A game emulator called Delta uses recent court decisions regarding Apple’s App Store to support your business by linking to your Patreon membership page. The update was approved for release on Wednesday in the US app store. This allows Delta users to join the Delta team’s Patreon directly from the mobile app without having to cut a subscription to Apple.
The move follows a court ruling last week, and after years of fighting with Fortnite Maker Epic Games, Apple forced it to open its US app store entirely for external purchases. While Apple won its antitrust lawsuits significantly, the judge found that the tech giant had not properly tracked the court’s orders in one key area: in-app purchases.
Apple previously considered which apps could link to their websites, added screens to scare users from purchasing through external payment mechanisms. During that time, I was charging a commission on web sales of between 30% and 27% as usual.
Apple has since changed its App Store rules in the US after Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple failed to comply with the original injunction. Companies such as Spotify, Amazon Kindle and Patreon have updated their iOS apps to add links to websites that allow consumers to pay directly without using Apple’s app purchases.
This is a victory for large companies that can maintain more profits by cleaning up Apple’s committees, but the Delta update is an example of how control can make way for a new business model to monetize mobile apps.
With that change, the App Store will provide the boost it needs when Indie app development is declining, and all iOS will release “Sherlocks” (copy). Small developers struggle to make a living after paying a 30% fee to Apple, but thanks to expanded support for web payments, they have the option to maintain more profits.
In the updated version of Delta’s Game Emulator app, users are asked to “join Patreon” from the app’s settings screen. Here you can subscribe to Delta’s $3/month Patreon membership by clicking the button. This provides access to exclusive features and other perks.
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The web page opens inside the app, allowing users to link their Patreon accounts to select membership tiers, such as monthly or year. (Previously, users could only link to the app’s Patreon account, but they were unable to subscribe directly.)
“Now you can freely mention Patreon without giving 27% of Apple’s donations,” Delta creator Riley Testut said in a social media post, adding “Goodbye Scary Screen.”
Delta includes ways to pay through Apple’s in-app purchases that are still needed. However, it is hidden under the “Alternative Payment Methods” menu on the settings screen. This is an option that many users likely won’t explore.
Hiding pro dormer options deep within the layers of the menu is a trick Apple itself has used to its advantage over the years.
For example, if you want to turn off Apple’s personalized ads (basically “don’t track app pop-up authentication” for the required Apple version), you’ll need to dig into your iOS settings, go to privacy and security, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap on Apple ads, then separate the personalized ads. Alternatively, if you want to clear usage data for an app that personalizes the App Store experience, you will need to go to (Settings) > (Apps) > (App Store) > (Scroll to the bottom of that page). (Tap Personalized Recommendations, then tap on the (Clear) app usage data on the screen that appears.
Can Apple not be angry at developers for adopting its own tactics?
Given that Delta’s app has been approved from Apple’s app reviews, it appears that in the near future, other Patreon-supported apps will soon be visible.