China’s App Store Sees Massive Game Removal Wave
More than 2,500 mobile games vanished from China’s iOS App Store during the first week of July 2020, according to Sensor Tower’s latest report. This dramatic purge marks Apple’s long-anticipated enforcement of China’s strict gaming regulations.
The Scale of the Removal
- Four times more games removed than during April 2020’s first week
- Five times higher than May 2020’s comparable period
- Represents the most significant single removal event in recent App Store history
Image Credits: Sensor Tower
Why This Crackdown Happened
Apple had set a June 30, 2020 deadline for developers to comply with China’s 2016 gaming law, which requires:
- Official licensing from China’s General Administration of Press and Publication
- Approval for all games with paid downloads or in-app purchases
For years, developers exploited a loophole by publishing first and seeking approval later—a process that could take months, especially during licensing freezes like the 9-month halt in 2018.
Impact on Developers
Sensor Tower’s analysis reveals:
- 80% of removed games had fewer than 10,000 downloads since 2012
- Total lifetime downloads: 133.4 million across all removed titles
- Combined revenue: \(34.7 million (with one game accounting for over \)10 million)
Notable casualties included:
- Contract Killer Zombies 2 (Glu)
- Solitaire (Zynga)
- ASMR Slicing (Crazy Labs)
- Hay Day (Supercell)
Market Shifts and Financial Implications
This regulatory enforcement coincides with significant changes in the mobile gaming landscape:
U.S. Regains Spending Lead: COVID-19 impacts helped the U.S. surpass China in iOS consumer spending with 30% quarter-over-quarter growth.
China’s Lucrative Market: In 2019, China’s App Store games generated $12.6 billion—33.2% of Apple’s global games revenue.
The long-term effects on Apple’s revenue and China’s mobile gaming ecosystem remain to be seen as developers adapt to the stricter regulatory environment.
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