At the beginning of March, Google announced that it would reduce the 30% Google Play Store commission for developers with revenue of up to $1 million. The program should start operating as early as July 1, 2021, but Google has published the requirements for developers to participate in it only now. Earlier, Apple introduced a similar program in November 2020.
Starting July 1, Google will lower the Google Play commission to 15% for all app developers, but the discounted rate will only apply to the first million dollars of revenue per year. If the revenue exceeds the limit of $1 million per year, the commission will increase to 30%.
The search giant is also launching a Play Media Experience support program for developers, under which it will reduce commissions to 15% for media services, regardless of their revenue in the app store.
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To participate in the program and receive a reduced commission, the application must meet the following Play Media Experience requirements:
- The app must be copyrighted and offer premium access to non-user-created videos, audios, or books;
- Have over 100,000 active monthly downloads on Google Play;
- Have a high-quality user interface with high Google Play ratings;
- Have a reputable developer account;
- Integration of Google platforms and APIs depending on the type of media content.
Moreover, additional requirements may apply to the application depending on the type of media content:
Video: Movies, TV shows, sports, and live news with integration with Android TV, Google TV, and the Cast platform, smart search, and easy registration.
Audio: Access to music or podcasts by subscription with support for WearOS, Android Auto, Android TV, and Cast, playback across different devices.
Books: Premium access to books, audiobooks, comics, optimization for tablets and foldable devices, support for Entertainment Space, WearOS, and Android Auto for audiobooks.