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Meta ‘s filing focuses on three areas : vane browse, as it relates to Apple ‘s restrictions on what web apps can do versus native io software ; bet on and the restrictions Apple imposes on developers who try to bundle HTML5 and cloud-based games within existing apps ( like the Facebook app ) ; and Apple ‘s App Tracking Transparency inaugural, the privacy feature the caller rolled out last class that Meta has said will cost it about $ 10 billion in advertising tax income this year.
“ Taken in concert, Apple ’ sulfur restrictions on third-party web browsers, its restrictions on third-party bet on apps, and its ATT framework badly limit developers ’ ability to create and consumers ’ ability to enjoy cross-platform apps that could lower barriers to switching from Apple to Android and other devices, ” the filing goes on to say. “ Apple ’ s self-serving tactics prevent consumers from realizing the invention and benefits of a moral force and otherwise well-functioning mobile app ecosystem. ” Meta ‘s feud with Apple over app store restrictions is not a new one by any means, but it has intensified in the last few years as Meta has increased its investments in the gambling sector. The social network giant tried in 2020 to publish a dedicated Facebook Gaming app on Apple ‘s App Store that would feature livestreaming, similar to Amazon ‘s Twitch, aboard mobile games that could be played immediately with no download required, either using HTML5 engineering or via streaming from the mottle. Apple rejected the app repeatedly due to a serial of obscure bet on restrictions the iPhone godhead was forced to update for clearness. distillery, many of the restrictions remained following the update, resulting in a high-profile back-and-forth between the two companies that has only grown more bitter as Apple has targeted Meta with io privacy changes and Tim Cook has taken public shots at Mark Zuckerberg and his company ‘s business model.
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Meta ultimately removed the gaming components from the Facebook Gaming app to publish it on the App Store. It by and by resorted to asking users to try a web adaptation that skirts Apple ‘s restrictions ; Apple says web apps for cloud gambling and alike features are allowed on the iPhone, but it has hard-and-fast rules around including those lapp features inside apps unless the app is dedicated to something else. ( That ‘s why, for case, you can play HTML5 mini-games inside the main Facebook app — because by Apple ‘s logic, it is chiefly a sociable network platform and not a gaming one. )
Meta cites switching costs and ecosystem lock-in as reasons why it can not plainly rely on to Google ‘s Android, which has fewer restrictions regarding what apps can and can not do with regards to gaming. “ Restrictions that Apple imposes on cross-platform gambling, web-based, and ad-supported apps prevent them from lowering barriers to switching and lock consumers into io devices, ” the filing says. “ Apple ’ sulfur policies restricting cloud games and HTML5-based games have prevented Meta from introducing features that would enable developers to distribute and monetize, and users of io devices to enjoy, a variety show of games. …These limitations have curbed Facebook Gaming ’ south growth and prevented it from emerging as a robust rival to Apple in game discovery and distribution. ”
Meta ‘s file does not mention Epic Games, the Fortnite godhead that sued Apple and Google in 2020 over many of these same restrictions. The remark does however make many of the like arguments as Epic did in those cases. Epic ‘s suit against Apple is presently tied up in appeals, and the like Google courtship has yet to get a woo date. “ Apple ’ mho restrictions serve to maintain the App Store as the primary place for users to discover and access games on io devices, ” the file concludes. “ They besides have the effect of maintaining high barriers to switching to an Android device, because users ’ plot data will much be stored in native io plot apps and can not be well transferred outside of the Apple ecosystem, whereas Instant Games and cloud bet on services would allow for a seamless transition between io and Android devices. ” Update 5/26, 2:08PM ET: Added instruction from Apple .
