When in doubt, play by the rules.
Apple on Thursday confirmed that the company will be bringing all of the app ecosystem changes made to iOS in the European Union to iPadOS in the fall. Earlier this week, the European Commission said that iPadOS is also a gatekeeper platform under the Digital Markets Act.
Following the changes, EU developers will be able to distribute their iPad apps outside of Apple’s App Store using alternative marketplaces or websites, with all of the same terms applying. The Core Technology Fee will be charged for apps sold outside the App Store that have been installed at least one million times. Apple has also noted that there will be exceptions for small developers.
Apple went on to confirm that users who install the same app on both iOS and iPadOS in a 12-month period will only generate one first annual install for that app rather than two, which should help developers keep below the CTF threshold.
These changes will only apply to developers who distribute iPadOS and iOS apps in the European Union. Per the rest of the world, there are no changes and apps will continue to be available only from the App Store.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors