Google is following Apple’s lead by adding new developer fees in the EU

Yesterday Google outlined the changes it can make to adjust to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that goes into impact beginning immediately. One essential element it not noted, nevertheless, was whether or not it might cost builders who directed customers outdoors the Play Retailer to sideload apps — and if that’s the case, how a lot.

Now, Google has revealed that it’s going to certainly cost builders even when they do not use the Play Retailer, identical to Apple did with the App Store. Per new particulars discovered within the Play Console help section, the corporate will cost two new charges:

1. An preliminary acquisition charge of 10% for in-app purchases or 5% for subscriptions for 2 years. This represents the worth Play offered in facilitating preliminary person acquisition.

2. An ongoing companies charge of 17% for in-app purchases or 7% for subscriptions. This covers ongoing Play companies like parental controls, safety, fraud prevention, and app updates.

Builders can decide out of ongoing charges after two years if customers agree, however ongoing Play companies will not apply. “Since customers acquired the app by Play with the expectation of companies comparable to parental controls, safety scanning, fraud prevention, and steady app updates, discontinuation of companies requires person consent as effectively,” Google acknowledged.

Google included the next chart to indicate how the charges will apply to a hypothetical “Fantastiq App”:

With this, Google is taking an analogous method to Apple, which decreased App Retailer commissions however launched new charges. Specifically, Apple tacked on on a brand new 3 p.c “fee processing” charge for transactions that undergo its retailer. And a brand new “core know-how charge” will cost a flat €0.50 charge for all app downloads, no matter whether or not they come from the App Retailer or a third-party web site, after the primary 1 million installations.

Google is justifying the charges by touting the worth it gives within the Android ecosystem: “Play’s charges help our funding in Android and Google Play and replicate the value provided by Android and Play, together with enabling us to distribute Android at no cost and supply the constantly rising suite of instruments and companies that assist builders construct profitable companies, all whereas protecting our platforms secure and safe for billions of customers worldwide.”

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney already blasted Google’s publish about DMA compliance yesterday, earlier than the brand new charges have been even made public. “Google introduced its malicious compliance plans for the European DMA legislation… it appears to be like like their unlawful anti-steering coverage will probably be changed by a brand new Google Tax on net transactions. We’ll probably quickly find out how he and different builders react to the brand new charges.