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Carson Oliver, newly promoted to vice president of the App Store, spoke with Polygon about Apple's gaming strategy following the launch of Indie Games Week, which spotlighted seven new and upcoming iPhone and iPad titles. He said more premium games have launched on the App Store this year than last, including a growing number of console and PC franchises moving to mobile.
Apple revised its developer guidelines over the weekend to prohibit apps that use AI to generate offensive content, including those that hide 'nudification' features during review and reveal them only after approval. The company said apps with user-generated content must filter objectionable material, allow reporting of abuse, and let users block accounts, and it strengthened legal language against apps enabling human trafficking or child exploitation.
A new free iOS app called Hoardware allows users to track and organize their Apple hardware, logging details like model numbers, serial numbers, and software versions. The app auto-fills device details and images when adding items, includes a coverage tab showing iOS version distribution across a collection, and can alert users to new software updates. It requires iOS 17 or later and has no ads, in-app purchases, or subscriptions.
Apple has revised its App Store moderation policy to explicitly target apps that use AI to generate nonconsensual sexually explicit images. Developers hosting user-generated content must now filter out such imagery, let users report abuse and block accounts, and remove violating content or face removal from the store. Apple also said it will expel both apps and their developers from the Apple Developer Program if they conceal 'nudification' features during the review process.
Apple revised its App Review Guidelines to add explicit protections against AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery, anonymous bullying, and apps that disguise their true function to evade review—such as gambling platforms masquerading as games. The update follows reports from the Tech Transparency Project, San Francisco officials, and 9to5Mac documenting nudify apps, hidden betting platforms, and the Grok chatbot controversy involving nonconsensual sexualized images.
Apple updated its App Store guidelines on Friday to explicitly require developers to prevent and remove nonconsensual sexual images generated by AI tools. The rules state developers who fail to implement safeguards or don't address violations after being notified can be removed from the App Store. Apple also clarified its 'bait-and-switch' policy to cover apps that add nudification features after approval, and reiterated that apps facilitating human trafficking or child exploitation will be pulled and blocked from alternative distribution.
Sonos has released version 27.2 of its app, updating to version 90.1 on iOS to support Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Duo in both folded and unfolded states. The company announced the release on Reddit, noting it is available now via the App Store and can be installed manually. It follows the broader Sonos 27 update, which redesigned the app and added speaker features.
Apple released version 1.12.1 of its Invites app, adding the ability for hosts to manually add guests and update their RSVP status when confirmations happen outside the app. The update also adds support for an extra-large Home Screen widget introduced with iOS 27, alongside unspecified bug fixes and performance improvements.
Apple's updated developer agreement confirms that third-party iOS widgets already built for CarPlay will also appear on HomeView, its newly unveiled smart display device. Developers must ensure widgets are safe for hands-free use and can exclude them via the disfavoredLocations function if unsuitable. Unlike CarPlay's audio/video app categories, widget support spans any iOS app category by default.
Apple announced a lineup of seven indie titles coming to iPhone and iPad as part of the App Store's Indie Games Week, including No Man's Sky, Sifu and Vampire Crawlers. Most of the games are already available for purchase, though No Man's Sky won't launch until Oct. 28. Apple says No Man's Sky will run on iPhone 11 or newer and third-generation iPad Air or newer, supporting touchscreen, controller, or keyboard and mouse.
Epic Games and Apple filed a joint status update giving conflicting accounts of Apple's progress in turning over internal documents backing its proposed 5%-15% App Store commission structure. Epic alleges Apple is deliberately delaying the process, while Apple denies the claim. The dispute concerns documents Apple is required to produce under the agreement governing ongoing proceedings over its external-link commission rates.
Apple launched a promotional 'Indie Games Week' on the App Store, highlighting seven independent games that have recently launched or are set to launch soon. The company included a statement from Carson Oliver, Apple's head of App Store Worldwide, praising indie developers for creative risk-taking and unique gameplay.