Apple to expand App Store with cross-company subscription bundles and suites
The tech giant revealed plans for bundled offers from different providers and new rules for inactive apps, set to launch with iOS 27 later this year.
Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference that the App Store will introduce cross-company subscription bundles and "suites" later this year. The move expands the current model, allowing users to combine offers from different providers into a single payment. This change mirrors existing streaming video bundles, such as those combining Apple TV and Peacock, but extends the concept to third-party services like Instagram Plus and Tinder Platinum.
The new "suites" feature will offer sets of subscriptions that are not available individually, allowing users to purchase them as a single package. Apple stated it would provide further details on the implementation of these bundles and suites later this summer, with the features expected to launch alongside iOS 27 and other platform updates in the fall.
In addition to subscription changes, Apple outlined new policies for the Mac App Store, including dropping the requirement for apps to support Intel chips in older Macs. The company also introduced guidelines to remove "opportunistic" apps that do not receive updates or attract customers, aiming to improve the quality of the marketplace.
Developers will now be required to disclose whether their app or game includes "social media capabilities" for age rating and Screen Time purposes. This disclosure requirement is part of broader efforts to provide transparency regarding user interaction and data handling within applications.
The announcement was reported by TechCrunch and 9to5Mac during the WWDC event. While specific examples of participating companies were cited as illustrative possibilities, Apple has not yet finalised the list of partners for the new bundle offerings.
