Apple has faced significant challenges following its legal battle with Epic Games, which ultimately mandated changes to its App Store policies. One of the most notable outcomes of this dispute is the decision allowing developers to include links to external payment systems outside of Apple’s platform.

Although Apple initially resisted this directive and attempted to prevent these links from appearing in the App Store, a higher court rejected its request, stating it was “not persuaded” that such a block would impact Apple’s chances of a favorable outcome in the case. Previously, Apple’s policies prohibited developers from informing users about alternative payment methods, resulting in Apple receiving a hefty 30% cut from app sales and in-app purchases.

By enabling external payment links, developers can bypass this system, which has already been exploited by iOS apps like Spotify and Kindle, allowing users to make purchases directly outside the App Store. Additionally, Epic Games has made a comeback with its game Fortnite, previously unavailable in the App Store for several years, and now offers users the choice of paying through either Apple’s payment system or its own.

Following the court’s ruling, Apple spokesperson Olivia Dalton expressed disappointment and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to appealing the decision. She emphasized Apple’s view that maintaining a secure and reliable App Store is crucial for both developers and users.

On the other hand, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the ruling as the end of what he termed the “long national nightmare of the Apple tax.” Meanwhile, as Apple’s hardware sales stabilize, the company has increasingly shifted its focus towards its growing services sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance customer loyalty and create a more sustainable revenue stream from subscriptions and services. This transition reflects a broader industry trend where hardware sales become secondary to recurring service revenues.