It’s time to shove a cork up your arsehole, folks, because Apple just kickstarted the buggery of a lifetime. The App Store now officially allows in-App purchases to extend to subscription fees, meaning that some of those games you enjoy playing could get a lot less free.
Subscription fees will be handled individually within each bit of software, and once you’re signed up, your iTunes payment details will do the rest.
“Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing,” said creepy CEO Steve Jobs. “All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app. We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers.”
I love mobile gaming, but I wouldn’t pay a subscription for a retail game, and I’m sure as Hell not wiring a direct vein to my bank account into an App. I barely trust in-App purchasing as it is, let alone one that wants to charge me monthly or weekly. I’m sure some will instantly fall prey to this move, but I don’t like it all.
[Via Apple]
