Apple officially altered its App Store Review Guidelines late Thursday, May 1st, explicitly permitting developers on the US storefront to direct users to external websites for purchases without penalty. This policy adjustment follows a pointed court order issued earlier in the week that found the company had defied a previous injunction concerning its anti-steering rules – policies designed to prevent developers from guiding users to payment options outside the platform’s own system.
The change has already triggered responses from major app developers, including Spotify, which promptly submitted and received approval for an app update utilizing the new rules, and Epic Games, which announced competitive changes to its own digital store.
Apple Adjusts Guidelines Under Court Order
Complying with the court’s directive, Apple updated its guidelines Thursday evening. The company notified developers that for apps distributed via the US App Store, specific rules have changed.
Notably, guideline 3.1.1(a) now states, “On the United States storefront, there is no prohibition on an app including buttons, external links, or other calls to action,” and clarifies that the previously required External Link Account entitlement – a system Apple introduced earlier that allowed external links under strict conditions and with a commission attached – is not needed for this purpose in the US. Revisions to sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.3 similarly remove restrictions on linking out for NFT collections and explicitly state that the general prohibition against encouraging users to use alternative purchasing methods does not apply on the US storefront. This policy shift was mandated by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ April 30 ruling.
Court Finds Willful Violation, Criticizes Apple’s Conduct
The guideline revision was not voluntary. Judge Rogers, presiding over the long-running Epic Games v. Apple case, determined Apple had “willfully chose not to comply” with a 2021 injunction designed to allow developers more freedom in communicating alternative payment options. That original injunction was finalized after the US Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from both parties in January 2024.
Apple’s attempt at compliance involved allowing a single external link but controversially sought to collect a 12-27% commission on purchases made via that link within seven days. Judge Rogers rejected this approach, stating Apple acted “with the express intent to create new anticompetitive barriers” and that its arguments “strain credulity.” Court documents revealed internal debate over this strategy; Apple Fellow Phil Schiller testified in February that he had initially opposed the commission, worrying it would create an “antagonistic relationship” with developers.
The April 30 injunction explicitly forbids Apple from imposing any commission on these external link purchases in the US and prevents restrictions on how developers communicate or display these links. Underscoring her dissatisfaction, Judge Rogers also took the unusual step, noted by legal analysts as rare in such cases, of referring Apple to the US Attorney’s Office for a potential criminal contempt investigation.
The judge’s ruling included a harsh assessment of testimony from Apple finance VP Alex Roman, deeming it “not credible” and “replete with misdirection and outright lies under oath.”
Developers Seize Opening
Spotify acted quickly, submitting an updated app on May 1 to incorporate external links and pricing details previously forbidden by Apple. The company confirmed on May 2 that Apple had approved the update.
In a blog post, Spotify outlined that US users will now see clear pricing, be able to click links to purchase subscriptions directly, and more easily manage their plans externally. “After nearly a decade, this will finally allow us to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase, fostering transparency and choice for U.S. consumers,” Spotify stated in an update on its site.
Epic Games, whose initial lawsuit set these events in motion, announced its own strategic adjustments for the Epic Games Store (EGS) starting in June 2025. EGS will introduce a 0% commission tier for developers on their first $1 million in annual revenue per app, shifting to Epic’s standard 12% fee thereafter.
Epic is also launching EGS-hosted “webshops,” described as a tool for developers “to launch their own webshops hosted by the Epic Games Store,” offering players “a more cost-effective alternative to in-app purchases, where Apple, Google, and others charge exorbitant fees.” Epic stated it would fund a 5% Epic Rewards kickback on webshop purchases and noted developers can now link to these webshops from within games on platforms like iOS in the US and EU, attributing this capability to “new legal rulings.”
This builds on Epic’s earlier actions in the EU, where it launched a mobile store while criticizing Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF) – a per-install fee for large apps distributed outside the main App Store – as creating significant financial barriers, even temporarily covering the fee for some developers. While the 0% tier is attractive, some developers told Bloomberg they remain cautious, weighing the fee savings against the challenge of gaining user visibility on EGS versus the established App Store.
Legal Battles and Regulatory Context Continue
Apple maintains its opposition to the court’s findings. “We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court’s order and we will appeal,” an Apple spokesperson stated on May 1.
The company formally filed its notice of appeal late that same day. This US setback mirrors Apple’s recent €500 million fine in the EU, issued April 23 under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for similar anti-steering practices. In the wake of the US ruling, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney offered a “peace proposal,” suggesting Fortnite could return globally if Apple adopted the court’s “friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide.”
