Several Top Apps Go Free Ahead of App Store's Fifth Anniversary [Updated]

app_store_icon_170As first noted by The Verge, a number of popular paid App Store apps have been discounted to free for the first time in their histories today.

While no specific announcement regarding the sales has been given, Wednesday marks the App Store's fifth anniversary and it is possible that Apple will be rolling out a special promotion in honor of the occasion. With no additional information available, it is currently unknown how long these sales will last.

Among the popular titles noticed so far:

- BADLAND, regularly $3.99 [Direct Link]
- Barefoot World Atlas, regularly $4.99 [Direct Link]
- Day One, regularly $4.99 [Direct Link]
- How to Cook Everything, regularly $9.99 [Direct Link]
- Infinity Blade II, regularly $6.99 [Direct Link]
- Over, regularly $1.99 [Direct Link]
- Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, regularly $4.99 [Direct Link]
- Traktor DJ, regularly $19.99) [Direct Link]
- Traktor DJ for iPhone, regularly $4.99 [Direct Link]
- Tiny Wings, regularly $0.99 [Direct Link]
- Tiny Wings HD, regularly $2.99 [Direct Link]
- Where's My Water?, regularly $0.99 [Direct Link]

Last week, Apple sent out commemorative posters to members of the media in celebration of the App Store's fifth anniversary, and less than two months ago Apple celebrated 50 billion downloads since the store's opening.

Update: Apple has now officially launched its "5 Years of the App Store" promotion [App Store link] featuring the above apps.

From the 500 apps available at launch in 2008 to the more than 900,000 at your fingertips today, it's been a remarkably prolific five years for the App Store. To celebrate, we're giving everyone five landmark games and five groundbreaking apps for a limited time. Plus, look back at the key moments that have made the App Store the world's most innovative destination for apps.

app_store_5_years_promo
The feature also includes a timeline of milestones similar to that seen on the promotional posters sent to members of the media last week.

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Top Rated Comments

keysofanxiety Avatar
156 months ago
Can't complain about free stuff. But I bet you someone will..
Oh my God, free stuff? First Apple screw us over by releasing new products, rendering my OLD 2005 PowerBook G4 COMPLETELY obsolete :mad: Then they discount products that I paid for ages ago because I enjoyed them, and made them free? :mad: They should keep everything expensive for everybody else so I don't feel bad about my purchases. :mad:

Honestly, Apple's completely gone downhill since Steve died. Steve would never have allowed this. Tim Cook is a rubbish CEO. Apple should start innovating rather than spending their time in courtrooms. iOS 7 looks like it was designed by a child with crayons, whilst wearing oven gloves. Android rocks, Apple are just copying. Apple are doomed. /s

I think that's pretty much covered everything guys ;)
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
\-V-/ Avatar
156 months ago
Lol Infiniti blade 2 is now free and I still won't download it
Why? An inner hatred for good games?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
156 months ago
Lol Infiniti blade 2 is now free and I still won't download it
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
notjustjay Avatar
156 months ago
I think that's pretty much covered everything guys ;)

You forgot to call us fanboys, but otherwise, I think you covered it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iThinkIt Avatar
156 months ago
Lol Infiniti blade 2 is now free and I still won't download it

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doboy Avatar
156 months ago
Just in case people are not aware, you can purchase the free app(s) on your iDevice and delete the app(s) while they are still downloading. This way you can just purchase the app for future use and not have it installed right away. Also by deleting while it's still downloading, you don't have to wait until it finishes (which is useful for larger apps). You just delete them like you normally do with any other app.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)