On Apple’s Response to App Improvements

Apple published a response yesterday about the App Improvements process:

As part of the App Store Improvements process, developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling [12-month] period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

I’m glad that the criteria have been clarified, though I still believe this should have been clearer from the start. Nonetheless, it’s a welcome change.

That’s why developers can appeal app removals. And developers, including those who recently received a notice, will now be given more time to update their apps if needed — up to 90 days.

I’m glad that Apple appears to be rectifying the situation a little. Although these aren’t the steps that I had proposed in my initial response, I do appreciate seeing these changes because it at least allows developers more time. I find that the appeal notice is also a nice addition, given that games can exist as complete objects; if they run fine on the latest versions of iOS without any modifications, there should be no reason to update it.