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Stories with reporting from Apple Developer News, ranked by what is gaining ground now. Each story links to the original articles.
Apple is changing App Tracking Transparency in the European Union under agreements with select competition authorities. Starting with iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, developers can use an alternative system prompt, while requirements for seeking user permission to track also change.
Apple agrees with Brazil's competition regulator CADE to introduce new iOS options for developers in Brazil. Beginning with iOS 26.5, developers can distribute or operate alternative app marketplaces and process payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple’s system.
Apple presents new capabilities across its platforms, including updates to languages, frameworks, tools and services. The developer offerings include platform design refinements, Apple Intelligence features and new AI development frameworks.
Apple opens App Store submissions for apps and games built for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27 and watchOS 27. Developers can submit builds using the Xcode 27 Release Candidate and incorporate features including Apple Intelligence and the Foundation Models framework.
Apple changes its business terms for apps distributed in the European Union after working with the European Commission. The changes put EU developers under a single set of terms and introduce a commission on digital goods and services; the Core Technology Fee is also part of the new terms.
Apple says the original Developer ID Certification Authority Sub-CA expires on February 1, 2027, after which certificates issued by it stop working. Developers should check Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles for affected certificates expiring on or before that date and replace those issued by the previous Sub-CA.
Apple is ending its Rosetta transition support for Intel-based Mac apps, following its earlier announcement at WWDC. On macOS 26.4 or later, users may receive a notification when they launch apps that rely on Rosetta, prompting them to update to Apple silicon versions.
A Texas court ruling lifts an injunction on SB 2420, bringing new Apple Accounts in Texas under the law's age-assurance requirements. Apple says the rules cover age checks and parent or guardian consent for minors under 18 for downloads, in-app purchases and significant changes.
Apple revises its Developer Program License Agreement and App Review Guidelines to address new features, policy updates and clarifications. The agreement changes include requirements concerning information and responses to questions in Sections 3.1 and 14.8.
Apple updates Attachment 14 of its Developer Program License Agreement with terms for apps distributed in the European Union, covering alternative distribution, alternative payments, and business terms. The revised terms take effect on October 1, 2026, and developers must accept them in their accounts.
Apple introduces Time Allowances in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 or later, giving parents controls over children’s time in app categories including Entertainment, Games, and Social Media. The starting allowances are tailored to a child’s age and can be adjusted by parents.
Apple plans to update App Store age ratings in Australia and Vietnam starting June 18, 2026. In Australia, the 15+ rating is removed and apps with specified content descriptors, including unrestricted web access, frequent medical information, or loot boxes, move to 16+.
Apple introduces monthly App Store subscriptions with a 12-month commitment, giving developers a new payment option to offer subscribers. Subscribers can cancel at any time, but cancellation takes effect after the agreed payments are complete and the subscription does not renew.
Apple revises Attachment 12 of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement to set terms for iOS apps in Brazil. The terms cover alternative distribution, alternative payments, out-of-app offers, and the Core Technology Commission.
Apple adds creative image and video assets for App Store product pages and search results, along with asset management tools in App Store Connect. Developers can use the assets to promote their apps and games in additional ways.
Apple says it is addressing developer uses of Full Disk Access in macOS that can put users' private data at risk. The permission exists to let Mac backup apps work despite Apple's other privacy controls.
Apple provides resources to help developers build for iPhone Duo, including an Xcode 27.1 beta and design kits for Figma and Sketch. It also offers workshops on optimizing apps and creating experiences for different screen sizes.
Apple allows apps with fixed-odds betting features to be distributed on the App Store in Brazil when they have a valid license from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets. Developers identify these apps through the gambling question in App Store Connect's age-rating questionnaire.
App Store Connect adds localized metadata support for Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Slovenian, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The change brings the total number of supported localizations to 50 and lets developers localize app information for more markets, especially India.
Apple is preparing developers for subscription features in iOS 27, including Bundles and Suites that combine multiple subscriptions into one Apple In-App Purchase. Developers can begin preparing by using StoreKit 2 and requesting access to the new capabilities.
