Apple Says iPhone Games Can Offer Redemption Codes Later This Year - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Says iPhone Games Can Offer Redemption Codes Later This Year

by

Apple this week announced that App Store app developers will be able to offer redemption codes for all types of in-app purchases starting later this year.

Mac App Store General Feature
In 2020, Apple introduced the ability for developers to offer customers unique, alphanumeric codes that they can redeem in the App Store for free or discounted auto-renewable subscriptions. Later this year, Apple will be allowing developers to offer these codes for any in-app purchases, including consumable items like in-game currency.

Apple previously said that developers can offer customers these one-time codes digitally, such as through an email, or offline at physical events. For example, the team behind Clash of Clans could promote the game at a convention by offering customers who walk by their booth a card with a redemption code for a free or discounted Sack of Gems.

Tag: App Store

Popular Stories

european union eu

Google Fined $1 Billion by EU for Search Bias and App Store Restrictions

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:39 am PDT by
Google was today fined €890 million ($1 billion) by the European Union for breaching antitrust rules with regard to its search and Google Play store services. The European Commission found that Google had broken the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by using its dominant position in the search market to favour its own services, like shopping and hotel deals, over those of rivals. The Commission ...
Read Full Article • 148 comments
apple bitcoin app scam

Apple Responds to Lawsuit Over Fake Bitcoin Wallet Scam in App Store

Monday July 27, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Apple is facing a new lawsuit from three customers who allegedly lost a combined $1.8 million after falling victim to a fake Bitcoin wallet app in the App Store, according to a complaint filed in California federal court on Friday. The complaint alleges that Apple violated California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act and other laws by failing to adequately review and monitor apps distributed...
Read Full Article • 239 comments
app store blue banner uk fixed

Apple Says UK App Store Steering Rules Would Be 'Highly Intrusive'

Wednesday July 29, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by
Apple said new UK App Store rules would give regulators a "highly intrusive" role dictating how it runs its business, reports Reuters. Apple submitted feedback to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as it considers forcing Apple to change its App Store rules around steering. The CMA wants Apple to let developers link to payment options outside of the App Store, which the CMA says will ...
Read Full Article • 180 comments

Top Rated Comments

AppliedMicro Avatar
AppliedMicro
15 months ago
Unless I’m missing something (?), this looks like a way to promote Apple’s In-App Purchasing system.
…over other alternative purchasing options for digital items or subscriptions?

In other words: Apple taking small baby steps, slowly beginning to… well, actually compete (on in-app purchases)?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sophisticatednut Avatar
Sophisticatednut
15 months ago

Unless I’m missing something (?), this looks like a way to promote Apple’s In-App Purchasing system.
…over other alternative purchasing options for digital items or subscriptions?

In other words: Apple taking small baby steps, slowly beginning to… well, actually compete (on in-app purchases)?
So is this another Regulatory impact where the giant starts to innovate to stay competitive. Or did Apple just decide 10 years after everyone else to implement a very sought after function?

Or is the fact steam is now Apple ARM native is suddenly a large competitive threat for the majority of the iOS AppStore market revenue 🤔
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
svish
15 months ago
It is indeed a good change though it could have been implemented back in 2020 itself. Anyway good to see this happening now.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
15 months ago

Apple previously said that developers can offer customers these one-time codes digitally, such as through an email, or offline at physical events. For example, the team behind Clash of Clans could promote the game at a convention by offering customers who walk by their booth a card with a redemption code for a free or discounted Sack of Gems.
I guess it'd be cool to be able to buy a redeemable code for a discounted Sack of Gems at a convention. Is Apple going to want a 30% cut from these offline convention sales and will app developers at their convention booth be required to only accept payments through, I don't know, Apple Pay?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matthew12 Avatar
matthew12
15 months ago
That’s odd it’s only explicitly allowed now. Stuff from Hoyoverse like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have been doing this for years now.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
Hammerd
15 months ago
Do not redeem the cards!!!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments