Apple updates App Store policy, will not block bug fix updates of apps that are already on the store

Apple has announced a significant policy update for the App Store. Till now, if an app was already on the App Store and ended up violating the store guidelines, Apple would block its developer from pushing any update unless and until the guideline issue was fixed first. 

Going forward, if an app is already on the store, Apple has announced that bug fixes will not be delayed over guideline violations unless they are related to legal issues, reported MSPowerUser.

In the announcement posted under news and updates on Apple’s developers’ site, Apple mentioned that the App store is dedicated to providing a “great experience” for everyone and wants to “continue offering a safe place for users to download apps” and help develop apps that are secure, high-quality, reliable and respectful of user privacy.

Apple added that they have updated the app review process as they had announced in the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2020.

Apple has mentioned that developers will now be able to address guideline violations in their submissions and in addition to appealing guideline decisions regarding whether an app violates any guidelines or not, they can also suggest changes to the guidelines.

The timing of this App Store policy update is rather ironic given that Apple and Epic Games are tied up in a legal tussle over Fornite being pulled off the App Store for violating store policies. Here, of course, given Apple’s rules, Epic cannot roll out the new season patch to the game that is no longer available on the store.