Overview

• Apple notified Santa Ragione on July 15 that its 2016 visual novel Wheels of Aurelia will be removed from the App Store on July 25 under a policy targeting “obsolete” apps.
• Santa Ragione’s repeated appeals were rejected within minutes and Apple has provided no clear rationale beyond citing the obsoletion policy.
• The studio has made Wheels of Aurelia free to download for 10 days to ensure players can access the title before it is delisted.
• Developers argue that designating fully functional games as obsolete undermines their status as cultural and artistic works.
• Industry observers note that recent EU Digital Markets Act measures could curb platform dominance and support diversified distribution for independent creators.