ASO News Digest: December 2024

The ASO News Digest is our effort to stay updated with the changes in the mobile app market over the past month. Any update or change in the policies of major app stores can influence ASO tactics and strategies. Here, you'll find the updates from December 2024 for the App Store and Google Play.

ASO News Overview from the App Store

The last month of the year was relatively quiet regarding news and updates, as the holiday season seemed to capture the attention of the App Store team as well.

1. App Submissions During the Holidays

The busiest season in the App Store is just around the corner. Make sure your apps and games are updated and fully prepared. The App Review team will continue accepting submissions throughout the holiday period. However, please submit your updates early, especially if you require expedited review. From December 20 to December 26, a high volume of submissions is expected, which may increase review times.

2. Updated Apple Developer Program License Agreement

Apple has made changes to Appendix 2 of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement to clarify the requirements for using the In-App Purchase API. Please review the updates and accept the new terms in your developer account.

3. App Store Awards Winners Announced

The annual App Store Awards celebrate the best apps and games along with their talented developers. This year was filled with innovation and creativity, making the selection of winners particularly challenging.

Apps of the Year

The winning developers showcased new approaches to exploring the world, mastering skills, and unlocking creative potential.

• iPhone App of the Year: Halide by Lux Optics Inc.
• iPad App of the Year: Moises by Moises Systems, Inc.
• Mac App of the Year: Adobe Lightroom by Adobe Inc.
• Apple Vision Pro App of the Year: What If...? Immersive Story by Disney
• Apple Watch App of the Year: Lumi by Raja V

Games of the Year

These games not only entertained but also impressed with captivating storytelling, originality, and depth of artistic approach.

• iPhone Game of the Year: AFK Journey by Farlight Games
• iPad Game of the Year: Squad Busters by Supercell
• Mac Game of the Year: Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic Inc.
• Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year: Thrasher by Luz LLC

4. Prepare for the Latest Betas

Apple has released beta versions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3. Ensure that your apps are fully compatible with these versions to guarantee stable performance.

To access new SDK features, build and test your apps using Xcode 16.2.

ASO News Overview from Google Play

1. Focus on Kids’ Apps: Four Tips for Creating Quality and Safe Apps

• User Age Verification: Use the new Credential Manager API to verify user age via digital IDs, ensuring a safe experience for minors.
• Content Protection: Enable the Restrict Declared Minors (RDM) feature in the Google Play Console to limit minors' access to inappropriate apps and purchases.
• Teacher Approved Program: Develop apps that meet the Google Play Teacher Approved program criteria to stand out as high-quality content for kids and boost audience engagement.
• Compliance with Family Policies: Keep up with Google Play policy updates to ensure your apps are safe, kid-friendly, and transparent about data usage.

2. 2024 Summary Highlights

Google Play as a Dynamic Platform

Google Play is evolving from a store into a platform that facilitates seamless interaction with your content by offering:

• Recommendations for discovering new apps and games
• Enhanced cross-device gaming experiences
• Relevant content from installed apps on the home screen

New Developer Tools

Features launched to improve quality and usability include:

• Quality Panel for quick issue resolution
• SDK Console for SDK version management
• Deep-linking tools for smoother web-to-app transitions

Revenue Growth Opportunities

New monetization features:

• Support for local payment methods (e.g., Pix in Brazil, MoMo in Vietnam)
• Flexible subscription plans and improved family payment options

Security Enhancements

Improved tools to combat threats and abuse:

• Google Play Protect scans 200 billion apps daily
• Play Integrity API ensures protection against fraud

Community Support

Support for indie developers and startups through training programs, accelerators, and funding initiatives.

3. Introducing the Android XR SDK (Beta)

Android XR SDK is a new tool for developing extended reality (XR) apps. It bridges the digital and physical worlds using familiar Android APIs and open standards designed specifically for XR.

Key Features of Android XR SDK

• Immersive 3D Content: Add 3D elements, spatial panels, and sound to create a realistic sense of depth and scale.
• Virtual Spaces: Immerse users in fantastical virtual worlds or integrate XR elements into everyday environments.
• Intuitive Interactions: Utilize natural multimodal capabilities such as hand and eye tracking for seamless interaction.

If you’re already developing for Android, transitioning to XR will be an easy step.

4. Preparing for 16 KB Memory Pages

Android is enhancing performance with the introduction of 16 KB memory pages, improving app and game speed by 5–10%.

Steps for Developers

• Testing and Compatibility: This feature is available on Google Pixel 8 and 9 devices, with support coming to Samsung, Xiaomi, vivo, and others. Rebuild apps with native code to ensure compatibility.
• Tool Updates: Use Android Gradle Plugin 8.5.1 or higher and NDK r28 for app builds.
• Dependency Checks: Ensure all SDKs and libraries support 16 KB.
• Testing in 16 KB Mode: Use emulators or test on Pixel devices with the 16 KB feature enabled.

5. Second Developer Preview of Android 16

The new version of Android 16 for developers is now available for testing. It includes enhancements aimed at:

• Improving performance
• Extending battery life
• Optimizing app functionality

Stay updated and achieve success 💙