In 2025, Apple has raised the bar once again on transparency and user data privacy. Their latest rollout — Privacy Manifests — directly impacts how developers declare SDK usage, third-party tracking behavior, and in-app data access.
For game developers, these new requirements don’t just affect policy compliance. They influence app review times, update approvals, and even user trust scores in the App Store.
🔒 What Are Privacy Manifests?
Privacy Manifests are structured metadata files embedded within your app build. They declare:
- Which third-party SDKs are included
- What data each SDK collects
- What purposes the data is used for
- Whether the data is linked to users or used for tracking
This is part of Apple’s goal to provide more transparency through labels shown on each app’s App Store page — similar to food ingredient labels.
📋 What Devs Must Do (By Default)
- Review all SDKs and verify their manifest declarations
- Ensure SDK authors have submitted Signed Privacy Manifests with their latest updates
- Declare your app’s data usage clearly in the Privacy Manifest plist
- Cross-check with your app’s App Store privacy label and user settings
🔁 Don’t rely on SDK vendors to do all the work. You’re responsible for the final submission and metadata accuracy.
🚫 What Happens If You Don’t Comply
- Your app may be rejected during App Store review
- Apps without manifests will be flagged for missing compliance
- Persistent issues can lead to visibility loss or de-prioritized App Store ranking
Even if your SDKs work, their lack of a signed manifest could create approval delays — especially during time-sensitive launches.
🧰 Tools and Support
Use static analyzers like Mobile Security Framework (MobSF) or App Privacy Insights to test what your app and SDKs actually expose.
📬 Final Word
Privacy isn’t just a user-rights checkbox — it’s a platform requirement. Apple’s Privacy Manifests raise the technical bar and move accountability closer to developers.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to review every SDK in your project, ensure compliance, and build privacy into your pre-submission checklist. Transparency today prevents disaster tomorrow.