Apple removes outdated apps from App Store

Apple issues new App Store policy, warning developers of app removal

Apple has removed outdated apps from its App Store and has sent an 'improvement notice' to developers who have not updated their products in a "significant amount of time”.

Developers used social media to complain about the new policy, stating that it harms indie and game developers. Protopop Games, tweeted a screenshot of the email received from Apple, which placed a deadline of 30 days to submit an update for review or risk removal of their app from the store.

The policy change has created a controversy amongst app developers like Emilia Lazer Walker, who's already had a few of her games already removed from the App Store. She took to Twitter and said, "Games can exist as completed objects! These free projects aren’t suitable for updates or a live service model, they’re finished artworks from years ago."

The Verge reported that the company's App Store Improvements page said that Apple was “implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.”

In the past few years, Apple's App Store has been under criticism due to antitrust allegations including the infamous Apple Vs Epic Games lawsuit.