Apple Cleans 46 Thousand Apps In China's App Store

JAKARTA - Apple again deleted the application from the App Store in China. This is claimed because Apple takes issue with the regulations that have been implemented by the Chinese government.

A total of 46 thousand applications and 39 of them are game applications. Unmitigated, Apple also deleted popular games from the App Store.

According to a report by research firm Qimai quoted by Reuters on Saturday January 2, the games include Assassin's Creed Identity and NBA 2K20. Only 74 of the 1500 most popular games in China still survive on the App Store.

For information, Apple explained that the Chinese government regulation in question is a regulation that requires paid applications to have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), which is issued by the Chinese government.

This numbering is very strict, because it is part of the censorship rules. For example, recent ones such as those related to Winnie the Pooh are prohibited from circulating. Because, this character previously appeared in a viral meme, and was compared to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

However, this ISBN rule does not apply to free applications, which is why a number of popular games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Game for Peace (Chinese version of PUBG) are still circulating.

Analysts said the move was not surprising as Apple continues to close the gap in keeping with China's content regulators.

Earlier in February 2020, Apple had reminded developers of this rule, and since then many of them have changed the app to be a free download.

Chances are, Apple's clean-up will have little impact on the Cupertino, California-based company, because according to analysts from Niko Partners, 97 of the 100 highest-grossing games on the App Store already have an ISBN.

Link: