two & a half gamers Special Episode – Apple vs Epic Special: 27% fee, new guidelines & creative solutions with workarounds

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This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #94. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 am conference discussion vibe, so let’s not take it too seriously.

The Team:

Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r- Game design consultant

Felix Braberg⁠ – Ad monetization consultant

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej Lančarič – User Acquisition & Creatives consultant

Join our slack channel here: SLACK CHANNEL

Summary
In this emergency episode, Matej, Felix, and Jakub discuss the recent Apple versus Epic legal battle and the implications for app developers. They explore Apple’s new guidelines allowing in-app purchases to include links to external websites but with a 27% commission fee. The hosts delve into the challenges and potential workarounds for developers, including the scare screen and user experience issues. They also discuss the impact of the DMA regulation and the possibility of alternative app stores. The episode concludes with a call for creativity and innovative solutions in navigating Apple’s policies.

Takeaways
Apple’s new guidelines allow in-app purchases to include links to external websites, but with a 27% commission fee.
Developers are exploring creative solutions and workarounds to minimize the impact of the commission fee.
The scare screen and user experience issues pose challenges for developers in implementing external links.
The future of app store policies remains uncertain, with the potential for alternative app stores and regulatory changes.

Agenda
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:38 Apple’s New Guidelines
02:31 The Twist: 27% Commission
03:14 Exploring Different Perspectives
05:11 The Impact of the DMA Regulation
06:10 Creative Solutions and Workarounds
07:21 The Scare Screen and User Experience
08:26 Additional Requirements and Challenges
09:36 The Potential for Discounts and Savings
10:47 The Financial Motivation for Apple
12:58 The App Store’s Revenue Impact
16:18 The Future of App Store Policies
18:51 Final Thoughts and Call for Creativity

Please share feedback and comments – matej@lancaric.me

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