虎嗅APP·2025-11-17 10:12Core Viewpoint - Apple and Tencent have reached an agreement where Apple will charge a 15% fee on virtual goods sold through WeChat mini-programs, marking a resolution to their ongoing dispute over payment processing and revenue sharing [5][28]. Group 1: Background and Context - The conflict began when Apple accused WeChat and Douyin of "tax evasion" regarding their mini-programs, which allowed users to bypass Apple's payment system [8][10]. - On iOS, Apple mandates that in-app purchases must use Apple Pay, which incurs a fee of 15% to 30%, while WeChat mini-programs had been circumventing this requirement [14][16]. - The gaming sector is particularly lucrative, with mini-game revenue reaching 16.6 billion yuan in the first half of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 60.5%, and in-app purchases rising by 81.56% to 9.1 billion yuan [20]. Group 2: Agreement Details - The agreement stipulates that Apple will uniformly charge a 15% fee on virtual goods sold through WeChat mini-programs, while physical goods like food delivery will not be subject to this fee [32][33]. - Developers will need to register as Apple developers and submit their mini-programs for approval, which may lead to longer wait times for approval due to increased demand [35][39]. Group 3: Implications for Stakeholders - For Tencent, the agreement is beneficial as it opens up a revenue stream from iOS mini-programs, which previously did not generate income due to the lack of a payment agreement with Apple [41][43]. - Developers may initially resist integrating Apple Pay due to the associated fees, but the streamlined payment process could enhance user payment willingness in the long run [48][54]. - Apple stands to gain from the additional 15% fee on virtual goods, which could signal a shift in its revenue strategy amid increasing scrutiny and complaints regarding its commission rates [57][63].