Apple threatens to revoke Developer Program membership of developers found 'manipulating' App Store charts

Yesterday, Pocket Gamer reported on allegations that several App Store developers are buying their way into Apple's top 25 lists.

According to a Touch Arcade forum member, there are companies out there that utilise bot-farming techniques to ensure that a developer's application breaks into Apple's charts.

Naturally, Apple isn't happy about this.

In a short post on Apple's developer channel, the Cupertino-based company has threatened to revoke a developer's Apple Developer Program membership should it be found guilty of manipulating App Store charts.

"Once you build a great app, you want everyone to know about it," the post reads.

"However, when you promote your app, you should avoid using services that advertise or guarantee top placement in App Store charts.

"Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership."

While Apple doesn't specifically mention the supposed bot-farming shenanigans, it seems unlikely that the timing is a mere coincidence.

Let's see if Apple's warning has any effect on the App Store charts over the next couple of weeks.