Soon, you’ll be able to gift in-app game currency and other in-app purchases to other App Store users, thanks to Apple’s changes in its App Store guidelines for developers.
Apps may enable gifting of items that are eligible for in-app purchase to others. Such gifts may only be refunded to the original purchaser and may not be exchanged.
Until now, the guidelines explicitly banned transactions of that sort, be they accomplished “directly or indirectly.”
So far, we haven’t seen any apps taking advantage of the rules changes to offer in-app gifts, such as subscriptions or game expansions.
While Christmas would be the perfect time to activate the feature, as the holiday season is always a high point for App Store downloads and in-app purchases, sue to the gifting of new iPhones, iPads, and App Store gift cards on Christmas morning.
However, any changes will likely take place after the holidays, as iTunes Connect will be shutdown for its traditional holiday break from December 23 to December 27.
