In a nutshell: Japan's government recently compelled Apple to introduce iOS App Store policies mirroring those in Europe, but the Cupertino firm has repeated its strategy of employing loopholes and new fees. Developers, including Epic Games, claim that Apple has essentially eliminated any benefit to stepping outside of its walled garden.
Apple has begun allowing iOS developers in Japan to distribute apps outside of the App Store and direct users toward alternative payment processors. However, the new policies come with various strings attached, drawing predictable condemnation from Epic Games CEO and frequent Apple opponent Tim Sweeney.
The new rules are Apple's response to a law Japan passed last year, which forced it to enable third-party app stores and payment processors. The legislation resembles rules that required the company to implement similar policies in the European Union.
They're charging a competition-crushing 21% junk fee on third-party in-app payments, and 15% for purchases made on the web (a practice the US District Court already found to be illegal in the contempt of court proceeding that Apple lost and the 9th Circuit Court upheld):… pic.twitter.com/VM1iC8vxPa
– Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 18, 2025
However, Japanese developers must still pay Apple commission fees when distributing software or registering payments outside of the official App Store. Under the new system, apps on the store pay the company a 21% cut for in-app transactions, which falls to 10% after one year, with an additional 5% processing fee. For in-app transactions conducted outside the App Store, the commission shrinks to 15% for the first year, and apps distributed through third-party channels pay a 5% core technology fee.
Sweeney slammed the new charges as anti-competitive and criticized the requirement for all non-App Store developers to report their activity to Apple. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone-maker framed the new requirements around cybersecurity and child safety.
In a comment translated by Automaton West, Japanese game producer Ukyo indicated that Apple's new fees made expansion outside the App Store nonviable, echoing comments by Spotify following the tech giant's initial compliance with EU regulations. Mobile developers have long claimed that Apple's and Google's commission fees absorb significant portions of their revenue.
December 19, 2025
Earlier this year, a US court ruling forced Apple to enable third-party payments without so-called "Apple Taxes," and developers responded immediately. Amazon began allowing Kindle book purchases within its iOS app, and Fortnite returned to the platform after a nearly five-year absence. Congress has also made multiple unsuccessful attempts to pass legislation on third-party app stores in the US.
New Japanese regulations also impact web browsers on iOS. Apple now allows users to choose their default browser and no longer requires browsers to use Safari's WebKit engine. Shifting to alternative engines, such as Chromium or Gecko, could eventually enhance mobile website functionality and reduce the need for separate apps.
Apple's App Store "freedom" in Japan comes with strings attached, obviously
