My problem has always been that Apple is both the gatekeeper and a competitor in its app store. I'd have a lot more trust in Apple as a consumer if they didn't offer up first party products such as Apple TV and Apple Arcade. It makes the shutdown of game streaming services seem particularly disingenuous.
The payments issue is more complex, but I can't get a metaphor to origins of monopoly law out of my head: If payments processing is like shipping around little bags of money, its like we have a railroad that controls half the market forcing exclusive transport contracts on manufacturers. It certainly FEELS wrong.
I think, ideally, Apple should be barred from offering first party services without providing a mechanism for third parties to receive the same treatment via a certification process. That means that other game stores could get access to that apple arcade button in the app store and that other payment processors could be used, so long as they met Apple's declared standards for privacy and security.
My iOS game which was in arcade category for years before Apple launched Apple Arcade was changed to an irrelevant category(Casual) as soon as Apple launched its Arcade platform. Just information over email, No permission was asked.
This is the best solution. Apple should not be operating the platform and then compete on that same platform.
They can either shut off all their services and operate the store, charging whatever tax they like. Or they can shut off the store, allow others to operate stores on iOS, and continue distrbuting stuff like Apple music over any third party store they like.
Otherwise it is just a blatant abuse against apps like Netflix and Spotify. I'm surprised why those companies are not fighting this.
The payments issue is more complex, but I can't get a metaphor to origins of monopoly law out of my head: If payments processing is like shipping around little bags of money, its like we have a railroad that controls half the market forcing exclusive transport contracts on manufacturers. It certainly FEELS wrong.
I think, ideally, Apple should be barred from offering first party services without providing a mechanism for third parties to receive the same treatment via a certification process. That means that other game stores could get access to that apple arcade button in the app store and that other payment processors could be used, so long as they met Apple's declared standards for privacy and security.