Epic Games and Spotify are among the first companies to explore the opportunities presented by Apple’s newly revised App Store policies. Both tech giants recently submitted updated versions of their apps for review—something that wouldn’t have been possible under Apple’s previous guidelines.
For Epic Games, this move marks an attempt to bring Fortnite back to Apple’s App Store for the first time since 2020. The game was removed after Epic implemented its own payment system, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase rules and triggering a high-profile legal battle over antitrust violations.
Spotify’s latest app update is focused on improving how users access audiobooks. The company aims to let listeners buy individual titles directly and allow Premium users to purchase extra audiobook hours beyond the 15 free ones offered monthly. This follows Apple’s recent approval of a new version of the Amazon Kindle app that, for the first time, includes a direct “Buy Book” button. Last week, Spotify was also permitted to show U.S. users pricing information for its subscription plans within its app—another significant shift.
These changes are part of broader reforms Apple introduced after losing a key point in its legal conflict with Epic Games. Although Apple largely prevailed in the lawsuit, the judge ordered the company to loosen its control over payment systems, particularly by allowing developers to direct users to external websites for purchases.
Previously, Apple forced developers to seek special permission for external payment links and imposed strict formatting rules, including warning messages designed to steer users back toward in-app purchases. Developers were still required to pay Apple a 27% fee on those external sales, just slightly reduced from the usual 30%.
The court found these restrictions excessive and ruled that Apple must allow more freedom in how developers offer alternative payment options—without imposing unnecessary conditions or collecting commissions.
As a result, companies like Epic and Spotify are moving quickly to test these newly granted freedoms. And with these early steps, more developers are expected to follow, potentially ushering in a new era for app-based commerce where creators have greater control over how they monetize their content.
