600 Japanese companies demand Epic Games like treatment from Apple and Google

More than 600 Japanese companies are reportedly calling on Apple and Google to eliminate commissions on app purchases. A report claims that these companies have argued that the fees make external payment options unviable following Japan's Mobile Software Competition Law, which is set to take effect in December.

According to a report by The Japan Times, seven IT-related industry groups, including the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, have issued a joint statement saying the burden of commissions is so heavy that directing users to external payment sites "has not become a viable option."

Before the law took effect, in-app sales were subject to a commission of up to 30%. Apple and Google responded to the new law by allowing out-of-app billing but charging commissions of 15%-20% on revenue generated from external sites.

The groups are seeking treatment similar to what Epic Games secured in the United States, where an injunction forced Apple to allow external payments without collecting a commission.

Developers in Japan said Apple's current alternative payment setup has "no economic incentive"to use the newly permitted payment methods, with fees ranging from 5% to 21% that, when combined with credit card processing fees, can be as costly as Apple's built-in system. They urged the creation of a market in which "a diverse range of payment methods can genuinely become options."

What Japanese companies said about Apple ecosystem commissions

The Japanese groups also argued that similar payment methods are offered free of charge in the US, accusing Apple and Google of placing Japan's consumers and businesses at a disadvantage compared to those in the United States.

In January, one of the seven groups, the Mobile Content Forum, had already issued a written statement criticising Apple and Google's approach. The seven groups collectively include more than 600 companies and organisations, such as major IT firms, game companies and software developers. With the joint statement, calls for improvement are spreading across the broader IT industry.

Attention will turn to how the Japan Fair Trade Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the new law, will respond.

Apart from Japan, developers in the EU have made similar demands to Apple. In December 2025, a coalition of developers petitioned the European Commission, saying Apple's revised App Store fees continued to disadvantage EU apps.

A group of 20 European app makers and consumer bodies filed a petition to the European Commission to lower Apple’s commissions. They argued that the fees disadvantage their apps compared to competing apps in the US.




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