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Apple removes Big Fish Games's subscription gaming service from the App Store

The one that got away

Apple removes Big Fish Games's subscription gaming service from the App Store
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Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Apple had approved an app by Big Fish Games allowing users to pay a $6.99 a month subscription for access to dozens of the publisher's titles. The app, which went live on November 18th, was the first of its kind on the App Store.

According to Big Fish Games's founder Paul Thelen, Apple was dubious. “They needed to be convinced there’s a reason to charge customers every month,” he said.

Having finally been convinced, it seems that Apple has had a change of heart. Later that day, Bloomberg published a second story revealing that Big Fish Games's app had been unceremoniously yanked from the App Store.

“We were notified that the app was removed,” Thelen said. “We’re trying to follow up with Apple to try to figure out what happened.”

At the time of writing, Apple hasn't explained this unusual turn of events to either Big Fish Games or Bloomberg. Nor has it revealed whether or not the app will return, or by extension whether other apps like it will be approved in the future.

It's not all bad news for Big Fish Games, though. Thelen told Bloomberg that the app had been designed so as to be easily portable to Android, where - let's be honest - anything goes.

Rob Hearn
Rob Hearn
Having obtained a distinguished education, Rob became Steel Media's managing editor, now he's no longer here though.