Apple looks to be removing apps from its App Store that have not been updated in a long time as part of its “App Improvement System.”
Apple informed affected developers in an email that their app had not been updated in a long time and that they had 30 days before it was removed from the App Store.
Apple advised developers that if they submitted an update for review within the following 30 days, the apps would be kept on the App Store.
So far, internet reactions have been mixed, with many developers expressing their opinions on social media.
This regulation confuses indie game developers, who believe that older games should be counted as completed pieces of content that aren’t “suitable for updates or a live service model.”
Other apps, such as third-party keyboards, such as Kosta Eleftheriou’s FlickType Keyboard for iOS, are also feeling the heat. Because it hadn’t been updated in over two years, he was forced to remove a version designed specifically for the visually impaired.
On its support page for App Store Improvements, Apple says that it wants, “to make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs, we want to ensure that apps available on the App Store are functional and up-to-date. We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.”
