4 ms·

The cut is too universal and not neuanced. If it was a 30% cut on profits, that would make sense, and everyone would grin but deal with it. But if you sell som

The cut is too universal and not neuanced. If it was a 30% cut on profits, that would make sense, and everyone would grin but deal with it. But if you sell something for a 10% markup, having to give that + 20% to apple is bad. And now people ask "why do I have to pay more for your service on apple vs android". And now you're in a fun PR battle. In cases of say fortnight, there are real server costs involved. Not to mention dev costs. In cases of say music, there's licensing you pay. If you order food, you are already working in the margins. This makes competition vs big boys even harder. How can I compete vs netflix if any streaming service I make who doesn't have netflix's negotiation power has to pay 30% of every payment. I can't get close to netflix's price. The list goes on. The point is, it isn't just a grin and move on problem :(

maratc 3y ago
> In cases of say fortnight, there are real server costs involved. Not to mention dev costs. In Fortnite, anyone can develop their own maps ("islands") and sell them, while Epic will pay them 40% of the revenue. Now could you please explain how the platform charging 60% platform fee are the good guys in their fight against the greedy platform charging 30% platform fee?
joshstrange 3y ago
I agree with some of what you are saying but: > In cases of say fortnight, there are real server costs involved. They are selling digital coins, there is zero cost to "minting" these. It's not up to Apple to make your margins work. F2P works because some people pay and others don't, the ones who pay cover server costs for those who don't. I can promise you Fortnight was bringing in a ton of _profit_ even with Apple's 30% cut. Also "think of the people running digital casinos for kids" (re: lootboxes and the like) isn't a winning argument. In fact I think hosting all that crap is a blacker stain on Apple than taking 30%. > In cases of say music, there's licensing you pay. Totally fair, see also: ebooks/audiobooks/tv/movies. > If you order food, you are already working in the margins. Apple doesn't take a 30% cut here. > How can I compete vs netflix if any streaming service I make who doesn't have netflix's negotiation power has to pay 30% of every payment. I can't get close to netflix's price. Valid when it comes to Google who seem to have struck a number of deals with places like Spotify (see EPIC vs Google suit, and why Google lost) and while there were some backroom deals with Apple I believe it was only for the 15% which Apple eventually rolled out for all subscriptions in the second year.
Someone 3y ago
> And now people ask "why do I have to pay more for your service on apple vs android". And now you're in a fun PR battle. Why do you pay more for coffee on a square in Paris than in an alleyway a few hundred meters from there? Because it’s a place people want to be. > This makes competition vs big boys even harder. How can I compete vs netflix if any streaming service I make who doesn't have netflix's negotiation power has to pay 30% of every payment. I can't get close to netflix's price. It would be of little help because you need scale to compete with Netflix, but if anything, I would think the DMA helps with that. https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/legislation_en https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/legislation_en, article 6.12: “12. The gatekeeper shall apply fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory general conditions of access for business users to its software application stores, online search engines and online social networking services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).” I think that means they could still give quantity discounts, but at least, you’d know you would get the same discounts Netflix gets, _if_ you manage to grow to their size. That’s not a promise you had before.

maratc 3y ago

> In cases of say fortnight, there are real server costs involved. Not to mention dev costs. In Fortnite, anyone can develop their own maps ("islands") and sell them, while Epic will pay them 40% of the revenue. Now could you please explain how the platform charging 60% platform fee are the good guys in their fight against the greedy platform charging 30% platform fee?

joshstrange 3y ago

I agree with some of what you are saying but: > In cases of say fortnight, there are real server costs involved. They are selling digital coins, there is zero cost to "minting" these. It's not up to Apple to make your margins work. F2P works because some people pay and others don't, the ones who pay cover server costs for those who don't. I can promise you Fortnight was bringing in a ton of _profit_ even with Apple's 30% cut. Also "think of the people running digital casinos for kids" (re: lootboxes and the like) isn't a winning argument. In fact I think hosting all that crap is a blacker stain on Apple than taking 30%. > In cases of say music, there's licensing you pay. Totally fair, see also: ebooks/audiobooks/tv/movies. > If you order food, you are already working in the margins. Apple doesn't take a 30% cut here. > How can I compete vs netflix if any streaming service I make who doesn't have netflix's negotiation power has to pay 30% of every payment. I can't get close to netflix's price. Valid when it comes to Google who seem to have struck a number of deals with places like Spotify (see EPIC vs Google suit, and why Google lost) and while there were some backroom deals with Apple I believe it was only for the 15% which Apple eventually rolled out for all subscriptions in the second year.

Someone 3y ago

> And now people ask "why do I have to pay more for your service on apple vs android". And now you're in a fun PR battle. Why do you pay more for coffee on a square in Paris than in an alleyway a few hundred meters from there? Because it’s a place people want to be. > This makes competition vs big boys even harder. How can I compete vs netflix if any streaming service I make who doesn't have netflix's negotiation power has to pay 30% of every payment. I can't get close to netflix's price. It would be of little help because you need scale to compete with Netflix, but if anything, I would think the DMA helps with that. https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/legislation_en https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/legislation_en, article 6.12: “12. The gatekeeper shall apply fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory general conditions of access for business users to its software application stores, online search engines and online social networking services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).” I think that means they could still give quantity discounts, but at least, you’d know you would get the same discounts Netflix gets, _if_ you manage to grow to their size. That’s not a promise you had before.