Apple today introduced several changes to the App Store in Japan to meet the requirements of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) that goes into effect on December 18. The MSCA is similar to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA) so the Japanese App Store will work a lot like the EU App Store, but there are some differences.
Here's a quick rundown of what's changing as of today:
Side Button - Users in Japan will be able to change what the side button does, and it will be able to activate third-party voice assistants instead of Siri.
Payment options - Developers can offer in-app purchases, accept third-party payments in their apps, or direct users to a website to make a purchase.
Alternative app marketplaces - Apps can be distributed through alternative app marketplaces instead of the App Store. Users can set an alternative app marketplace as their default marketplace instead of the App Store.
