news Japanese Companies Bypass Apple and Google Fees With New “Out-of-App” Game Purchase System

[Game Info]

Japanese Companies Bypass Apple and Google Fees With New “Out-of-App” Game Purchase System

Game8, a popular Japanese game walkthrough site, is teaming up with Sony Payment Services to launch S8 Plus, a platform enabling players to buy in-game items outside of app stores. The system bypasses Google and Apple, allowing developers to avoid hefty 30% commission fees.

Cutting out the middleman could mean cheaper in-game items for players. Would you use this system?

This move follows Japan’s new law encouraging competition in smartphone software. Developers often criticize app store fees as the “Apple tax,” which S8 Plus aims to eliminate by linking in-game purchases directly to Game8’s walkthrough articles.

Feels like a win for both gamers and developers. Should other countries adopt similar laws?

Game8 and S8 Plus CEO Shunsuke Sawamura sees this as a way to reduce financial strain on developers while benefiting players. Future plans include offering tools to help developers adopt out-of-app purchases and selling game download keys directly through Game8’s platform.

Source: https://automaton-media.com/en/news...p-ways-to-let-players-spend-money-out-of-app/