Khaberni - Apple announced it will permit the presence of alternative app stores on the iOS system in Japan, alongside providing a choice for developers to process payments for goods and digital services outside of its in-app purchase system.
This move is in compliance with Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), which recently went into effect.
The company emphasized that these amendments are not a voluntary change in approach, but rather a response to regulatory requirements aimed at enhancing competition and curbing monopolistic practices in the digital app market.
The decision poses a new challenge to Apple's app store revenue in one of its major markets, following similar steps the company had to take within the European Union in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandated the allowance of alternative app stores and modifications of its policies.
In the United States, Apple was previously forced to modify its in-app payment system by court ruling, following the lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite.
Although the court did not deem Apple to be monopolistic, it required the company to provide options for payments outside its system, while some details of the judgment's implementation are still under legal debate after a partial reversal through an appeal.
As usual, Apple warned, in its statement, that allowing alternative app stores and external payment systems could lead to "increased risks of malware, scams, and privacy and security threats".
To address these concerns, the company clarified that it has collaborated with Japanese regulators to implement a mandatory licensing system for app stores, known as "Notarization", aimed at protecting users, especially children, from inappropriate content and fraudulent practices.
Analysts believe that Apple's adoption of this system reflects that technical solutions that balance openness and protection were available from the start, despite the company's previous insistence on its closed model.
Similar to the European experience, Apple in Japan has adopted a complex fee structure aimed at minimizing potential revenue losses in the app store, while formally complying with the new legal requirements.
For his part, Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, sharply criticized this move, stating that Fortnite will not return to the iOS system in Japan due to Apple imposing a 21% fee on purchases made through third parties.
Sweeney stated in a post on the "X" platform that Apple "once again chooses to hinder competition rather than genuinely open its system", considering what is happening as "a disregard for the government of Japan and its people".
Sweeney compared Apple's stance with the practices of other companies, such as Microsoft, questioning the likely reactions if Microsoft were to require all games from rival stores to report every sales transaction, pointing out that this is the model Apple intends to implement in Japan.
In the same vein, Apple clarified that developers wishing to take advantage of the new options would be obligated to agree to the latest version of Apple's developer program agreement, with a deadline by March 17, 2026.
This development occurs amid escalating regulatory pressures globally on large technology companies, with increasing calls to open their systems to competition and allow developers and users more options in payment and distribution channels.
