Overview
- iOS 26.2 in Japan enables alternative app marketplaces that must be authorized by Apple and operated by a single accountable entity.
- Apps distributed outside the App Store skip full App Review but must pass Apple’s notarization checks for malware and serious security risks.
- Developers can present alternative payment options alongside Apple’s system, with clear disclosure of who processes transactions and who handles refunds and subscriptions.
- iOS-level age ratings and parental features such as Screen Time, Ask to Buy, and Family Sharing remain enforced across all app stores.
- Apple and Google implemented changes in response to Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act, with Apple cautioning about new security risks and lowering its commission to 10 percent for most developers.