Apple has notified developers that apps and games that have gone two full years without an update may be at risk of being removed from the App Store.
The change comes as part of Apple’s App Store improvement scheme which aims to make the online shop easier to use and ensure customers “find great apps that fit their needs” that are compatible with newer iOS devices.
In an email to Protopop Games, Apple reportedly said: “This app has not been updated in a significant amount of time and is scheduled to be removed from sale in 30 days. No action is required for the app to remain available to users who have already downloaded the app.
“You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review within 30 days. If no update is submitted within 30 days, the app will be removed from sale.”
I feel sick. Apple just sent me an email saying they’re removing my free game Motivoto because its more than 2 years old.
It’s part of their App improvement system.
This is not cool. Console games from 2000 are still available for sale.
This is an unfair barrier to indie devs. pic.twitter.com/7XNcLfiEcR
“This is not cool,” the developer tweeted in response to the email. “Console games from 2000 are still available for sale. This is an unfair barrier to indie devs.
“I’m sitting here on a Friday night, working myself to [the] bone after my day job, trying my best to scrape a living from my indie games, trying to keep up with Apple, Google, Unity, Xcode, MacOS changes that happen so fast my head spins while performing worse on older devices,” the developer added.
Apple confirms that the changes affects all applications, not just games, and should Apple staff encounter any issues with apps on the store, they’ll get in touch with the developers.
“To make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs, we want to ensure that apps available on the App Store are functional and up-to-date. We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated,” Apple said.
As Apple explained in its email to developers, even if a favourite app or game of yours is removed from the store, you should not encounter any issues using it, including microtransactions.
ICYMI, a new EU law could be passed that would force Apple to allow users to install third-party apps on their devices, a process known as sideloading. The law, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), has yet to be passed by the European Parliament but if accepted could be enforced as early as October.
It would mean Apple would be forced to allow users to access both third-party stores and third-party apps – something the company is vehemently opposed to as it could compromise security.
Will you support Eurogamer?
We want to make Eurogamer better, and that means better for our readers – not for algorithms. You can help! Become a supporter of Eurogamer and you can view the site completely ad-free, as well as gaining exclusive access to articles, podcasts and conversations that will bring you closer to the team, the stories, and the games we all love. Subscriptions start at £3.99 / $4.99 per month.
Get the day's most talked about stories straight to your inbox.
Vikki Blake
Contributor
When her friends were falling in love with soap stars, Vikki was falling in love with video games. She’s a survival horror survivalist with a penchant for Yorkshire Tea, men dressed up as doctors and sweary words. She struggles to juggle a fair-to-middling Destiny/Halo addiction and her kill/death ratio is terrible.
Please enable JavaScript to see comments.
Steam Deck can now be purchased without a reservation
Official dock also available.
15
Stadia's Elder Scrolls Online players will be able to transfer their saves to PC
Following cloud gaming service's collapse.
4
Humankind's first major expansion Together We Rule gets November release date
And free-play Steam weekend starts today.
Prison Architect's spooky next expansion Undead announced
Hanging with my ghoul-friend.
Pokémon Go Evolution Cup best team recommendations
Pokémon Go’s Evolution Cup is here until October 13!
Steam Deck can now be purchased without a reservation
Official dock also available.
15
Stadia's Elder Scrolls Online players will be able to transfer their saves to PC
Following cloud gaming service's collapse.
4
Humankind's first major expansion Together We Rule gets November release date
And free-play Steam weekend starts today.
Podcast | Exactly how realistic are horses in games?
What they get right, and what they get wrong.
Premium only | Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe.
What a great book.
Premium only | Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form
"Where exactly am I going?"
Premium only | Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole
Underlands.
Buy things with globes on them
And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store!
Bad puns and video games since 1999.
Copyright © 2022 Gamer Network Limited, a ReedPop company.
All rights reserved. No part of this site or its content may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder.