Apple Stops Designating Games With In-App Purchases As "Free"

[compl3x]

Free-to-play games have been criticized for trying to hook consumers with in-app purchases and microtransactions. Now, Apple has changed its iTunes store labeling system to reflect these realities.

 

As you can see in the picture above, the download button for these type of of games now says "Get" instead of "Free." Apple says that this has been done to be more accurate for consumers. Recently, the European Union forced Google to change its Google Play store labeling of "free-to-play" games, so it's very possible that this move has been done to preempt any action on the part of the EU.

 

[source: TechCrunch via Joystiq]

Our Take

This is a good move, especially for parents of younger consumers who might be tempted by these supposedly "free" games.

 

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/11/20/apple-stops-designating-games-with-in-app-purchases-free.aspx

[astropheed Veteran]

Thank god. I personally don't even look at a game these days unless it costs money, I can't stand the in-apps and ads.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

It's not only affecting F2P games. Any previous "Free" app is now labelled "Get".

 

Not a fan of it personally. I don't see how that conveys a "warning" or message to parents their kid could possibly charge microtransactions to their account.

[blank]

Good move. I hate how alot of these "free" apps are just demos and have in-app purchase of the full version.

 

This helps keep it all more honest, and less tricky.

[Knife Party]

the problem i have with "free apps" on iOS is how irritating the ads are, esp. in games. Android gives them one frame, not multiple like for iOS.