Apple cracking down on violent imagery in App Store icons, screenshots - report

Apple has reportedly begun enforcing stricter guidelines on what developers can show in icons and promotional screenshots for games sold through the App Store.

Pocket Gamer reports Apple rejected an update to GunSlugs 2 because an accompanying screenshot showed characters being killed. According to developer OrangePixel, Apple said it isn't keen on screenshots that "show violence against a human being".

Furthermore, Team Chaos said that its original icon for Rooster Teeth vs. Zombiens was rejected by Apple because it showed a gun - even though the weapon in question was clearly a NES Zapper. Two other developers recounted similar experiences, but chose to remain anonymous.

The policy seems to be patchily applied. Although the developer has not commented, Splash Damage has pixelated guns shown in screenshots for recent Apple Editor's Choice app Tempo, but elsewhere on the App Store, assets for games like Gang Nations and Bullet Rush clearly show weapons.