Apple’s 2026 EU terms make a game’s payment and distribution choices determine which commission applies. For EU game developers, that choice affects revenue from digital goods and how players get the game. These rules concern the European Union, not Apple’s global fee schedule.
The European Commission’s Digital Markets Act sets the wider rules for large platforms. Apple’s new terms change how app store sales and outside distribution fit those rules. The Core Technology Commission is Apple’s 5% commission on qualifying digital sales from apps distributed through an EU alternative marketplace or the web.
For studios, changing a checkout can bring new technical, tax, and reporting work. Players may also see new ways to pay or download a game. Game studios should compare the complete payment route, not just one percentage, before changing their EU setup.
Key Takeaways
- EU terms take effect October 1, 2026.
- The rate depends on payment and distribution.
- Alternative checkout brings reporting and tax duties.
- Alternative distribution requires Apple Notarization.
- Age rules limit some payment links.
What Apple EU App Store Fees Game Developers 2026 Mean
For iOS game developers, Apple’s new EU schedule assigns a rate to each payment and distribution route. The route matters: an App Store app, an alternative checkout, and an outside-App-Store download do not share one rate. The unified EU business terms take effect October 1, 2026.
Those terms replace the Core Technology Fee with a Core Technology Commission for qualifying sales outside the App Store. The charges apply only when the relevant EU terms and sales route apply to a developer.
Rates for App Store payment routes
For apps sold through the App Store, Apple’s commission depends on how a player pays. The reduced rates apply to developers in the App Store Small Business Program, Mini Apps Partner Program, or Video Partner Program. They also apply to auto-renewing subscriptions after their first year.
| Route | Standard rate | Reduced rate | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple In-App Purchase | 26% | 15% | Apple processes in-app purchases |
| Alternative payment processing | 20% | 10% | Another provider processes an in-app payment |
| Actionable link-out | 15% | 10% | Player follows a purchase link; sale within 7 days counts |
The reduced rates cover the three listed programs and eligible subscriptions after year one. A sale made within seven days of a link tap counts toward the link-out commission. The Core Technology Commission is not the link-out rate for an App Store app.
The 5% commission outside the App Store
Apps distributed through an EU alternative marketplace or the web pay a 5% Core Technology Commission on qualifying digital transactions. Apple calculates it on the total price, less transaction taxes. Qualifying transactions can include digital goods and services sold by those apps.
The 5% Core Technology Commission does not stack on top of the App Store alternative-payment commission.
The old fee charged €0.50 per first annual install above one million. It stops applying to developers who accept the latest Developer Program License Agreement on October 1, 2026. The European Commission’s 2024 decision described that former charge during its review of Apple’s terms.
Apple also removes the Initial Acquisition Fee and Store Services Fee. Before estimating savings, include the cost of running the payment route as well as Apple’s commission.
What payment and distribution rules must game studios follow?
Studios can offer Apple In-App Purchase alongside an alternative payment method, but the selected combination is locked in across EU storefronts for 12 months. That commitment affects how a studio can test payment choices. When both options appear, Apple In-App Purchase must be at least as prominent as the alternative.
Apple also bars alternative-payment details from an App Store product page. A game using alternative payment options must use the StoreKit External Purchases or Offers Entitlement. Developers using in-app alternative processing or a link to an outside offer must use the ExternalPurchaseCustomLink API and its in-app disclosure sheets.
Combining payment options and handling transactions
Alternative payment transactions must be reported monthly, within 15 days after each calendar month ends. Developers also handle applicable taxes on sales processed by an alternative provider. Those duties add regular work after the checkout goes live.
EU game downloads from a marketplace or developer website must use an authorized distribution route. Apple Notarization, its outside-App-Store review, is required for every app distributed through an EU alternative marketplace or the web. iOS and iPadOS 27.2 add an alternative-install experience and an API to start website downloads in an app.
The same update lets EU users install alternative marketplaces and apps for 90 days while traveling outside the EU. For safe app downloads, studios should also consider how mobile security apps differ across operating systems.
Child safety and alternative distribution eligibility
App Store apps using alternative processing or transaction links need a parental gate for users under 18. Apps cannot direct users under 13 to websites for transactions. Rules increase in EU countries with higher parental-consent ages, and Kids-category apps cannot link to transaction websites.
To distribute through an alternative marketplace or the web, a developer must meet at least one eligibility path:
- A Dun & Bradstreet financial-stability score or public-company ownership.
- Established venture funding or a licensed financial audit.
- Government, educational, or nonprofit status.
- A USD 1,000,000 standby letter of credit or 1 million first annual installs worldwide.
Meeting a path does not remove the Notarization requirement, and an EU legal entity is not required. Developers also remain liable for fees accrued under discontinued agreements. Check both the age restrictions and the reporting workload before committing a game to an alternative checkout.
How do the EU changes fit the wider app-store dispute?
Apple’s latest EU terms arrived amid a broader dispute over how the Digital Markets Act applies to its platforms. The terms were announced August 18, 2026, as the latest Apple App Store news for EU developers. The legal settings differ, so one ruling does not set every store’s commission.
The separate U.S. Epic ruling does not set the rates for EU sales.
On July 8, 2026, the EU General Court dismissed Apple’s challenges to its App Store and iOS gatekeeper designation. It confirmed that Apple’s App Store versions count as one core platform service under the Digital Markets Act. The General Court decision also addressed Apple’s gatekeeper status.
Epic Games launched an EU alternative iOS store in August 2024 with Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. AltStore PAL lets developers host apps, while users add sources. Aptoide charges 10%-20% on in-app purchases, based on whether its marketplace generated them. Skich charges developers 15% on purchases.
A separate 2025 U.S. ruling barred Apple from taking revenue shares on non-Apple payment methods. Apple’s appeal was set for the 2026 Supreme Court term. Studios weighing wider game costs can also compare Unity and Unreal Engine pricing against their release plans. Treat the U.S. Epic case as a separate legal track when modeling a game’s EU revenue.
Conclusion
For a game studio, the key decision is whether a different payment or distribution route fits its business well enough to justify the extra operating work. The right choice depends on the release plan, access to reduced rates, and the team’s capacity to manage payments and compliance.
Start by mapping EU sales routes and eligible programs against the studio’s current checkout and distribution setup. Compare the changes with the people who handle engineering, finance, and store operations. That review can show where a new route adds work before it affects live sales.
Before opting in, have the person responsible for EU revenue verify the studio’s route, eligibility, and implementation plan.
FAQ
Does the 5% Core Technology Commission cover a paid marketplace app download?
Yes, the 5% Core Technology Commission can apply to a paid alternative marketplace app download and qualifying digital goods or services. Charges for access to a marketplace or its app catalog can count too. The key test is whether the transaction qualifies under the outside-App-Store terms, not whether the user buys a game item.
Does Apple require an EU legal entity to distribute an iPhone game from a developer website?
No, Apple does not require an EU legal entity for website distribution. Developers must still meet at least one eligibility criterion and get authorization for the route. Every app distributed through the web or an EU alternative marketplace also needs Apple Notarization. The business location alone does not replace those checks.
Are taxes included in the Core Technology Commission calculation?
No, transaction taxes are excluded from the Core Technology Commission calculation. Apple calculates the commission on the total price after subtracting transaction taxes. Developers remain responsible for collecting and sending in applicable taxes on sales processed by an alternative payment provider. That tax duty applies alongside the monthly transaction reporting requirement.
Do fees accrued under Apple’s previous EU agreements disappear when a developer accepts the new terms?
No, fees and commissions already accrued under discontinued agreements remain payable. Accepting the latest Developer Program License Agreement does not erase those past charges. The new terms change how future transactions are handled, while amounts owed under earlier agreements stay due. Studios should include any unpaid balance in their EU transition planning.
How long can EU users install alternative apps while traveling outside the EU?
EU users can install alternative marketplaces and apps for 90 days while traveling outside the EU. This allowance comes with the iOS and iPadOS 27.2 installation update. It applies to EU users who travel, rather than creating a general route for all users outside the EU to install alternative apps.
