**Apple Expands Support for Mini Apps and Games with New Partner Program**
Apple has announced the launch of the Mini Apps Partner Program, an initiative aimed at enhancing the experience for users of mini apps and games while providing new business opportunities for developers on the App Store. This program is specifically designed for developers who host mini apps and games within their native applications, using web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript.
### What Are Mini Apps and Games?
Mini apps and games are self-contained digital experiences built using web technologies, and they are distributed within a larger, native iOS app. Since 2017, the App Store has supported this format, allowing developers to offer a variety of content and services to users without requiring separate app downloads for each experience. These mini apps are typically software packages, scripts, or game content added after the initial app installation and are executed on the user’s device. Importantly, all mini app code must comply with Apple’s developer agreement, specifically Section 3.3.1(B), to ensure quality and security.
### How Does the Mini Apps Partner Program Work?
The Mini Apps Partner Program aims to provide a safer and more seamless environment for mini app users by requiring participant apps to adopt specific App Store technologies. Two key requirements are the use of the Declared Age Range API, which helps ensure age-appropriate content, and the Advanced Commerce API, which facilitates secure and efficient in-app purchases.
Participating developers can benefit financially from the program. Members of the Mini Apps Partner Program earn 85% of qualifying in-app purchase sales made within qualifying mini apps, a favorable rate compared to the standard App Store commission. Qualifying in-app purchases include the sale of digital goods and services such as consumable and non-consumable items, as well as both auto-renewable and non-renewing subscriptions.
### Eligibility and Application Process
To join the Mini Apps Partner Program, developers must first be account holders in the Apple Developer Program. The application process requires submitting a request form, providing detailed information about the host app, its eligibility, and the mini apps to be hosted. Applicants must also agree to the program’s terms and conditions.
Once approved, developers receive setup instructions to help configure their offerings according to the program’s requirements. When a developer’s app is ready, it must be submitted for App Store review via App Store Connect, including the app binary and a generic mini app in-app purchase product ID. It is essential to indicate that the app uses the Advanced Commerce API and offers mini apps during this process.
For developers already in the program, adding more mini apps is straightforward: they simply update their app’s manifest as part of the submission process. If a developer wants to add another host app, they must ensure it has access to the Advanced Commerce API and provide a new manifest describing the host app and its associated mini apps.
### Defining Qualifying Mini Apps and Purchases
Not all mini apps are eligible for the program’s economic benefits. To be