectibles on the U.S. app store.
Keeping pace with a U.S. District Judge's recent judgment, which found Apple guilty of violating a 2021 court injunction, Apple revamped its iOS App Store review guidelines, effectively prohibiting punitive measures for purchases made outside of Apple apps, while ending constraints on developer-led directives to third-party websites.
An Apple email obtained by Decrypt communicated the good news to iOS developers, stating that the U.S. storefront is now free from restrictions that previously blocked applications from featuring links, buttons, or calls to action when allowing users to peruse secondary NFT collections. Moreover, there will be no restrictions on using purchasing methods other than in-app purchases on the U.S. storefront.
Though the revised guidelines do not apply to in-app features like buying premium content or boosts, these adjustments may pave the way for a "generational crypto bull run," according to Wojciech Kulikowski, a software engineer at Farcaster. Kulikowski asserted that this could foster innovation in crypto-native mobile apps previously curbed by Apple restrictions.
In practice, NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea have so far provided limited functionality to their iOS apps, with users unable to purchase NFTs within the app. However, some companies have developed digital wallets, enabling in-app payments through browsers embedded within their applications.
Although Apple tightened its reins on cryptocurrencies in its updated App Store guidelines, the principles remain extensive. Crypto apps are still barred from offering currency for completing tasks, facilitating Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), or leveraging users' devices for cryptocurrency mining.
Google took a different approach, loosening restrictions on Google Play Store policies in 2023. The new rules allow NFTs to unlock in-app content, irrespective of where they were purchased, and require developers to disclose whether their games are blockchain-based, much like Epic Games' platform.
Apple, as yet, has not responded to Decrypt's request for comment.
Pen by Andrew Hayward**
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Brief Insights:
- Developers can now include links, buttons, or calls to action while users browse NFT collections on the U.S. storefront.
- The U.S. storefront no longer requires apps to direct users to external payment methods using a "buttons, external links, or other calls to action" entitlement.
- In-app features like buying premium content or boosts remain under Apple's constraints.
- Google's Google Play Store policies now permit NFTs to unlock in-app content regardless of purchase location.
- A recent court ruling has prompted Apple to ease restrictions on its iOS App Store, allowing developers to facilitate NFT purchases from secondary markets and guide users to alternative payment solutions.
- The revised iOS App Store review guidelines now prohibit punitive measures for purchases made outside of Apple apps and also end constraints on developer-led directives to third-party websites.
- NFT marketplaces like OpenSea can now potentially offer more functionality to their iOS apps, as users may be able to purchase NFTs within the app.
- Despite the relaxed guidelines, Apple still prohibits crypto apps from offering currency for completing tasks, facilitating Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), or using users' devices for cryptocurrency mining.
- Google's Google Play Store policies have also been updated to allow NFTs to unlock in-app content, regardless of where they were purchased, and require developers to disclose the blockchain-based nature of their games.
- As for the use of cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH) and tokens, users can manage their digital assets through digital wallets within certain apps, enabling in-app payments through browsers embedded within the application.
