App Store

In 2026, court and regulatory actions forced Apple to open iOS marketplace access in Brazil while the EU upheld the App Store’s DMA gatekeeper designation.

Who they are

The App Store is Apple’s software distribution and commerce channel for iPhone users, appearing in coverage as the enforcement point for app review, developer terms, payments and platform access. Its stories span Apple’s rules for developers and consumers, including app removals, approval disputes and the availability of competing marketplaces.

The recent arc

Recent coverage shifted sharply toward compelled changes to Apple’s mobile-platform model. In May, the US Supreme Court declined to pause an order arising from Epic Games’ lawsuit after a court found Apple had violated mandated App Store changes; in June, Apple agreed to open iOS to alternative app marketplaces in Brazil and alter its commission structure following a CADE settlement. On July 8, the EU General Court dismissed Apple’s challenge to its DMA gatekeeper designation for the App Store and iOS.

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The tension

The central tension is between Apple’s control over distribution, review and commercial terms and demands for developer and marketplace competition. Epic remains the key litigation antagonist, while the EU and Brazil have become consequential regulatory venues; Google Play is the recurring comparison point for app distribution. Apple’s June guidance allowing removal of unmaintained or low-demand apps and its dispute with Replit over “vibe coding” apps show that review discretion remains a live part of that conflict.

Why it matters

If this trajectory continues, the App Store’s significance will increasingly rest not only on its scale as Apple’s storefront but on how far rules, courts and settlements can separate iOS access from Apple’s traditional control of marketplace terms. The outcomes across the EU, Brazil and the Epic case may determine whether Apple can preserve a broadly consistent review and commission model or must operate more region-specific alternatives; the corpus does not establish how broadly those changes will spread.

Related: Apple · iPhone · Epic · Google · Apple has terminated Epic's App Store account, following legal dispute