Japanese Tech Industry Challenges Apple’s New App Store Payment Policies
In December 2025, Apple introduced significant modifications to its App Store policies in Japan to align with the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). These changes permitted developers to direct users to external promotions and offer alternative in-app payment methods. However, these options came with new fee structures, including commissions up to 15% on web-based transactions and additional charges for apps distributed outside the App Store.
Apple praised the MSCA, suggesting it struck a better balance between openness and security compared to Europe’s Digital Markets Act. Despite this, a coalition of seven IT-related industry groups in Japan, representing over 600 companies—including major IT firms, game companies, and software developers—expressed dissatisfaction with Apple’s new directives. They argue that the imposed commissions render the alternative payment methods economically unviable, urging the creation of a market where diverse payment methods are genuinely viable options.
This collective statement follows a January 29 critique from the Mobile Content Forum, one of the seven groups, which criticized both Apple and Google’s approaches. The coalition’s actions aim to prompt the Japan Fair Trade Commission to re-examine the issue, potentially leading to further regulatory enforcement.
