News - The Apple Tax

Hello there dear Zorlunites, I think that most of you have already seen or heard about this subject, but in short for all those that are still not aware, every creators on Patreon received recently an email announcing coming end of the year (November) will see the Apple tax be applied to Patreon for users using the iOS Apple store to support their creators, and force a change in the model of subscriptions as well.

What does it mean? 

In details, it means that in November every Patreon subscriptions and transactions made via iOS Apple store will now subject of the Apple tax of 30%, which will either force creators to eat the 30% on your support you give them or add that fee and augment every subscriptions and transactions from that amount to keep the gain.
And the model of subscription will go from 1st to 1st, to date of subscription to date of subscription.

Ok, so what does it mean for us ON Apple iOS and our support to you?

Well, if I follow what Patreon is suggesting me, it will transfer this cost on the subscriptions and make them rise by that much. So in short, you will pay around 30% more than on any other platform for exactly the same support (I will receive nothing more on this). And there will be a change of model of subscription, going from 1st to 1st, to date of subscription to date of subscription.

Ok, so what does it mean for us NOT ON Apple iOS and our support to you?

No changes in the cost, if you are supporting me from any other platform, the subscription tiers will be the same, but the change of model of subscription will be going from 1st to 1st, to date of subscription to date of subscription.

What are your thoughts on this? 

Pissed off, annoyed, jaded and embarrassed... Pissed off and annoyed of another Patreon nonsense; jaded by the fact that I'm powerless to do anything about it; embarrassed by the fact that some people that want to support me will get stiffed unfairly.

So, what's the solution?

Run for the hills!

But joke aside, if you are supporting me on Patreon from an iOS Apple store or thinking on it, then STOP, don't accept to be robbed like this and go support me on SubscribeStar or at least from another devise to avoid that fee if you still prefer to support me from Patreon.

Even if you the money, you shouldn't accept this, better support me another way and give the extra fee to charity than giving it to Apple or Patreon.

But, don't you think this platforms deserve their fee for their work? 

Yes, don't get me wrong, I'm not an hypocrite, I'm also an art gallery manager, and when I'm selling a piece of art, I take a fee on the sale, BUT that fee has some limit, there is a moment when too much is too much, when I sell a piece of art from an artist that has an agent who take himself a fee on the sales, I always took that fee on mine, because I consider that the artist and creator should always have a minimum gain on his own damn art.

Here Patreon offers me to either fully eat the tax, meaning that for the same support you give me I will gain far less (and Patreon is already taking a nice fee), or to raise my prices to keep the same gain... What's the big missing solution here? Patreon eating any part of this tax themselves, they gently offer you either to eat it or stiff your supporters, but not to eat it themselves or even part of it and share the hurt around.

So, fuck them, do not accept this, if you're supporting me via iOS Apple Store, please stop, and support me from basically anywhere else and best, do it from SubscribeStar, they do not apply any censorship on creators and take a smaller fee.

Last thoughts... 

I can never thank you all enough for all your support and all the love for the game, this crazy and naughty adventure would not be here and nearing its end without you all and the support you gave me to keep going.

But if I definitely enjoy the support and I'm very glad to be able to live from it, I would never want to be supported at your detriment, this is too big of a fee to accept, be it for me or you.

Love you all, Zorlun.

EDIT: By the way, I think I didn't insist on one point enough, but it's every creators on the Patreon platform that received this email, end every creator you support will be subject to this Apple Tax as well, so it's not just about my subscription on the iOS Apple store app of Patreon you should be careful, but of every single creators you support there.

I will keep you all appraised if any more information comes on the subject and will remind everyone again before November.