this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2024
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Yeah, to be honest, if Apple's model is not legal, then neither is Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo...
It's a good argument.
It's not the same model though, is it? I can buy XBox, PS an Nintendo games in a shit ton of physical or digital stores. So there are different channels. There is no equivalent on iOS. If you don't want to publish in the app store, no one will be able to install your app (developers with own certs and enterprise customers with mdm excluded).
A chunk of those sales go to the platform, regardless of where they're bought. And you can't just sell an Xbox/playstation game without permission and royalties
This is true, but they're also now selling digital-only consoles. For some customers, the digital store is their only choice.
Don't/can't you still buy codes in other stores, though?
You can buy Apple gift cards in other stores too
But not directly the apps. I can, however, for example buy codes for individual xbox games from different vendors.
Right, but I feel that this method of distribution is very similar to gift cards in that the retailer has no control over pricing, promotions, etc. additionally, these codes cannot be re-used.
Except it's not about the model itself, it's about market power. Neither game console maker has a monopoly, not even Nintendo.
Are there any other virtual stores on the console? There's obviously physical store fronts, but I'm pretty sure there's only the one digitally on console.
No but since none of the console vendors have a monopoly, antitrust laws don't apply. They can do practically any shit as long as none have a dominant market position.
Apple doesn't have a monopoly though, there's still Android. And outside of the US Android is more popular than iOS.
Based on revenue, it has, though. iPhones are being bought by people who spend more money in app stores than the average Android user.
And based on the lawsuit right now, US vs Apple
So Nintendo can force everyone to buy a Switch to play Mario games? From what I see, consoles are locked in as well and we are forced to have PS/Xbox/Switch for their exclusive games. And this is legal because they aren’t as big as Apple? Why can’t I buy one console to play any game I want just like I can install any OS on Android?
Apple can do whatever they want on iPads, Mac, and Vision Pro. At least WRT Gatekeeper status in the EU, only iPhone is covered.
Did not know that. So it’s just the sales numbers then because iPad is the same as an iPhone in terms of functionality and restrictions. Mac is more open compared to their mobile devices.
Sales numbers and more specifically market power of the Apple App Store on iPhones. In absolute numbers there are more Android devices out there but that includes super low-end devices where the owners don't spend as much money on apps.
Apparently tablets aren't being seen as big of a factor in the overall market, at least according to the EU. The special exceptionfs announced recently by Apple for the EU also for the most part are only about iPhone.
"The changes do not apply outside of the EU, nor do they apply to iPadOS in any country." --https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/06/alternative-ios-app-stores-eu-grace-period/
I agree that it is about market power, but one could make the argument that Xbox/PlayStation have a duopoly similar to iOS/Android.
Although I think PlayStation dominated with roughly a 70/30 split worldwide (higher in Europe). Nintendo is somewhat in its own category imo, since they mostly do their own games and don't directly compete in that sense.
But I guess in a way consoles also compete with PCs.
You'll have a hard time arguing that. Conventional wisdom groups all video games consoles together:
And overall video game revenue is centered around mobile:
Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/video-game-industry-revenues-by-platform/
The arcade experience of having to put in money to play just moved to mobile.
Microsoft is edging closer to a monopoly, which may be why they're making this move.
Windows is a monopoly, Xbox is not.
https://www.pcgamer.com/every-game-and-studio-microsoft-now-owns/
I'm fully aware of that but if history showed one thing it's that Microsoft runs game developers into the ground.
Also Take Two, Nintendo, EA, and Sony exist. Microsoft has no monopoly just because they bought a crap publisher. The lastest Call of Duty game on mobile already tanked.