In the wake of the Epic Games v. Apple ruling last month, which affirmed developers’ rights to suggest alternative payment methods and prohibited Apple from taking a 27% commission on external purchases, the Delta emulator has made notable updates. Following in the footsteps of companies like Amazon and Spotify, Delta, an iOS app that emulates classic consoles such as the N64, NES, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis, has streamlined its connection to Patreon. This change allows users to access extra features directly within the app without facing Apple’s stringent restrictions or inflated prices.
Delta developer Riley Testut announced on Mastodon that, “Delta’s latest update with our revised Patreon sign-up flow has been approved! We can now freely mention our Patreon without giving Apple 27% of donations.” In the app’s settings, users can now easily join the developers’ Patreon to unlock exclusive app icons and gain early access to new features by contributing. Selecting the join button navigates users to an in-app webpage where they can choose from various membership tiers that offer perks, such as access to beta versions and a private Discord channel.
Previously, in a December update, Delta allowed users to enroll in Patreon directly via the iOS app following modifications to Apple’s App Store policies in early 2024. However, because of the 27% fee imposed by Apple on developers directing users to external payment avenues, the cost of Delta’s Patreon memberships of $3, $5, and $10 became inflated to $10, $15, and $30, respectively, when purchasing through the iOS app.
The option to purchase these memberships at increased prices remains available within Delta, as reported by TechCrunch, but it is less prominently displayed under an Alternate Payment Methods section in the app’s settings.
