Skip to main content

GLOSSARY

Mobile Game Distribution Glossary: The DMA Era and U.S. Court Rulings

Introduction​

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and U.S. court rulings have introduced new concepts in mobile game distribution and monetization. This glossary explains these terms and how Xsolla SDK supports developers in this evolving landscape.

As the industry adapts to regulatory changes, understanding new distribution methods and payment options is crucial. Xsolla SDK empowers developers to navigate this new ecosystem, providing compliant solutions that open up new monetization avenues.

Xsolla SDK supports the following key concepts:

iOS / Apple App Store:​

  1. External Payment Links (United States, Japan, Brazil, European Union):
    • Apple now lets developers direct players to external web payments in the United States (Epic v. Apple, April 2025), Japan (Mobile Software Competition Act, effective December 18, 2025), Brazil (Apple's CADE antitrust settlement, effective June 18, 2026), and the European Union (Digital Markets Act)
    • Implement link-outs to Xsolla Pay Station or Web Shop for users in these markets
    • Use iOS storefront detection to identify the user's storefront and enable region-specific payment flows
    • Xsolla SDK aligns with Apple's updated guidelines
    • Configure openExternalBrowser = true when redirecting players to web payment pages
    • The rules are not the same in every market. On the United States storefront no entitlement is required and Apple currently charges no commission on these transactions. In Japan, Brazil and the EU you need an Apple entitlement, Apple takes a commission, and you must report the transactions back to Apple. See Reporting External Purchases to Apple
  2. Alternative App Marketplaces ↗ (https://developer.apple.com/support/alternative-app-marketplace-in-the-eu) on iOS:
    • Apple's term for alternative App Stores, available in EU markets and, since June 2026, in Brazil
    • Implement Xsolla Pay Station for in-app payments outside App Store
    • Power your Marketplace wallet with top-up solution via Xsolla Pay Station
    • Apple applies its own commission to apps distributed this way, and marketplace operators have their own reporting duties. Check Apple's current terms for your region. In the EU this is the Core Technology Commission from October 1, 2026, a share of digital sales replacing the old per-install Core Technology Fee
  3. Web Distribution ↗ (https://developer.apple.com/support/web-distribution-eu) on iOS:
    • Apple's term for side-loading on iOS via official publisher websites
    • Distribute your app directly to users from your website
    • Implement direct in-app payments via Xsolla Pay Station, outside App Store billing
    • Apple still charges its own fee on digital goods sold this way — in the EU, the Core Technology Commission from October 1, 2026. Check Apple's current terms before modelling your margins
  4. Notarization ↗ (https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/distributing-apps-in-the-european-union/submit-for-notarization) for iOS:
    • Light approval process by Apple for distribution outside of App Store
    • Ensures basic safety and integrity checks for your app
    • Xsolla SDK is compatible with notarized apps, maintaining security standards
  5. Alternative Payment Options ↗ (https://developer.apple.com/support/payment-options-on-the-app-store-in-the-eu) on the App Store:
    • Integrate Xsolla Pay Station within App Store apps via Xsolla SDK, in the regions where Apple permits it
    • Offer users 1,000+ payment methods across 200+ countries
    • Apple takes a commission on these transactions and requires you to report them. See Reporting External Purchases to Apple
    • In the EU from October 1, 2026 you can offer Apple In-App Purchase alongside alternative payments, but your choice of payment options is locked for 12 months, so plan it before you ship

Android / Google Play:​

  1. External Payment Methods via Link-outs and Alternative Billing Solutions (United States) — live since October 29, 2025:
    • Following the Epic v. Google injunction — affirmed by the Ninth Circuit on July 31, 2025 (147 F.4th 917), and denied a stay by the U.S. Supreme Court on October 6, 2025 — U.S. Google Play apps may guide users to external payment methods via link-outs and use alternative billing solutions. In July 2026, Epic and Google withdrew only their joint motion to modify this injunction to match a proposed settlement — not the settlement itself, whose commercial terms (fee schedule, Registered App Stores) still apply separately. The original October 2024 injunction remains the operative court order; its written term runs three years from issuance, but implementation delays mean sources disagree on the practical end date (some cite November 2027, others later) — don't plan against either without checking the docket
    • Developers are no longer subject to anti-steering restrictions in the United States
    • Developers must enroll in the applicable Google program and accept updated terms of service: External Content Links Program ↗ (https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16470497) for link-outs to external purchase pages, and/or Alternative Billing Program ↗ (https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16497028) for using non-Google billing within the app. Developers can participate in both programs simultaneously
    • Google isn't collecting fees or requiring reports on these U.S. transactions yet — both start October 1, 2026
    • Similar programs are already live and fee-bearing elsewhere — User Choice Billing, external offers (EEA), billing choice (UK/EEA), and external payments (Japan). Google takes a commission on those transactions today and requires you to report them, see Reporting External Transactions to Google Play
    • Implement link-outs to Xsolla Pay Station or Web Shop for U.S. users
    • Use Google Play storefront detection to identify U.S. users (country code "US") and enable region-specific payment flows
    • Xsolla SDK ensures full compliance with Google's revised requirements for U.S. apps
  2. Side-loading on Android ↗ (https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/alternative-distribution):
  3. APK Marketing & Distribution:
    • Leverage partnerships with channels like Digital Turbine for wider reach and enable instant APK installation on Android devices
    • Tap into new user acquisition channels beyond Google Play and pave your own way
    • Xsolla is compatible with attribution tools for your APK distribution, ensuring you can continue optimizing your performance

Conclusion​

The mobile gaming landscape is rapidly changing due to regulations like the DMA, U.S. court rulings (including the April 30, 2025 iOS decision and the Epic v. Google injunction, effective October 29, 2025), new external-payment laws in Japan and Brazil, and evolving platform policies. Xsolla SDK offers a comprehensive toolkit to navigate these changes, helping you maximize revenue and reach across all available channels.

We update this information regularly. For the most current details, see the News. For tailored guidance, please consult your Business Development representative or Customer Success Manager.

By using Xsolla SDK, you're positioning your game to thrive in this dynamic environment, unlocking new revenue streams and innovative distribution channels.