Back in the day it used to be which platform had more apps available for it, but as developers started to craft apps for both iOS and Android simultaneously, it soon became a matter of which app is available on which platform exclusively, kind of like Xbox versus PlayStation in which exclusive games can help gamers decide which platform to go for. That being said, it seems that Apple and Google are seriously considering taking things to the next level.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Apple and Google are actively pursuing game developers with special incentives to make sure big name titles come to their respective platforms first. Citing people familiar with the matter, the WSJ reported Apple and Google offer top games makers special consideration, like premium positioning in app store sections and lists, in exchange for exclusive first rights to a hot title. In August of 2013, Electronics Arts Inc. reportedly agreed to deliver popular strategy game Plants Vs. Zombies 2 on Apple’s iOS some two months before launching a version for Google’s Android. In exchange for platform exclusivity, Apple promoted the title in iOS App Store banners and featured games lists. Sources also claim developer ZeptoLab agreed to offer Cut the Rope 2, another sequel to a hot-selling game, as an iOS exclusive for about three months. Like EA, ZeptoLab’s title was featured prominently in the App Store at launch.
