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App Developers Can Now Offer Pre-Orders Up to 180 Days Before an App's Release

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Apple today informed developers that they can offer pre-orders for apps up to 180 days prior to when it's released for download on the App Store, giving developers more time to build excitement for app features, services, and content.

apppreorder

Now you can let customers pre-order your app up to 180 days before it's released for download on the App Store. Take advantage of this longer lead time to build more excitement for your app's features, services, and content, and to encourage more pre-orders. Once your app is released, customers will be notified and it will automatically download to their device within 24 hours.

Apple has been allowing developers to offer ‌App Store‌ pre-orders since 2017, with the pre-order feature letting customers make a purchase ahead of an app's release date. Pre-orders are available for both free and paid apps.

Prior to today's change, pre-orders could only be made available for up to 90 days before an app's release. Once the release date for an app rolls around, the app that has been pre-ordered is automatically downloaded to the customer's device, with paid apps charged at release.

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Top Rated Comments

O
ohmyrob
75 months ago
this is great news - i hate it when the apps i want are sold out.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
Rogifan
75 months ago
Now Apple needs to allow trials.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
ArtOfWarfare
75 months ago
Am I the only one who had no idea that Apple has allowed apps to be pre-ordered for the last 3 years?

I don't think there's been a single article on MR about any app being available for pre-order, but maybe I just missed it.

Games are the only category where you'd want to have pre-orders, I think... but we're talking about iOS, AKA, a platform nobody waits years for games to come to it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bLackjackj Avatar
bLackjackj
75 months ago
Thank goodness,..no more waiting up at Midnight & lining up for Apps outside my local Apple Store!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
btrach144
75 months ago

Serious question, why does that really matter to you?
Considering it's being discussed by US regulators, yes.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
ian87w
75 months ago

It does in many cases. Otherwise, how the heck do you even think Kickstarter and Go Fund Me exist to begin with? They often pre-fund (pre-order) many promised digital goods that don't materialize until many many months later.

And how about the pre-orders for many AAA games in the PC world? I know this is not something big in the Mac gaming sector (which is small in comparison), but pre-order discounts actually have existed and thrived for umm.... for years.

Care for another successful example? There's this thing called Steam. Bazillions of gamers pre-order and pre-purchase games (at a discount) even before they are ready for prime time. Other developers like Blizzard take your money and offer you a discount before their games are released.
I'm just going to highlight the relevant points (discounts) outside your condescending tone.
Yes, if there's a discount for pre-orders, that's one reason, for promotional purposes. Agree on that.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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