Apple is warning developers that it will remove their apps and games from the App Store if they have not been “updated in a significant amount of time.”
According to published reports and social media postings Tuesday (April 26), the tech giant gives developers 30 days to update their apps.
“You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review in 30 days,” Apple wrote in an email shared on Twitter. “If no update is submitted in 30 days, the app will be removed from sale.”
Apple said the change will not affect any apps already on users’ devices. The company went into more detail on its developers’ page.
“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,” Apple said. “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of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.”
Many developers took to social media to criticize Apple’s move. Among them was Robert Kabwe of Prototop Games.
“I feel sick,” he tweeted. “Apple just sent me an email saying they’re removing my free game Motivoto because [it’s] 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.”
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
— Protopop Games (@protopop) April 23, 2022
Apple’s treatment of developers has gotten it into trouble in the past, including in the Netherlands, where the iPhone maker has been fined tens of millions of dollars for failing to change the conditions in-store to let dating app providers to allow for alternative payment methods.
Read more: Apple’s 10th Antitrust Fine in the Netherlands Shows High Stakes at Play
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