70% of Japan smartphone games bypass in-app payment to avoid US tech giants

Re:70% of Japan smartphone games bypass in-app payment to av... by fluoridation on Friday August 22, 2025 @11:03PM (#44992718)

"There is no market effect"? Why do the market effects disappear if some of the players don't play completely according to the desires of other players? Why couldn't it be that the optimum includes some amount of fee dodging?

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Re:70% of Japan smartphone games bypass in-app payment to av... by roflyear on Saturday August 23, 2025 @03:05PM (#44998278)

The app store obviously gives value to the app developers. When you put your app on the store you agree to the 30%.

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Re:70% of Japan smartphone games bypass in-app payment to av... by fluoridation on Saturday August 23, 2025 @08:46PM (#45000299)

You didn't answer my question. Why can't the optimum include some fee dodging? I agree that the app stores provide value to the developers, but it's also true that apps provide value to Google and Apple. If no one developed any apps, no one would use iOS or Android. Therefore it's possible that Google and Apple benefit more from an app that dodges fees but brings in users than from neither having the app nor those users.

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Re:70% of Japan smartphone games bypass in-app payment to av... by roflyear on Friday August 29, 2025 @11:52AM (#45065678)

They created a market and they are charging to be on the market. If you're saying "I want to be on the market but by my own rules" that's not a free market effect, it's breaking a contract.

If you say "fine, I'll go on another app store" then that is a free market in action - but good luck getting anyone to download your game.

[ Parent | on HN ]