Starting January 1, 2026, developers based in the Republic of Korea must provide a server‑to‑server notification endpoint when registering a new Services ID, or updating an existing Services ID, to associate their website with an app using Sign in with Apple . As a reminder, registering a notification endpoint allows Apple to send you important updates about the people who use your app and their account status, including: Changes in email forwarding preferences. Account deletions in your app. Permanent Apple Account deletions. To learn more about server-to-server notifications, see WWDC20 session 10173: Get the most out of Sign in with Apple . When you receive these notifications, you should immediately update any data associated with the account change in the app, as well as any necessary server infrastructure, to give people more control of the personal data they’ve shared. For more information, see Processing changes for Sign in with Apple accounts . Before submitting a new app to the App Store, or updating an existing app configuration to register a new Services ID or modify an existing Services ID, please read the guidance below. Account change guidance Account changes are directly related to privacy and control for the user and their personal data, and confirming account changes should be straightforward and transparent. For account email forwarding changes: Ensure any displayed user data affected by the account change matches the change event in the notification payload. Typically, this data is displayed in the app’s account settings or user profile. If people need to visit a website to finish changing or verifying their email address, include a link directly to the page on your website where they can complete the process. Keep users informed. If the email forwarding change affects other services you offer, let them know. If your app supports In-App Purchases, help people understand how billing, order tracking, and cancellations will be handled with the new email address. For account deletions: See TN3194: Handling account deletions and revoking tokens for Sign in with Apple . Note: Always follow applicable legal requirements for storing and retaining user account information and for handling account changes and deletions. This includes complying with local laws where your apps are available. If you have questions regarding your legal obligations, check with your legal counsel. Resources App Review Guidelines Human Interface Guidelines: Managing accounts
Beginning January 1, 2026, a new state law in Texas — SB2420 — introduces age assurance requirements for app marketplaces and developers. While we share the goal of strengthening kids’ online safety, we are concerned that SB2420 impacts the privacy of users by requiring the collection of sensitive, personally identifiable information to download any app, even if a user simply wants to check the weather or sports scores. Apple will continue to provide parents and developers with industry-leading tools that help enhance child safety while safeguarding privacy within the constraints of the law. Once this law goes into effect, users located in Texas who create a new Apple Account will be required to confirm whether they are 18 years or older. All new Apple Accounts for users under the age of 18 will be required to join a Family Sharing group , and parents or guardians will need to provide consent for all App Store downloads, app purchases, and transactions using Apple's In-App Purchase system by the minor. This will also impact developers, who will need to adopt new capabilities and modify behavior within their apps to meet their obligations under the law. Similar requirements will come into effect later next year in Utah and Louisiana. Today we’re sharing details about updates that we’re making and the tools we’ll provide to help developers meet these new requirements. To assist developers in meeting their obligations in a privacy-preserving way, we’ll introduce capabilities to help them obtain users’ age categories and manage significant changes as required by Texas state law. The Declared Age Range API is available to implement now, and will be updated in the coming months to provide the required age categories for new account users in Texas. And new APIs launching later this year will enable developers, when they determine a significant change is made to their app, to invoke a system experience to allow the user to request that parental consent be re-obtained. Additionally, parents will be able to revoke consent for a minor continuing to use an app. More details, including additional technical documentation, will be released later this fall. We know protecting kids from online threats requires constant vigilance and effort. That’s why we will continue to create industry-leading features to help developers provide age-appropriate experiences and safeguard privacy in their apps and games, and empower parents with a comprehensive set of tools to help keep their kids safe online.
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Beginning January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the euro (EUR) as its official currency, replacing the Bulgarian lev (BGN). As a result, the currency for App Store purchases and subscriptions in Bulgaria will change from BGN to EUR on this date. Your proceeds from sales in Bulgaria will also change to euros. If you’ve selected the lev as the currency for your bank in App Store Connect, it will automatically change to the euro on December 1, 2025. If you’ve selected a different currency for your bank account, you’ll continue to be paid in that currency. The statutory fixed conversion rate is 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR as established on July 8, 2025, by the Council of the European Union in connection with the introduction of the euro as the official currency in the Republic of Bulgaria. Auto-renewing subscriptions, manually priced apps and In‑App Purchases, or apps and In‑App Purchases with Bulgaria as the base storefront: Pricing on the Bulgaria storefront will be updated to a euro price based on the statutory conversion rate and rounded down to a supported euro price point. If you’ve chosen Bulgaria as the base storefront for your app or In‑App Purchases, pricing in other storefronts may be updated to maintain equalization with the new euro price. Other apps or In‑App Purchases: Pricing on the Bulgaria storefront will be converted to the euro using the standard equalization for euro markets where App Store sales are subject to value‑added tax (VAT). You can change the prices of your apps, In‑App Purchases, and auto‑renewable subscriptions at any time. Auto‑renewable subscriptions won’t be interrupted. Subscription prices will be automatically updated for each current, preserved, and future scheduled price to euros. Customers with auto‑renewable subscriptions will receive an email informing them of the currency change. Per the Euro Act, you’ll need to communicate both the lev and euro prices for In‑App Purchases to customers within your app for the duration of the transitional period from now until the end of the transition period on August 8, 2026. This messaging should appear anywhere prices are displayed. Your Sales and Trends reports and monthly financial reports will also be updated. For Sales and Trends, euros will be indicated for transactions after the currency change. For monthly financial reports, earnings from sales that occurred before the currency change will be in the BG report, and earnings from sales after the currency change will be in the EU report. All refunds issued after January 1, 2026, will be refunded in euros, regardless of the date of purchase. Learn more about the Bulgaria EUR adoption
Posted by Aurash Mahbod – VP and GM, Games on Google Play We’re evolving Google Play Games into an integrated experience centered on the player journey. Today, players have to jump between different platforms to discover, play, and socialize. Our goal is to connect these journeys to create the best gaming experience for players and grow your business. Games that offer seamless and rewarding experiences achieve higher engagement and growth on Play. That’s why we’re introducing Google Play Games Level Up , a new way we’re leveling up the player experience and unlocking greater success for your business. The Level Up program is open to all games¹, including access to powerful tools and promotional opportunities. Games can stay enrolled in the program and maximize benefits by meeting the user experience guidelines by each program milestone , the first milestone date being July 2026. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and guidelines of Google Play Games Level Up. Program benefits to accelerate your growth Games that are part of the Level Up program can access a suite of benefits to accelerate business growth. This includes a new space to engage with players, access to content tools in Play Console, and enhanced discovery opportunities through editorial surfaces on the Play Store. Re-engage players on You tab. You tab² is a new personalized destination on the Play Store where players can view content and rewards from games they’ve recently played, all in one dedicated place. It’s designed to help you re-engage and retain players by showcasing your latest events, offers, and updates. Games can feature their content on You tab using engagement tools in Play Console. You can drive player engagement through a rich store presence using promotional content, Play Points coupons, YouTube videos, and achievements , which all show up on your game detail page and You tab. Clash of Clans is re-engaging players through You tab Maximize your game’s reach. To make it easier for players to discover great games, we’re incorporating the user experience guidelines into our editorial criteria. Games that are part of the program will have the opportunity for prominent boosts across the store including featuring opportunities and Play Points boosters and quests. Titles that are part of the program will have more opportunities to be recommended through editorial surfaces across the store including the Games home and Play Points home. Get more opportunities to be featured on editorial surfaces Unlock deeper performance insights. Making the right decisions to grow your game requires a clear picture of your entire business. Next year, we're introducing more advanced reporting in Play Console. You'll be able to connect the dots from player acquisition to long-term engagement and monetization, giving you the holistic insights needed to optimize your growth strategy with confidence. Guidelines built on great user experience Games can stay enrolled in the program and access benefits by meeting the user experience guidelines. These guidelines are based on what players want: a seamless, rewarding experience everywhere they play. To deliver on this, we've established three core user experience guidelines: Player continuity: Today’s players enjoy their games across multiple devices. They want to continue playing without missing a beat. Cloud save makes this possible, Cloud save makes this possible, while Play Games Services automatically syncs their sign-in credentials for a seamless experience. We're making this experience even better with Play Games Sidekick. The new in-game overlay gives players instant access to their rewards, offers, and achievements, driving higher engagement for your game. With AI-driven tips and advice, Sidekick helps players stay immersed in the games they love. Starting early next year, you can enable this experience by using a simple toggle in Play Console with a streamlined testing process. Play Games Sidekick July, 2026 Cloud save November, 2026 Seamless restore November, 2026 Play Games Sidekick keeps players immersed in your game Rewarding player journeys: Players love seeing the time and effort they invest in games be recognized and rewarded. By designing achievements that span the lifetime of the game—celebrating progression to discovering hidden surprises or even acknowledging failed attempts—you can make a player's entire experience feel more engaging and valued. By implementing high quality achievements, you’ll become eligible for Play Points quests that reward players for completing each achievement and increase retention for your game. Achievements July, 2026 DREDGE rewards player progression through achievements Cross device gameplay: Players want the flexibility to enjoy their favorite games on any device. We’ve seen games optimized for multiple device types—from mobile to tablet to PC—drive higher player engagement and spend. To make these games even easier for players to find, we are launching new in-store discovery features later this year to prominently showcase titles with great cross device and input support. You can give your players the flexibility to play how they want by adding keyboard and mouse support, as well as controller support—which also unlocks better gaming with attachable mobile controllers and Android XR. Google Play Games on PC makes it easier to bring your mobile game to a new audience with a streamlined distribution using Play Console. Controller and mouse / keyboard support Recommended Play on PC Recommended User experience guidelines by each program milestone Start exploring Google Play Games Level Up today The Level Up program is rolling out in Play Console starting today. Player expectations and developer needs are always evolving. The Level Up program is designed to evolve with them which is why user experience guidelines and benefits may be updated over time. We’re committed to providing updates early so you can make informed decisions about the program. Google Play Games Level Up is how we’re investing in your success and creating the best experience for players. We believe that by partnering to build amazing experiences, we can build a stronger ecosystem for everyone. ¹ Games in the Casino category, including social casino and real-money wagering titles, may have limited access to certain program benefits. ² You tab is available in countries where Google Play Points is offered. See the Play Points Help Center for details.
