Apple has added support for alternative payment methods to the visionOS App Store. This move comes following the release of visionOS 1.2 in early June.
The Vision Pro’s App Store will support alternative payment methods only in the EU, where the headset launches on July 12.
visionOS devs in the EU can use non-Apple payment methods
To comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Apple opened the iPhone’s App Store to alternative payment options. This enables developers to accept payments from sources other than Apple. The act also forced Apple to bring sideloading and alternate app stores to the iPhone.
These changes never made it to visionOS since Apple’s $3,500 spatial computing headset was not available outside the US. Now that the headset is up for pre-order in selected EU countries, the company is changing its stance to comply with the DMA.
In an update on its developer site, Apple says, “Alternative payment options are now supported starting in visionOS 1.2 for apps distributed on the App Store in the EU.”
If you are a visionOS app developer, you can read more about supporting alternative payment providers in the EU here.
The way Apple has complied with the DMA rules is controversial at best, especially with its Core Technology Fee. No wonder the European Commission believes Apple has breached the Digital Markets Act, which could eventually lead to it facing huge fines.
iPad will support alternative payment methods with iPadOS 18
Apple will also add support for third-party app stores and alternative payment methods to the iPad with iPadOS 18. Additionally, the OS will gain support for third-party browser engines with the OS.
Sadly, though, Apple will restrict these platform-level changes to the EU. Essentially, it won’t roll out these changes to countries where it does not have to comply with the Digital Markets Act.
Due to its spat with the EU and citing “regulatory uncertainties,” Apple has decided not to bring Apple Intelligence to the region. This has angered the European Union’s competition commissioner, who has called this move anti-competitive.
