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> If you don't like Epic's store, just don't use it. Problem solved. That only holds up until something you need is exclusive to a store that you don't want to

> If you don't like Epic's store, just don't use it. Problem solved. That only holds up until something you need is exclusive to a store that you don't want to use.

zepto 5y ago
Which will happen pretty instantly since the stores will buy exclusives.
- kelnos 5y ago
  Will it, though? My expectation is that most apps will still want to be on the main App Store if they can, since installing a third-party app store still represents friction to the install experience. Perhaps in a more mature market where having several app stores on your phone is commonplace (assuming that even happens), we'll have an annoying situation of exclusives, but I don't expect that "instantly" or even remotely so.
  - zepto 5y ago
    Yes, it will happen instantly. Well funded app stores will just pay up front for exclusives. It’s completely standard practice in any comparable industry. Music, TV, Movies, books, podcasts, etc. Developers might abstractly prefer to be on the main store, but some will be happy to take million dollar payouts from the marketing budgets of the new stores. It’s hard enough for independents to be successful now, but once you have competing publishers like Epic in the game, the era of independent commercial app development will be over.
  - shagie 5y ago
    I would point to Epic's use of exclusives. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/epic-covering-refund-costs-for-crowdfunded-games-going-exclusive-to-their-store https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/epic-covering-refund-costs-... https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/08/why-one-pc-developer-turned-down-the-security-of-epics-exclusivity-offer/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/08/why-one-pc-developer-... https://www.vg247.com/2019/07/09/epic-games-wants-pc-games-market-to-itself/ https://www.vg247.com/2019/07/09/epic-games-wants-pc-games-m... Given epic's current behavior on PC, I think it would be a given that they would also do this on another App Store.
    - kosievdmerwe 5y ago
      How else should Epic compete? They can't reduce the price in line with their 12% cut vs steam's 30%, because steam doesn't allow games to have cheaper prices elsewhere. Which now that I think of it seems anticompetitive from Valve.
      - zepto 5y ago
        Exactly this - exclusives are a standard move which we can be guaranteed will be used if multiple apps stores are allowed on iOS. It won’t help consumers or developers, but it will allow epic and other well funded companies to insert themselves into a revenue stream without creating value.
egocentric 5y ago
If Apple is so concerned about user security & privacy when it comes to alternative app stores, they should adjust their policies so that the apps most users want will see no reason not to be on the App Store.

> If you don't like Epic's store, just don't use it. Problem solved. That only holds up until something you need is exclusive to a store that you don't want to use.

zepto 5y ago

Which will happen pretty instantly since the stores will buy exclusives.

kelnos 5y ago
Will it, though? My expectation is that most apps will still want to be on the main App Store if they can, since installing a third-party app store still represents friction to the install experience. Perhaps in a more mature market where having several app stores on your phone is commonplace (assuming that even happens), we'll have an annoying situation of exclusives, but I don't expect that "instantly" or even remotely so.
- zepto 5y ago
  Yes, it will happen instantly. Well funded app stores will just pay up front for exclusives. It’s completely standard practice in any comparable industry. Music, TV, Movies, books, podcasts, etc. Developers might abstractly prefer to be on the main store, but some will be happy to take million dollar payouts from the marketing budgets of the new stores. It’s hard enough for independents to be successful now, but once you have competing publishers like Epic in the game, the era of independent commercial app development will be over.
- shagie 5y ago
  I would point to Epic's use of exclusives. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/epic-covering-refund-costs-for-crowdfunded-games-going-exclusive-to-their-store https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/epic-covering-refund-costs-... https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/08/why-one-pc-developer-turned-down-the-security-of-epics-exclusivity-offer/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/08/why-one-pc-developer-... https://www.vg247.com/2019/07/09/epic-games-wants-pc-games-market-to-itself/ https://www.vg247.com/2019/07/09/epic-games-wants-pc-games-m... Given epic's current behavior on PC, I think it would be a given that they would also do this on another App Store.
  - kosievdmerwe 5y ago
    How else should Epic compete? They can't reduce the price in line with their 12% cut vs steam's 30%, because steam doesn't allow games to have cheaper prices elsewhere. Which now that I think of it seems anticompetitive from Valve.
    - zepto 5y ago
      Exactly this - exclusives are a standard move which we can be guaranteed will be used if multiple apps stores are allowed on iOS. It won’t help consumers or developers, but it will allow epic and other well funded companies to insert themselves into a revenue stream without creating value.

egocentric 5y ago

If Apple is so concerned about user security & privacy when it comes to alternative app stores, they should adjust their policies so that the apps most users want will see no reason not to be on the App Store.