apple announced It will allow alternative app stores in Japan and allow developers to process payments for digital goods and services outside of its in-app purchase system in iOS. The iPhone maker isn’t making these changes because it wants to be more open. It’s being forced — in this case, to comply with the country’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), which is now in effect.
with the This updateApple’s App Store revenue is being impacted in another major market due to antitrust laws and regulations. The company already has to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which the tech giant was previously required to do. Allow for alternative app stores and other changes.
In the US, Apple has been strong-armed into changing its payment system by the courts following a lawsuit by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. Although it was not declared a monopoly, the court ruled that Apple needed to give developers the right to process payments outside of its system if they chose. (The details surrounding this order are still being worked out following the appeal Partially reversed an earlier decision.Jeez
As always, in its announcement about the changes in Japan, Apple warned that alternative app marketplaces and payments “open new avenues for malware, fraud, scams, and privacy and security risks.” To mitigate these risks, the company said it has worked with Japanese regulators to require an authorization process for app marketplaces (“notarization”), which it says is specifically designed to protect children from inappropriate content and scams.
The fact that Apple has come up with a process to reverse the threat of alternative app stores indicates that there have always been technical solutions to balance the needs of both openness and security.
As in the EU, Apple has come up with a complex fee structure to ensure it doesn’t lose out on as much revenue as the App Store, while apparently complying with the letter of the law.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, of course, wasn’t silent on the matter, saying that Fortnite still won’t return to iOS in Japan because Apple is charging a 21 percent fee on third-party app purchases.
In a post on X, he wrote“Apple needed to open up iOS to competing stores today, and instead of doing so honestly, they embarked on another journey of obstruction and law-breaking in total disrespect to the government and people of Japan. Apple chose again.”
He also pointed out the differences between Apple and other game store providers, like Microsoft, “Can you imagine the gamer and regulatory uproar that would result if Microsoft required all games from Steam and the Epic Games Store to call their commerce monitoring APIs and required all transactions to be returned to Microsoft?”
“Apple just announced the same in Japan,” he added.
Apple noted that developers will need to agree to the latest update to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which includes New options for Japantill March 17, 2026.