Timed alongside its Worldwide Developer Conference this week, Apple rolled out a new set of App Store Review Guidelines which, somewhat surprisingly, now loosen restrictions around some requirements that need to be met to publish to the App Store.
Typically, Apple updates its guidelines to either introduce new rules or clarify existing rules to developers by adding more details. However, this week’s changes instead remove a handful of rules around subsets of apps — including lottery apps, apps used for charitable donations, apps that use location and others.
The Changes Follow a Series of Legal Challenges and New Regulations in Select Markets
The changes follow a series of legal challenges and new regulations in select markets over Apple’s control of its App Store, where the company is under pressure to permit third-party payments and increased competition. Both the EU and the U.S. are considering measures designed to level the playing field across numerous fronts when it comes to app stores and the fees they charge.
Apple Removes One of Its Vaguer Rules
Most notably, Apple’s new guidelines see it deleting one of its vaguer rules over how an app has to function in order to be permitted on the App Store. With the update, Apple removed the requirement (rule 4.2.3) that says an app must ‘include sufficient content in the binary for the app to function at launch.’
Why Apple Removed This Rule is Less Clear
Though designed to ensure that apps have some sort of minimum functionality and are usable upon installation, Apple has also wielded this rule to block apps that would require another app to function or that first need to call resources from the internet. As to why Apple is now removing this rule is less clear, but presumably, this would now mean that apps could prompt users to download additional resources at launch, as some games already do, and wouldn’t be required to be functional before that download completed.
This Could Pave the Way for HTML5-Enabled Games
It could possibly pave the way for HTML5-enabled games to return to the App Store, after being restricted in 2019. Combined with two other changes related to lottery apps, it seems Apple may be looking to loosen its rules around HTML5 when used in this subset of the app market.
Apple’s Previous Restrictions on HTML5
The company has also now removed rule 5.3.3, which had restricted users from buying lottery or raffle tickets or initiating fund transfers in an app, and rule 4.7, which had restricted lotteries and charitable donations in code that’s not embedded in the binary.
Apple’s Explanation of Its Reasoning
Apple had explained its reasoning in January 2020 around the use of HTML5 in apps, saying that apps that dynamically provide core features and functionality via HTML5 are ‘best delivered through Safari’ — an indication that Apple wanted to restrict these sorts of apps from its App Store.
The Revised Guidelines See Apple Changing Its Tune
The revised guidelines see Apple changing its tune a bit, which could have broader ramifications for the lottery app industry. Another updated requirement references the new WeatherKit toolkit for developers, which allows for the creation of apps that use Apple’s own weather data services.
Apple’s New Requirement for Apps Using Location Data
With rule 5.2.5, Apple simply says that apps have to follow the attribution requirements provided in WeatherKit’s documentation. Finally, another rule being dropped (2.5.4) is focused on location data. Apple no longer requires apps using location background mode to remind users that doing so ‘may dramatically decrease battery life.’
Why This Change Likely Occurred
This likely has to do more with improvements to the iPhone’s battery capabilities over the years, since the guidelines still restrict multitasking apps from using background location.
The Impact of These Changes on Developers and Users
These changes will have a significant impact on developers who want to create apps that use HTML5 or need to access location data in the background. It also means that users can expect more innovative apps with new features, including games and lottery-style apps.
What’s Next for Apple and Its App Store Guidelines?
It’s clear that Apple is responding to the increasing pressure from regulators and developers to loosen its grip on the App Store. However, it remains to be seen whether these changes will be enough to satisfy everyone involved.
Timeline of Changes: A Quick Recap
- January 2020: Apple explains its reasoning for restricting HTML5 apps.
- This week (2023): Apple releases new guidelines that loosen restrictions on HTML5 and location data.
- Current (2023): Developers are updating their apps to take advantage of the new features.
What Do You Think About These Changes? Share Your Thoughts in the Comments!
These changes will have far-reaching implications for developers, users, and the App Store as a whole.