Sensor Tower: US App Store spending fell 6%

US consumer spending on Apple's App Store fell in the second quarter of 2026. This marks the first year-on-year decline in the decade that analytics firm Sensor Tower has tracked the data.

According to Sensor Tower estimates reported by the Financial Times, spending dropped by 6% in Q2. This compares to a 9% growth rate seen in the same period a year earlier.

Sensor Tower largely attributed the drop to Apple's legal fight with Epic Games. A court ruling forced Apple to allow developers to direct users to external payment links, bypassing its standard 30% commission. The firm stated the App Store had been "significantly impacted" by this change.

The Financial Impact

Other estimates cited by the Financial Times suggest a sharper revenue contraction for Apple itself. Data from Appfigures indicates Apple's US commission revenue has shrunk by 18% so far this year. The report also notes Apple is taking less revenue in Brazil and Japan after being compelled to open its stores in those markets.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney quickly commented on the figures. He argued on social media platform X that "Apple broke mobile gaming" with its "30% junk fees."

He claimed these fees have inflated in-app purchase prices. They extract the majority of profit from games on the App Store, he said, depriving developers of funds to reinvest. Sweeney also criticized the introduction of ads in App Store search results.

Sweeney's Broader Critique

This practice makes the iPhone and iPad economy a "rigged pay-to-win system," Sweeney stated. He said it favors the most aggressively monetizing developers. He contrasted this with console platforms, where he claims Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft heavily promote the best games based on merit.

His critique extended to other companies. Sweeney brought Roblox into his comments, claiming Apple exhibits "hatred for developers striving for a free market."

He accused Apple of blocking Fortnite from a billion users when Epic challenged its monopoly openly. Yet, he claimed, Apple "looks the other way" on Roblox's quiet violation of its policy because Roblox stays silent. Sweeney concluded by calling for wholesale changes to fix what he called a "godawful mess."