Delta for iOS adds direct Patreon subscriptions, bypassing Apple's system

The popular emulator app for iOS Delta Emulator now lets users subscribe to its Patreon membership directly within the app by bypassing Apple's in-app purchase system. This update was approved on Wednesday for the U.S. Apple App Store. It follows recent legal changes and a court ruling in the Epic Games antitrust case, which required Apple to permit external payment links in app updates.

With this change, Delta users can open the Patreon signup page from the app's Settings and choose a $3 per month membership tier to unlock exclusive features. Previously, users could only link an existing Patreon account, but not complete signup or payment from within the app.

While apps like Spotify have also adopted direct payment links to avoid Apple's 27% commission on external purchases, Delta continues to offer Apple's in-app purchase option as well. However, it now places this option under an "Alternative Payment Methods" submenu, making it less visible to most users. This tactic resembles how Apple buries certain privacy or ad settings deep in iOS menus 😜