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Developer angry that App Store is removing game that hasn't been updated in 7 yr

https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/07/15/developer-angry-that-app-store-is-removing-game-that-hasnt-been-updated-in-7-years
32•ksec•5h ago

Comments

asdefghyk•4h ago
The game is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wheels-of-aurelia/id1198170026

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheels_of_Aurelia

Developer argues it does not ned an update. Mentions books do not need regular updates to stay in library , also states other reasons....

mathgradthrow•3h ago
Seems like a pretty strong argument.
SOLAR_FIELDS•1h ago
As long as it continues to conform to the technical requirements of supported phones on the platform. I can see the reasoning behind wanting to remove it if it's using some API that is not supported in any of the OS's Apple supports, as it's bad UX for their users. That doesn't look like it's the case here though.

The reasoning given by the authors of the article (who are weirdly pro apple and anti this dev) seems also a bit weird

> There is no value to Apple recommending an app that no one else has downloaded for months, since the market has already demonstrated the app no longer has a perceived value to the App Store. Removing it is a better option for Apple than keeping it around and wasting consumer attention, with a high likelihood of it not being bought anyway.

Usually the justification is far more stupidly malicious: Apple instigated a blanket policy that works for 90% of use cases, and this guy fell into the 10% of "Alive, not very popular, but still has value on the app store". Apple being apple, just decides the cost benefit of making exceptions is not worth it and tells the dev to f-off.

Also the comments on that article are pretty rich:

> I get the idea of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but I also get that maintaining a level of security and quality in the App Store could require the vendor to provide evidence that they are giving the app a review at least once every three years. If there are no problems, change the date on the splash screen and submit it as an updated app. If that then passes Apple's review, the clock is reset for another three years. This doesn't seem like an unreasonable quality assurance measure.

You mean like the $100 a year that this dev pays to have the developer account to keep the app on the store? What is that money going to, if not for re-review of stuff like this?

fracus•4h ago
How do you prune the ecosystem without having to do any real work? Just filter out apps that aren't updated in a specific time frame. I suppose they expect you to update the app even if it doesn't need it to prove it hasn't been abandoned. Seems like a really lazy and impersonal solution.
lxgr•4h ago
Is it time for a regulation requiring app stores (and while we're at it, all digital media "stores" selling DRM-ed media or claiming to only license, not sell, it in the fine print) to change the "buy" button to say "rent for a flat fee" instead?
rolph•4h ago
it is time for a regulation forbidding the practice of reaching into your hardware and modifying, without your consent.
duskwuff•3h ago
How is that even relevant here? Apple is only delisting this app from the store, not removing it from users' devices.
lacksconfidence•3h ago
This is the law in California (https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2024/11/calif...) as of January. Several games I use have recently changed their buttons from "buy" to "license" or similar as a result
daveoc64•2h ago
Is this a relevant topic?

Anyone who has purchased the item would be able to download it again for free - it's just new purchases that would be discontinued.

benoau•1h ago
That's only until Apple introduces an incompatibility, then it will be unavailable with a certain iOS update or new phone.
cellular•50m ago
Google forces old apps off their playstore because newer apps all have ads!

They make money on ads.

They don't want those 2016 era games occupying screen time because they don't serve up ads!

Have you tried playing a new game recently?! 1 minute of ads per minute of gameplay. I'm not exaggerating.

And the games are awful...you can't lose on half of them. They don't want you to get frustrated by losing and stop ad-watching.

RIP Android gaming.

nottorp•4h ago
I don't think there is anyone at Apple who understands gaming.

I'm also sure they're proud of how many free to play grindfests they have in the app store, since those get weekly updates.

mass_and_energy•1h ago
Shoulda never sold Virtual Game Station, they'd hold the gaming market in their palm today
mikestew•4h ago
Ninja’ed (by a measly few minutes): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44573512
saubeidl•3h ago
Note the different framing on the different sites.

Biases in action.

andrewmcwatters•3h ago
Another article for https://github.com/andrewmcwattersandco/app-store-rejections

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