# ASO Monthly #79: Major Upgrade to App Store Pricing, Apple’s Best Apps and Games of 2022, LiveOps Becomes Promotional Content, Google Ads Data Becomes Third-Party, and More!

- Link: https://phiture.com/asostack/aso-monthly-79-2022-app-store-pricing-apples-best-apps-and-games-of-2022/
- Published: 2022-12-07T10:37:00+01:00
- Author: Ritwik Arya and Ramazan Tugay Kahraman

![](https://phiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ASO-Monthly_79_new-1-300x164.
jpg)

In the ASO Monthly series by ASO Consultancy Phiture, we reflect on the previous
month and shed a light on trends in App Store Optimization, algorithm changes, insights
in conversion rate optimization, and tools updates.

This update was prepared by Senior ASO Strategist, [Ritwik Arya](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritwik-arya/),
and [Ramazan Tugay Kahraman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramazan-tugay-kahraman-8212b880/),
Senior ASO Keyword & Metadata Specialist at Phiture. 

### **November 2 – Updated guidelines and recommendations for Promotional Content**

Google released updated guidelines for Promotional Content (previously known as “
LiveOps”) based on the insights from the beta programme that was run over the past
year. From November 29, developers are required to submit images without text, as
well as more unique and value oriented long descriptions, and relevant and impactful
images adhering to cutoff zones. More info on cutoff zones can be found [here](https://metrikal.io/blog/google-play-store-screenshot-sizes-guidelines/).
Other than that, major updates will be visible for 14 days. The detailed guidelines
can be found below. 

### 

Source – Google Play Console

### **November 2 – EU’s Digital Market Act may allow third-party app stores on iOS**

The European Union Parliament passed the [Digital Market Act (DMA)](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_6423)
on November 2 which brings many rules and controls to the digital marketing world.

The DMA represents a new challenge for Apple within the borders of the European 
Union. Along with DMA, Apple will be required to allow third-party app stores on
its products, thus allowing app downloads outside of the App Store. The DMA also
provides provision to allow third-party billing.

### **November 3 – Google introduces changes to app quality bar**

If your app exceeds the device bad behavior threshold on any core vital for a given
phone model, then Google Play may reduce the visibility of your title for users 
on that phone model. For example, Google may exclude the title from some discovery
surfaces, and in some cases, a warning on your store listing will appear to indicate
to users that your app may not work properly on their phone. The Play Store will
start applying store listing warnings on November 30, 2022.

### 

Source – Android Developers Blog

As well as this, Google is setting a minimum ratings bar of 3.0 stars to improve
the top charts. Google will first launch the ratings change to Top Free charts worldwide
and across all form factors in February 2023. Later next year, this change will 
be brought to top paid and grossing charts as well.

### **November 7 – Discrepancy in App Store Connect metrics**

App Store Connect confirmed a discrepancy in App Referrer, Web Referrer, and App
Store Browse source type attribution signals between September 12 and October 7,
2022. The affected data came from iOS 16 users, and it is visible only when viewed
by source type. Apple is working towards fixing the data and will update this notification
status once the backfill is complete. App marketing practitioners can expect to 
see changes in the reported data between this time range. 

 

### 

Source – App Store Connect

 

### **November 8 – Play Console renames LiveOps to Promotional Content**

Around the time that  Play Console stopped registration for the LiveOps beta program,
it renamed the program to “Promotional Content.” Developers who are eligible to 
run events in the Play Store can now see this change in the Play Console dashboard.
Google has indicated that new content types will be added over time, therefore Promotional
Content would better reflect the breadth of content developers can submit.

![](https://phiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image4-1-300x279.png)

Source – Google Play Store

### **November 10 – Algorithm update in the Play Store**

AppTweak’s App Store Algorithm Change detected major algorithm changes in multiple
countries this month. The affected countries include the United States, Sweden, 
Hong Kong, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Philippines, Spain, Japan, France, Australia,
Switzerland, India, Singapore, United Kingdom (UK), Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Austria,
and Germany. ASO managers will need to gauge the impact of this shift on the organic
performance of their apps and, if necessary, adjust their strategy accordingly. 

![](https://phiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image5-1-300x201.png)

Source – AppTweak

### **November 10 – Autoplay screenshots in Play Store browse**

Play Store now autoplays the first three screenshots in the games tab every 3 seconds.
This unlocks new opportunities for app marketers to optimize the browse conversion
rate for games, and this further increases the importance of experimenting with 
screenshots for conversion rate optimization.

### **November 10 – New meet with App Store Expert series**

Apple has added new dates to its ‘meet with App Store experts’ series. On December
8, 2022, there will be the opportunity to speak with Apple experts in different 
languages and regions.

Topics include: 

 * Get started with app discovery and marketing
 * Optimized app subscriptions
 * Create In-App Events and make the most of them
 * Work with Customer Product Pages
 * Work with Product Page Optimization
 * Get started with TestFlight

You can find the calendar and registration form at [this link](https://developer.apple.com/events/app-store/).

### **November 11 – Play Console has started bifurcating organic and paid acquisition**

Google Play Console will report Google Ads acquisitions under third-party referrals.
Meaning, Google Play Search & Explore traffic sources will show the number of users
acquired organically. This will open the door to understanding the behavior of organic
and paid users separately, reducing the effort required to manually calculate organic
acquisition, and also refine conversion rate improvement strategies for different
source types.

### ![](https://phiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image8-1-300x89.png)

Source – Google Play Console

 

### **November 14  – Foxconn hires over 100,000 workers**

Foxconn will hire more than [100,000 workers](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/foxconn-hires-over-100000-workers-covid-hit-chinese-plant-yicai-2022-11-17/)
to work at its Zhengzhou factory in China, as it prepares to set up its largest 
iPhone manufacturing center.

After this recruitment process, iPhone 14 production is expected to accelerate. 
With iPhone 14 sales increasing, 6.7-inch screenshots in the App Store may become
more important.

Developers who keep the App Store in the background for their app or games may start
to change these strategies in the coming days.

### **November 15 –  Google Play Store developing ‘organic testing feature’**

Instead of showing search suggestions under the search box, Google Play Store is
testing a new feature that suggests apps under the search box. The apps visible 
here have “major updates, ongoing events, or offers that users may be interested
in.” This unlocks another placement where the icon and title of the app will be 
visible. The update also indicates that Google wishes to promote organically apps
that are constantly evolving, running events, and offers.

### .

Source – 9to5google

### **November 28 – Apple announces best apps and games of 2022**

Apple today announced the winners of the 2022 App Store Awards, spotlighting 16 
apps and games that inspired users to engage more deeply with the world, expand 
their imaginations, and stay connected to friends and loved ones.

### **Best apps**

iPhone app of the year: BeReal

iPad app of the year: GoodNotes 5

Mac app of the year: MacFamilyTree 10

App TV app of the year: ViX

Apple Watch app of the year: Gentler Streak

### **Best Games**

iPhone game of the year: Apex Legends Mobile

iPad Game of the year: Moncage

Mac game of the year: Inscryption

Apple TV game of the year: El Hijo

Apple Arcade game of the year: Wylde Flowers

China game of the year: League of Legends Esports Manager

**Cultural Impact Winners**

How We Feel

Dot’s Home

Locket Widget

Waterllama

Inua – A Story in Ice and Time

 

### **December 6 – Apple announces biggest upgrade to App Store pricing, adding 700 new price points**

Apple has added 700 new price points to pricing in the App Store. Developers can
now select 900 different price points for in-app purchases and subscriptions, while
they can also peg their pricing to local currencies (rather than have pricing converted
with an exchange rate against the dollar). While this pricing upgrades adds more
complexity, more variation is only a good thing for those experimenting with their
pricing optimization. 

 Apple’s official comment on the new price points: “Under the updated App Store
pricing system, all developers will have the ability to select from 900 price points,
which is nearly 10 times the number of price points previously available for most
apps. This includes 600 new price points to choose from, with an additional 100 
higher price points available upon request. To provide developers around the world
with even more flexibility, price points — which will start as low as $0.29 and,
upon request, go up to $10,000 — will offer an enhanced selection of price points,
increasing incrementally across price ranges (for example, every $0.10 up to $10;
every $0.50 between $10 and $50; etc.). See the table below for details.”

 

### **Upcoming events**

[App Promotion Summit Berlin](https://apppromotionsummit.com/berlin/) – Onsite –
December 1

[App Growth Awards](https://apppromotionsummit.com/app-growth-awards/) – Onsite –
December 1

[App Growth Summit Singapore](https://appgrowthsummit.com/events/app-growth-summit-singapore-2022/)–
Onsite – December 8

 

### **Tool Updates**

AppTweak: [Gain Advanced App Store Insights with New AppDNA Taxonomy](https://www.apptweak.com/en/aso-blog/gain-advanced-app-store-insights-with-new-appdna-taxonomy)

Adjust: [Adjust introduces our SKAN 4-ready SDK to the market](https://www.adjust.com/blog/adjust-releases-skan-4-ready-sdk-to-market/)

AppFollow 8.1: [Faster than the speed of light](https://appfollow.io/blog/appfollow-81-faster-than-the-speed-of-light)

Liftoff: [Liftoff Monetize in-app bidding available in open beta with Google AdMob](https://liftoff.io/blog/admob-inappbidding-openbeta/)

AppRadar: [App Radar is getting a facelift](https://appradar.com/blog/app-radar-is-getting-a-facelift)

 

### **Interesting Reads**

[Applying a Data Driven Approach to Seasonality](https://phiture.com/asostack/data-driven-approach-to-seasonality/)
| Phiture

[App Store Optimization is Easy When You Know This](https://appfigures.com/resources/keyword-teardowns/83-gif-maker)
| App Figures

[A/B testing in App Store: Full guide to Apple’s Product Page Optimization](https://appradar.com/blog/app-ab-testing-with-product-page-optimization-in-apple-app-store)
| Appradar

[The Ethics of Dynamic Pricing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly](https://phiture.com/mobilegrowthstack/the-ethics-of-dynamic-pricing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/)
| Phiture

[Competitive Intelligence is a mobile marketer’s cheat code for success, especially during an unpredictable economy](https://blog.apptopia.com/competitive-intelligence-is-a-mobile-marketers-cheat-code-for-success-especially-during-an-unpredictable-economy)
| Apptopia 

[Optimizing App Metadata – Nordstrom Rack App Store Spotlight](https://www.gummicube.com/blog/optimizing-app-metadata-nordstrom-rack-app-store-spotlight)
| Gummicube

[Best ASO Tools – Data Comparison](https://www.moburst.com/blog/aso-tools/) | Moburst

[How to Localize Your App in Japanese](https://www.apptweak.com/en/aso-blog/how-to-localize-your-app-in-japanese)
| AppTweak

[Branding as a marketing campaign: the thunderous success of Marvel Snap ⎮ Case Study](https://www.apptamin.com/blog/the-thunderous-success-of-marvel-snaps-marketing-campaign-%e2%8e%ae-case-study/)
| Apptamin

 

### **Before you go**

Serhii Romanovych from the ASO Slack Stack community has discovered an interesting
detail about rankings in the App Store. Some apps suddenly lost all their ranks 
in November.

![](https://phiture.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image2-1-300x93.png)

It was predicted that this sudden rank loss could be related to Black Hat ASO. According
to Vadim Lysenko of the ASO Stack Slack community, this could be explained as follows:

 1. It seems Apple’s finally taking steps towards limiting blackhat ASO.
 2. I’ve heard about similar cases. Your app didn’t just lost its ranks. It stopped
    indexing. Just type in a few keywords from your metadata and you’ll see that it
    won’t rank (The Promoted IAPs should work though)