The Delta emulator thumbs its nose at Apple again

DeltaNintendo’s retro console emulator, is once again playing the game. The developers of this application were among the first to distribute AltStore PAL, their own alternative store to the App Store, in the European Union. A store which, once installed, gives access to Delta.

Apple imposes an insane obstacle course

In the rest of the world, Delta is distributed directly toApp Store (also an achievement, emulators having been banned until now!). But there’s no question of doing anything: the rules imposed on Apple by the Digital Markets Regulation (DMA) give developers more flexibility to communicate with users about their offers.

In this case, Delta offers a Patreon subscription which entitles you to some advantages (new functions in beta, additional icons, etc.) and which above all allows you to support developers. Subscribers can connect their Patreon account in the app to enjoy their privileges.

But that’s good for the “AltStore PAL” version of Delta. The “App Store” version is much less flexible, it is still prohibited to promote subscriptions or virtual goods other than those to be purchased in the Apple store… Following the lawsuit with Epic, the manufacturer however had to make a concession: since January, developers have been able to request an “advantage” called “External Purchase Link”.

Once accepted by Apple, this right allows developers to integrate links to external stores. An insane obstacle course that is accompanied by extremely strict obligations on what to do and, above all, not to do.

Read Apple loosens the grip on the App Store but doesn’t give up on its commission

Riley Testut, one of Delta’s two developers, explains that he can only use one of four approved phrases, only one of which includes a specific price (in this case: ” Buy for $3 at altstore.io/patreon “). Furthermore, the link can only be displayed in one place in the application, in this case here, in the settings.

And Apple still requires its commission on purchases made through this method! Certainly, it is lower than the usual commission of 30% by default, but… by only 3 small points! Developers must in fact pay 27% of their sales to the manufacturer…

Under these conditions, we wonder why Delta wanted to bother with all this, but it is for a very good reason: the integration of this link also allows all those who are Patreon subscribers to connect to obtain their benefits. All that for that… Delta is a priori the first application to have obtained this right.

And it doesn’t stop there: Apple also requires that apps with this type of external purchases offer equivalents in the form of in-app purchases supported by the App Store. As a joke, Delta therefore sells three subscriptions at $10, 15% and $30 per month, which are therefore infinitely more expensive than the Patreon subscription (starting at $3). Conclusion: better to go directly through Patreon…

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