Samsung Galaxy Store reduces its revenue share to 20%, bringing significant changes to the developer ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy Store reduces its revenue share to 20%, bringing significant changes to the developer ecosystem

Samsung announced a historic adjustment in the revenue sharing ratio, with developers' income potentially increasing by up to 30%

Why did Samsung take the lead in "benefiting" developers?

1. Breaking the Monopoly: A "Yang Plot" Targeting Apple and Google Apple and Google's application store commission model has long been called a "monopoly tax" by developers, especially placing a heavy burden on small and medium-sized teams. Samsung's 80/20 revenue sharing model directly increases developer earnings by 10%-15%, creating significant appeal. For example, if an independent game developer migrates to the Galaxy Store, their annual income could increase by tens of thousands of dollars, which is extremely tempting for teams with limited resources.

2. Mobile business under pressure: software ecosystem becomes the key to breaking the deadlock In 2024, Samsung's global smartphone shipments were overtaken by Apple, with its market share in the high-end segment declining to 18%. By reducing commissions to attract quality applications (such as Genshin Impact and Star Rail) to prioritize compatibility with Galaxy devices, Samsung can enhance user stickiness and drive "hardware + service" synergistic growth. For example, if S25 series users choose Samsung phones due to exclusive games, their software service revenue during the device's lifecycle may increase by more than 20%.
3. AI and Cloud Gaming: Ecological Bundling under Technological Dividends Samsung has simultaneously opened its cloud gaming distribution platform, allowing developers to reach users directly through streaming technology without the need for downloads. Combined with the underlying optimization of Exynos chips (such as HBM memory accelerating AI computing), developers can create more complex scene rendering and real-time interaction features, forming a deep integration of "Samsung hardware + developer content."

The three major differentiated advantages of the Samsung App Store

1. Vertically integrated hardware-software ecosystem

• Chip-level optimization: The Exynos chip supports developers in utilizing GPU and NPU resources, achieving a 40% increase in AI inference speed and reducing power consumption for large games.
• Cross-device collaboration: The One UI 4.1 system allows applications to seamlessly adapt to Galaxy phones, watches, and tablets, enabling users to switch between different devices (such as casting mobile games to a tablet).

2. Developer Support Program

• Special subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises: In addition to an 80% revenue share, Samsung provides free cloud server resources and technical certification training to reduce development costs.
• AI Toolkit Open: Covers APIs for speech recognition, image generation, etc., allowing developers to quickly integrate AI features (such as real-time translation, AR filters).

Industry Impact: A Silent Revolution is Brewing

1. Developer migration trend may accelerate According to analyst predictions, the number of game applications on Galaxy Store may increase by 35% before Q4 of 2025, especially in Southeast Asia and India markets, where small and medium-sized developers may collectively shift.
2. Apple and Google are forced to respond. Google has announced that it will maintain a 30% commission, but internal documents show that it is testing a "tiered revenue sharing" model (dropping to 25% after annual income exceeds $1 million). Apple may respond by expanding the coverage of its "Small Business Program" (such as raising the commission threshold from $1 million to $5 million).
3. User and market chain reaction An increase in developer revenue will drive more exclusive applications to land on the Galaxy Store, creating a flywheel effect of "high-quality content - user growth - developer benefits." Morgan Stanley predicts that Samsung's global market share for mobile phones may rebound to 22% by 2025, partially reclaiming the high-end market eroded by Apple.

Future Outlook: Can Samsung Rewrite the Rules of the Game?

• Platform operating costs: Low commissions may affect the investment in application review and security maintenance, and a balance needs to be struck between developer concessions and user experience.
• Countermeasures by giants: Apple and Google may curb Samsung's expansion through closed ecosystems (such as limiting cross-platform features).

Conclusion