Court slams ‘ludicrous’ App Store injunction arguments by Apple

Gavel as a US District Court delivers a sharp rebuke to Apple, criticising the tech giant’s interpretation of a court injunction in strong terms and rejecting its arguments for a narrow, literal reading of the order in ongoing legal proceedings led by Epic Games.

A US District Court has delivered a sharp rebuke to Apple, criticising the tech giant’s interpretation of a court injunction in strong terms and rejecting its arguments for a narrow, literal reading of the order.

The court’s findings signal trouble for Apple, suggesting its attempts to comply with only the strictest letter of the law – while ignoring its underlying purpose – will not suffice.

The core of the dispute centres on Apple's compliance with an...

1 May 2025 | App Stores

EU DMA: Apple and Meta hit with first major fines

Man punching as the EU flexes its regulatory muscles under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), imposing hefty fines on Apple and Meta for non-compliance over App Store and personal data practices.

The EU has flexed its regulatory muscles under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), imposing hefty fines on Apple and Meta for non-compliance. In its first enforcement actions of this kind, the Commission levied a €500 million fine against Apple and a €200 million fine against Meta.

The EU Commission found Apple breached its obligations regarding "anti-steering" practices within its App Store, while Meta was found to have failed to provide users with adequate choice concerning...

23 April 2025 | App Stores

Apple fined by French regulator over App Tracking Transparency

Close-up photo of the App Store on an iPhone illustrating that Apple has been hit with a €150 million fine by France's competition regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, for its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system implementation on iOS and iPad OS devices that excessively complicates the user experience within the environment for third-party applications.

Apple has been hit with a €150 million fine by France's competition regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, for its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system implementation.

While a smaller fine than expected, the regulator’s decision follows an in-depth investigation into the merits of the case, even after the authority had previously rejected a request for interim measures.

While the French regulator acknowledged that the objective of the ATT system – enhancing...

31 March 2025 | Developer

Arm unleashes ASR upscaling to boost mobile gaming performance

Illustration of a rocket on a mobile device as Arm announces ASR during Game Developers Conference, an upscaling technology promising to boost mobile gaming performance without compromising fidelity and battery life.

At GDC, Arm launched ASR (Accuracy Super Resolution)—an upscaling technology promising to boost mobile gaming performance without compromising fidelity and battery life.

For years, a fundamental challenge has plagued mobile game developers: how to strike the perfect balance between visuals and performance. Thanks to ASR, that difficult choice will be less of a problem.

First announced last year, Arm ASR is now available to all mobile game developers. Plugins for both...

19 March 2025 | Android

Apple wipes App Store apps lacking EU trader status

Pack of wipes illustrating Apple removing apps from the App Store of developers that have failed to submit their ‘trader status’ mandated by EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Apple has begun removing apps in the App Store from developers that have failed to submit their ‘trader status’ mandated by EU regulations.

Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), developers must provide their ‘trader’ contact information. Apple first notified developers of today’s deadline last year.

In an email shared with developers, Apple confirmed the move and outlined the consequences.

"As of today, apps without trader status have been...

19 February 2025 | App Stores

China prepares fresh App Store probe amid US tariffs fallout

Flag of China as the country prepares a probe into the iOS App Store in suspected retaliation for new US tariffs.

China is reportedly preparing a fresh antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store practices in response to the United States’ latest trade tariffs on Chinese goods.  

The controversial tariffs, imposed by President Trump, have been criticised for penalising American businesses and consumers rather than their intended foreign targets.

Economists have warned these measures result in increased costs for US consumers, which could lead to reduced sales and...

5 February 2025 | App Stores

CMA launches Apple and Google mobile ecosystems probe

Woman looking through a magnifying glass illustrating an investigation launched by the CMA into the mobile ecosystems of Apple and Google including the Play Store, App Store, and browsers, over market competition concerns.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched parallel investigations into Apple and Google, examining their influence over “mobile ecosystems”—the operating systems, app stores, and browsers that power smartphones and tablets.

The investigations will explore the impact of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms on the experiences of millions of British consumers and the viability of thousands of businesses, including app developers and those creating...

23 January 2025 | Android

Metaplay: Game development is entering a ‘Renaissance’

Depiction of people playing a game during the Renaissance illustrating a Metaplay report suggesting the gaming industry is entering a period of advancements and success following recent challenges,

Metaplay is proclaiming the beginning of a "Game Development Renaissance," heralding a new era of growth, innovation, and operational excellence driven by advances in technology, fresh approaches to creativity, and better tools and strategies.

Like the Renaissance centuries ago – which propelled leaps in art, science, and productivity – this modern iteration is creating limitless potential for game developers. Key findings from Metaplay's report bolster this vision, painting a...

17 January 2025 | Android

Software development trends and predictions for 2025

Developer using a computer with a crystal ball on the monitor illustrating predictions and trends for the software development industry in 2025.

As the world races towards 2025, Developer examines what lies ahead for software development in the new year.

Among the most pressing trends for 2025 are AI development simplification, the integration of cross-functional engineering teams, and the evolution of DevSecOps practices. These shifts promise to redefine how companies approach innovation, security, and efficiency in their development pipelines.

AI-powered development simplification

Avthar Sewrathan, AI...

19 December 2024 | Android

Developers get a better shot at App Store spotlight

Person in a spotlight illustrating the launch of the "Featuring Nominations" feature by Apple that enables iOS software developers to submit their apps for consideration to be featured on the App Store.

Apple has rolled out "Featuring Nominations" within App Store Connect, giving developers a better shot at the App Store spotlight.

In an update on Apple’s developer site, the company wrote:

“Share your app or game’s upcoming content and enhancements for App Store featuring consideration with new Featuring Nominations in App Store Connect. Submit a nomination to tell our team about a new launch, in-app content, or added functionality. If you’re featured in select...

13 November 2024 | App Stores