- Tencent said Apple's move responds to and respects the voices of Chinese users and developers.
- Apple's standard commission rate for in-app purchases and paid apps will drop to 25% from the current 30% starting March 15.
Tencent welcomed Apple's historic fee reduction in its China App Store, calling it a response to and respect for the voices of Chinese users and developers.
"We have noticed that, driven by strong regulatory efforts, Apple has adjusted its App Store commission policy in China, which excites the industry," Tencent said in a statement on Friday.
This major change was officially announced earlier today after communication and negotiations between Apple and Chinese regulators.
Lowering commissions is a positive signal that helps the healthy development of the digital ecosystem, and it will usher in a more open and mutually beneficial platform environment for all developers, Tencent said.
This will help stimulate innovation and promote the continuous prosperity of the tech application ecosystem, and Tencent will continue to work with partners to provide high-quality services, the company added.
Apple's standard commission rate for in-app purchases and paid apps will drop to 25% from the current 30%.
For eligible developers in the small business program, the cut will be reduced to 12% from the current 15%.
The commission rate adjustment will take effect on March 15. Apple said in its Friday statement that it is committed to making iOS and iPadOS the best app ecosystem for Chinese developers and providing them with massive business opportunities.
Digital goods transactions on the China App Store totaled about $23 billion in 2024, second only to the US's $53 billion and higher than Europe's $20 billion, according to a report released by Apple in late 2025.
Prior to this comprehensive fee reduction, Tencent had already reached an agreement with Apple in November 2025, which stipulated that Apple would process payments for WeChat mini-games and take a 15% cut.
