Apple Offering an App Store 'Surprise' From December 24 to December 29 [Updated]

Apple is planning to offer some kind of holiday App Store promotion that may see the company giving away free apps and games.

In Australia, where it is December 24, ‌App Store‌ users are waking up to an App Store story that mentions a "surprise" for Tuesday and explains that users can expect a treat every day from December 24 to December 29.

appstoresurprises

Tuesday's surprise isn't live yet, but it will be shortly! Make sure you come back soon to check it out.



Have you seen today's goodies? Look for the unwrapped presents on the App Store's Today, Games, and Apps tabs.

From December 24 to 29, you'll find a new surprise every day on the App Store. Come back daily to discover which treat we have waiting for you!

The wording of the story suggests that Apple is planning to give away free apps and games in a promotion similar to the 12 Days of Christmas promotion that the company used to run several years back.

We don't know yet what app or game Apple plans to give away on December 24, but we should find out soon from Australian users. ‌App Store‌ users in other countries like the United States can expect to see the same promotions when December 24 rolls around.

Update 10:39 a.m.: The surprises have gone live in New Zealand, and MacRumors readers tonyduffe and @Ldeverell report that the deals include a special in-app purchase bundle Looney Tunes World of Mayhem and a three-month subscription for the price of one month in Canva. We'll have to see if offers are the same around the world.

app store 2019 surprise

Update 2: Based on reader reports, the daily surprises appear to only be available in Australia and New Zealand, with a subset of them also seen in India.

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Top Rated Comments

markfc Avatar
65 months ago
Used to love 12 days of christmas...
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tillsbury Avatar
65 months ago
Yup, live in nz this morning too

https://apps.apple.com/nz/story/id1488144199

The surprise is that offering 60% discount on the purchase of 200 gems for a game is not exactly the holiday gift of a lifetime...
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decypher44 Avatar
65 months ago
So, nothing free. Just IA discounts and trials? Wow, so generous! Hahahahahahahaha
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bobob Avatar
65 months ago

With the margins Apple is getting on their products, I doubt that a give away worth a few dollars will affect their bottom line :).
I disagree.

I think it will increase their bottom line by increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
m0sher Avatar
65 months ago
I doubt they’re giving away useful apps, like Microsoft Office.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pez555 Avatar
65 months ago
Is this the best you can do apple...
?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)