Apple Says iPhone Games Can Offer Redemption Codes Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple this week announced that App Store app developers will be able to offer redemption codes for all types of in-app purchases starting later this year.

In 2020, Apple introduced the ability for developers to offer customers unique, alphanumeric codes that they can redeem in the App Store for free or discounted auto-renewable subscriptions. Later this year, Apple will be allowing developers to offer these codes for any in-app purchases, including consumable items like in-game currency.

Apple previously said that developers can offer customers these one-time codes digitally, such as through an email, or offline at physical events. For example, the team behind Clash of Clans could promote the game at a convention by offering customers who walk by their booth a card with a redemption code for a free or discounted Sack of Gems.

Article Link: Apple Says iPhone Games Can Offer Redemption Codes Later This Year

 

[matthew12]

That’s odd it’s only explicitly allowed now. Stuff from Hoyoverse like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have been doing this for years now.

 

[svish]

It is indeed a good change though it could have been implemented back in 2020 itself. Anyway good to see this happening now.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple previously said that developers can offer customers these one-time codes digitally, such as through an email, or offline at physical events. For example, the team behind Clash of Clans could promote the game at a convention by offering customers who walk by their booth a card with a redemption code for a free or discounted Sack of Gems.

I guess it'd be cool to be able to buy a redeemable code for a discounted Sack of Gems at a convention. Is Apple going to want a 30% cut from these offline convention sales and will app developers at their convention booth be required to only accept payments through, I don't know, Apple Pay?

 

[Plutonius]

Pay to play ?

 

[AppliedMicro]

Unless I’m missing something (?), this looks like a way to promote Apple’s In-App Purchasing system.
…over other alternative purchasing options for digital items or subscriptions?

In other words: Apple taking small baby steps, slowly beginning to… well, actually compete (on in-app purchases)?

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Unless I’m missing something (?), this looks like a way to promote Apple’s In-App Purchasing system.
…over other alternative purchasing options for digital items or subscriptions?

In other words: Apple taking small baby steps, slowly beginning to… well, actually compete (on in-app purchases)?

So is this another Regulatory impact where the giant starts to innovate to stay competitive. Or did Apple just decide 10 years after everyone else to implement a very sought after function?

Or is the fact steam is now Apple ARM native is suddenly a large competitive threat for the majority of the iOS AppStore market revenue 🤔

 

[Hammerd]

Do not redeem the cards!!!

 

[ZMacintosh]

I guess it'd be cool to be able to buy a redeemable code for a discounted Sack of Gems at a convention. Is Apple going to want a 30% cut from these offline convention sales and will app developers at their convention booth be required to only accept payments through, I don't know, Apple Pay?

no they won't have any impact if theyre sold outside of the App Store, for example if they were to generate redemption codes, those would basically count against any sales so it would be a negative of x% of what they would normally get a cut of if it were a direct in-app sale, from my understanding. I dont think anyone here will be negatively impacted and I tink the whole fee stuff when it comes to devs and Apple App Store is wildly blown out of proportion.

 

[litmag01]

I guess it'd be cool to be able to buy a redeemable code for a discounted Sack of Gems at a convention. Is Apple going to want a 30% cut from these offline convention sales and will app developers at their convention booth be required to only accept payments through, I don't know, Apple Pay?

no they won't have any impact if theyre sold outside of the App Store, for example if they were to generate redemption codes, those would basically count against any sales so it would be a negative of x% of what they would normally get a cut of if it were a direct in-app sale, from my understanding. I dont think anyone here will be negatively impacted and I tink the whole fee stuff when it comes to devs and Apple App Store is wildly blown out of proportion.

Annnnnnd any potential purchased DLC (levels, gem-holder add ons, etc.) would still fall under the rules of the App Store. AKA - You get to make money and stop complaining about your cut being diminished by Apple, and we still get to tell our customers the content security is undersigned by us, not side loaded.

 

[vtrautia]

Apple App Store has lacked innovation due to lack of competition. There are still no possibility try paid app for free for less than 2 hours.

 

[baconcat_8964]

That’s odd it’s only explicitly allowed now. Stuff from Hoyoverse like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have been doing this for years now.

Those games usually have their own account, friend, reward, chat, achievement system. Not using Game Centre framework at all.

 

[frownface]

That’s odd it’s only explicitly allowed now. Stuff from Hoyoverse like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have been doing this for years now.

Yep, my local supermarket has giftcards for fortnite vbucks, and roblox dollars (or whatever it's called)
I'll never touch either; but the options have been there all along.

The difference here is any "redemption code" for discounts etc will route the user through the apple payment system.

It's almost like they know their days of trying to stymie the competition from being able to redeem their cards are coming to an end (a quick google shows you cannot redeem a fortnite vbucks card within the fortnite app, you have to do it via a browser on the epic website) so they're trying to get ahead of the curve and offer alternatives before courts require apple to allow in game loading.