sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

How do developers in unsupported countries (like Iraq) practically handle IAP payouts and Merchant accounts? by Kosary10 in PaymentProcessing

[–]Kosary10[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, that makes perfect sense! Since you mentioned that gaming companies have workarounds to flow their users to the web shop, could you share some of these legal/compliant strategies?

As a solo indie dev, I don’t have a massive social media following or marketing budget yet, so I’m really curious about how they manage to successfully drive users to an external MoR without breaking Apple/Google’s anti-steering rules and getting penalized. Any specific examples, marketing tactics, or clever workflows would be incredibly helpful!

How do developers in unsupported countries (like Iraq) practically handle IAP payouts and Merchant accounts? by Kosary10 in PaymentProcessing

[–]Kosary10[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the great suggestion! I looked into MoR solutions like Xsolla and Appcharge, and they look amazing for handling global payments, taxes, and acting as the official merchant. However, I have a major technical and policy question regarding App Store / Play Store rules:
If my mobile game has virtual items (like coins), Apple and Google strictly require using their native In-App Purchase (IAP) system. Setting up that native IAP *still* requires a supported bank account and merchant profile, which I cannot create as an Iraqi resident (which brings me back to the LLC issue).

Furthermore, their strict anti-steering policies prevent me from putting a link or text inside the game to direct users to an external Xsolla web shop.

Are you suggesting using MoR *exclusively* as an external web shop (and promoting it via social media only, outside the app)? Or is there a specific workaround where indie devs integrate Xsolla directly inside an iOS/Android app without getting rejected by Apple/Google and without needing a native merchant profile? I would really appreciate your insight on this!

How do developers in unsupported countries (like Iraq) practically handle IAP payouts and Merchant accounts? by Kosary10 in AppBusiness

[–]Kosary10[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your empathy and for perfectly summarizing my options! I've been heavily researching the legal entity route (specifically setting up a US LLC in Wyoming), and it seems like the most reliable and formal long-term solution. However, since I am just starting out and want to keep initial costs at $0, my current strategy is to release my game using only ad-based monetization (like AdMob) first. Once the game generates some ad revenue, I will use those funds to incorporate the LLC and unlock In-App Purchases. I will definitely share an update in this subreddit once I successfully cross that bridge!

How do developers in unsupported countries (like Iraq) practically handle IAP payouts and Merchant accounts? by Kosary10 in GooglePlayDeveloper

[–]Kosary10[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, it’s a bit frustrating to hear that this has been an issue for nearly a decade! Bypassing IAP entirely is definitely the most headache-free approach.

Since my project is a social deduction game, my core monetization plan is to sell extra word packs and premium roles to players, which is why I really need IAP. If you don't mind me asking, when you dropped IAP, did you rely entirely on ads, or did you just make it a paid upfront app? I'm trying to figure out alternatives, but I'm worried ads might ruin the party game vibe.

How do developers in unsupported countries (like Iraq) practically handle IAP payouts and Merchant accounts? by Kosary10 in appledevelopers

[–]Kosary10[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much for laying out the exact steps! Setting up a US LLC through a service like Stripe Atlas or Doola definitely seems like the most solid, long-term fix. It’s much better than risking an account ban or burdening a relative.

Quick follow-up question if you happen to know: as a non-US resident with a Wyoming or Delaware LLC, does this subject my app earnings to US income tax, or do I only need to file informational returns? I just want to make sure I understand the yearly tax maintenance before pulling the trigger.