As the tech world continues to evolve, Apple has made significant changes to its App Store policies in the EU. For developers like Riley Testut, this news is nothing short of exciting. As the creator of Delta, an emulator that allows users to play games from various classic consoles, Testut is thrilled about the upcoming updates.
Testut's AltStore software has long been a crucial tool for installing Delta on iOS devices. However, with Apple's recent announcements, developers will soon be able to create their own marketplaces outside of the App Store – a major win for those who want more control over their apps' distribution. While this change may not introduce sideloading per se, it paves the way for more flexibility and innovation in app development.
In an exclusive interview with iMore, Testut shared his thoughts on Apple's EU App Store overhaul. When asked about the changes, he exclaimed, "Honestly, extremely overwhelmed! I didn't expect Apple to release so much information at once, so it took me a second to digest everything." Once he had time to process the news, however, he was ecstatic – exactly what he'd been hoping for since launching AltStore almost five years ago.
The new updates will allow developers like Testut to create marketplaces outside of the App Store, giving users more options for installing apps. This change has significant implications for Delta and AltStore, making it easier for users to access these emulators on their iOS devices.
Testut also expressed his thoughts on Apple's Core Technology Fee requirements, suggesting that free apps should be exempt from this fee to prevent indie developers from going bankrupt due to viral popularity. He also believes that the requirements could use some tweaking to better support smaller app creators.
With Apple's Vision Pro headset launching soon, Testut speculated that the company might have intentionally released these updates ahead of time to avoid spoiling the pre-order hype. While this remains speculation, it's clear that Apple is committed to providing developers with more flexibility and control over their apps' distribution.
As the tech world continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these changes shape the future of app development in the EU. With MarketplaceKit, a new API enabling developers to create their own marketplaces, the possibilities are endless. Will this lead to an epic battle between Apple and alternative marketplaces? Only time will tell.
Target Keyword: App user experience