Apple has started cracking down on apps within its App Store, which no longer receive updates from their developers.
In an email to developers, titled “App Improvement Notice,” Apple warns that it will remove apps from its App Store that have not been “updated in a long time.”
It added that it gives developers only 30 days to update it, to ensure that it continues to remain on the App Store.
But this does not mean that the outdated applications will disappear from the devices of users, who downloaded them earlier, according to The Verge.
Apple’s action has been met with disapproval, with critics of the policy arguing that smartphone apps should remain available, regardless of their age, just like older video games, which remain playable on consoles.
I feel sick. Apple just sent me an email saying they're removing my free game Motivoto because its more than 2 years old.
It's part of their App improvement system.
This is not cool. Console games from 2000 are still available for sale.
This is an unfair barrier to indie devs. pic.twitter.com/7XNcLfiEcR
— Protopop Games (@protopop) April 23, 2022