Google Lowers Play Store Fees To 15% on Subscription Apps, as Low as 10% for Media Apps

Google is lowering commissions on all subscription-based businesses on the Google Play Store, the company announced today. From a report: Previously, the company had followed Apple's move by reducing commissions from 30% to 15% on the first $1 million of developer earnings. Now, it will lower the fees specifically for app makers who generate revenue through recurring subscriptions. Instead of charging them 30% in the first year, which lowers to 15% in year two and beyond, Google says developers will only be charged 15% from day one. The company says 99% of developers will qualify for a service fee of 15% or less, as Google is also further reducing fees for specific vertical apps in the Play Media Experience Program. These will be adjusted to as low as 10%, it says.

Where?

[itamihn]

I received an email saying that for this 15% to apply to my app, I had to explicitly apply in the Developr Console. But I was never able to find where in the console to apply. Does anyone know where to find the form?

Re:Where?

[suss]

In the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard."

Your move, Apple.

[Sebby]

Can't wait to see how Apple tries to spin this. No doubt they'll claim that "lower fees increase the presence of scamware/malware apps, and so our higher fees protect our users blah blah blah"

Re:

[NoMoreACs]

More likely they'll have worked together on this and there'll be a similar announcement from Apple soon.

This is probably an attempt to stave off what would otherwise be inevitable regulation. In an open competitive market, for what they provide, even 10% is still much too high, that's where companies like Paypal, Visa, and Mastercard used to be before being whittled down to the fractions of a percent through competition.

So they've probably liaised with Apple to come up with figures that are still grossly extortionate in the grand scheme of things, but enough of a drop for them to say "Hey, we've cut fees by 50%".

GODDAMMIT, Quit Lying!

Both Apple and Google do a LOT more than simple Payment Processing, and you fucking well know it!

Just stop lying about this.

Re:

[superwiz]

Apple doesn't have to. I am so sick of Google, that there is little chance my next phone will Android. I just got sent on another side trip by Google maps yesterday. Which almost caused me to miss a doctor's appointment. But hey, let's pretend that Google is still a real company. The smart response by Apple would be to RAISE prices because the competition is clearly selling a sub par product.

Media definition

[RegistrationIsDumb83]

Huh, Google doesn't consider games 'media.' Looks like this is more paltry concessions to appease the regulators while not actually doing anything to harm their golden goose.