Apple Removes Over 39,000 Apps from China's Application Marketplace
In a significant purge, Apple took down around 39,000 games from its China store, marking its largest single-day removal. This move was a part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized games, as the tech giant adhered to Chinese regulations, removing close to 46,000 apps in total.
As reported by Reuters, this wasn't an unexpected move. Apple had previously warned that apps lacking government approval would be eliminated by the end of June, extending the deadline to December 31. Out of the top 1,500 paid games, only 74 remain after the recent purge. This sweep affected well-known titles, such as Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Identity and NBA 2K20, according to research firm Qimai.
China's strict licensing laws pose a formidable hurdle for Western publishers. To avoid complications, they often team up with local Chinese publishers before launch. Previously, developers could sell their games on Apple's Chinese store while waiting for formal approval. However, Apple no longer allows this practice.
Apple's compliance with Chinese regulations is not a new phenomenon. Last year, it removed an app used for tracking police activities in Hong Kong after China declared it was aiding "illegal actions." The company also deleted the Quartz news app from its China store due to its coverage of Hong Kong protests. In 2015, Apple even blocked its own news app from functioning in China.
Apple's dependence on China has been crucial to its success. China serves as the primary manufacturing base for iPhones and is Apple's second-largest market outside the U.S. Tensions with China have also influenced Apple's decision to consider shifting a portion of its production capacities to other countries.
However, it remains unclear why Apple is suddenly enforcing Chinese licensing laws rigorously. Other app stores, like those managed by Tencent and Huawei, have historically adhered to these regulations. Some researchers suggest that escalating tensions between the U.S. and China may be the reason behind the increased scrutiny of Apple.
Regardless of the reasons, the financial impact of this decision on Apple is minimal. The Financial Times estimates a loss of approximately $340 million in sales, mainly due to the fact that most popular games are already licensed.
The tech giant Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Identity and NBA 2K20 are among the likely victims of Apple's laborious compliance with Chinese regulations. The future of tech companies operating in China seems to require a deep understanding of the country's strict licensing laws and the likely need for partnerships with local publishers. The number 1845963610 could potentially represent a significant figure related to this topic, but its exact relevance is not clear from the provided context.
