Apple recently sent a notification to some indie developers warning that their apps will be removed from the App Store if they are not updated within 30 days. The tech giant has had a policy against obsolete and abandoned apps since 2016, but the move shows it’s now enforcing that rule more strictly.
Many developers criticized the decision, emphasizing that they saw this decision as a stumbling block for indie developers, highlighting the difficulty of keeping up with platform changes and how much effort it took to release even a small update.
Now, Apple has published a new post explaining why some old apps are in danger of being removed, giving developers more time to update their apps.
The company said in the announcement that it will only send removal notifications to developers whose apps haven’t been updated in three years, and to developers whose apps have “no or very few downloads over a 12-month period.” Apple stated that removing old apps makes newer ones more discoverable, and also allows users to enjoy games and tools optimized for the latest operating system and devices.
As many know, older apps no longer work well on the latest generation phones, tablets and laptops, resulting in a below-average user experience. Still, a 30-day window may not be enough time for smaller developers to create an update. At the very least, Apple has extended the deadline and now gives developers up to 90 days to update their apps.
Users will continue to keep apps already installed on their devices even if apps are uninstalled, and developers can continue to monetize them via microtransactions.
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