> Roblox provides way, way more value than the App Store does, and they don't have hardware to sell to make a profit on.
I'm not sure how you are measuring that value or what you are comparing it to.
Before the App Store, iPhone developers were stuck with web apps and jailbreaking (both of which still exist of course.)
Suppose iOS supported sideloading and multiple app stores? Would anything change?
Well, Android supports sideloading and multiple app stores, but Google can still command comparable royalties to Apple's.
In all three cases - Roblox, iOS, Android - the platform developer is providing a great deal of value (by creating the platform) and is trying to monetize it via commissions. Arguably iOS and Android provide much more value than Roblox since those platforms aren't restricted to running Roblox games.
This isn't a new model; Nintendo makes money on hardware sales (the Switch is basically customized tablet/phone hardware with some nice controllers) but still acts as a platform licensor and takes commissions for eShop sales.
It's probably not a coincidence either that most of the apps in the App Store are games.
I'm not sure how you are measuring that value or what you are comparing it to.
Before the App Store, iPhone developers were stuck with web apps and jailbreaking (both of which still exist of course.)
Suppose iOS supported sideloading and multiple app stores? Would anything change?
Well, Android supports sideloading and multiple app stores, but Google can still command comparable royalties to Apple's.
In all three cases - Roblox, iOS, Android - the platform developer is providing a great deal of value (by creating the platform) and is trying to monetize it via commissions. Arguably iOS and Android provide much more value than Roblox since those platforms aren't restricted to running Roblox games.
This isn't a new model; Nintendo makes money on hardware sales (the Switch is basically customized tablet/phone hardware with some nice controllers) but still acts as a platform licensor and takes commissions for eShop sales.
It's probably not a coincidence either that most of the apps in the App Store are games.