Apple removed approximately 94,000 games from the App Store in China during 2020, The Wall Street Journal reports. This is a significantly larger number than last year’s tally of 25,000 games removed.
The escalation comes as China works harder to clamp down on illegal content on mobile platforms. The WSJ says the larger number illustrates Apple’s “vulnerability to state pressure” on its business.
Earlier this month, Apple warned developers that it might delete other apps as well due to Chinese regulations that video games must be licensed prior to release. That’s reportedly tough to do, especially for foreign developers.
Trade tensions between the United States and China have had a big impact. Premium games and apps with in-app purchases must submit their government license proof to Apple by the end of 2020.
Doing business in China
The WSJ report notes:
“While the full extent of the software purge remains unclear, revenue growth from games in Apple’s China store appears to have slowed even as the segment has picked up its pace globally. Sensor Tower estimates game revenue in China this year through November was up 14% at $13 billion. That compares with a 21% rise in China over the same stretch in 2019 and a 26% gain globally this year.”
It’s not only games that have run into problems in the China App Store. Other apps such as Tripadvisor also got the boot for reasons that have never quite been explained. Reasons for apps not being available in the China App Store can include controversial political topics (like protests in Hong Kong) or “gay or transgender rights or themes.”
“Apple studies these requests carefully whenever we receive them, and we contest and disagree with them often,” an Apple spokesperson said. “Though the final decisions sometimes run contrary to our wishes, we believe that our customers are best served when we remain in the country providing them access to products that promote self-expression with world-class privacy protections.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook previously said China represents Apple’s future biggest market.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
