Apple has abruptly removed all VK-related apps from the App Store, sparking uproar among Russian users. Meanwhile, Rockstar Games has detailed GTA VI pricing and release dates, Steam Machine’s high cost raises eyebrows, and the popular third-party Telegram client Telega announces its shutdown. Here’s the week’s biggest tech headlines from Russia and beyond.
Apple removes VK apps from App Store without warning
App Store users woke up to find multiple VKontakte (VK) apps missing, including Zen, VK Video, VK Messenger, VK Music, VK Dating, and Odnoklassniki. Shortly after, even the main VK app was pulled. VK’s parent company confirmed Apple gave no explanation for the removal and asserted they are not listed in any international sanctions – a claim supported by reviews from American and international lawyers.
Existing installations of VK apps will continue to function, but users can no longer download or update them, and push notifications will stop working. On Android, VK apps remain available via RuStore and other third-party app marketplaces. Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has requested the Federal Antimonopoly Service investigate Apple’s actions.
GTA VI priced at $80, preorders start June 25
Rockstar Games has revealed that Grand Theft Auto VI will retail for $80 for the standard edition, with an Ultimate Edition priced at $100. The $20 upgrade includes extra vehicles, weapons, clothing, and exclusive map locations. Preorders open June 25, with preload starting November 12 and the official launch set for November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A PC release is expected later but no date has been given.
Physical copies will be sold but won’t include discs – just download codes. This $80 price tag aligns with current trends: Nintendo charges a similar price for major releases on the Switch 2, and Microsoft is moving in that direction. For Take-Two Interactive, even a $10 price increase across millions of copies translates to hundreds of millions more in revenue.
Apple hikes prices on iPad, Mac, and HomePod due to memory shortages
Apple has increased prices across several product lines amid a global memory chip shortage. The base iPad jumps from $349 to $449, the 13-inch MacBook Air from $1099 to $1299, the Vision Pro VR headset from $3499 to $3699, the HomePod mini from $99 to $129, and the Apple TV 4K from $129 to $199. Higher-end Mac Studio and MacBook Pro models saw price bumps up to $1300.
Apple CEO Tim Cook described the memory shortage as a ”once-in-a-century flood” and admitted the company absorbed price hikes for years to shield customers. The surge in demand is tied to AI infrastructure consuming vast amounts of DRAM and NAND flash. Should the shortage continue, Apple’s elevated prices may set a new industry baseline.
Third-party Telegram client Telega to shut down July 1
Telega’s developers announced the Telegram client will cease operations on July 1, citing its removal from the App Store among other undisclosed reasons. Without access to Apple’s app marketplace, which does not allow alternative iPhone app stores, maintaining a user base becomes impossible. This shutdown narrows the already shrinking market for third-party Telegram clients, as the official app increasingly absorbs exclusive features and Apple’s moderation policies grow stricter.
Yandex updates Alice AI assistant with memory and calculation features
Yandex’s Alice AI assistant has shifted from providing information to solving tasks. Instead of listing tariff regulations, Alice now calculates total payments and explains formulas. It can remember facts from past conversations, adapting its communication style to users. Memory can be disabled, and stored data requested.
Multimodal capabilities have improved: Alice now better interprets fine image details, translates tables, and understands technical schematics. The ecommerce aspect expanded with more product listings and price comparisons. For Yandex, with its large trading ecosystem, AI-powered recommendations and search are a core monetization strategy, not just a gimmick.
Valve’s Steam Machine priced between $1,049 and $1,428
Valve opens preorders for the Steam Machine on June 25 via a lottery system. Four configurations will launch:
- 512 GB SSD, no gamepad – $1,049
- 512 GB SSD, with gamepad – $1,128
- 2 TB SSD, no gamepad – $1,349
- 2 TB SSD, with gamepad – $1,428
Valve is selling Steam Machines at cost, without subsidies. These prices stand in stark contrast to popular consoles:
- PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – $599
- Xbox Series X – $649
- Rumored PlayStation 5 Pro – $899
Performance-wise, the Steam Machine is roughly equivalent to the 2020 PS5. Its main appeal is access to Valve’s entire Steam library and a full Linux PC experience in a compact form factor. The Steam Frame variant has no release date yet.
Google allows external payments in Play Store starting June 30
Developers in the US, UK, and European Union can now accept payments outside Google Play Billing starting June 30. This change lowers the base commission to 10% on the first $1 million of revenue and eliminates an additional 5% payment processing fee – effectively halving developer costs. Opting to stay with Google Play Billing adds the 5% fee on top of the 10% base commission.
This shift follows an Epic Games antitrust lawsuit ruling in December 2023, which found Google abused its dominant market position. Other regions will transition to the new payment model between 2025 and 2027. Apple, under pressure from the EU’s Digital Markets Act, has permitted external links in its App Store within the EU, but its complex fee structure has triggered fresh European Commission complaints.
’Truckers 2’ launches on Steam 25 years after original release
The classic Russian trucking simulator ”Дальнобойщики 2” (Truckers 2) has finally landed on Steam, sporting minimal compatibility fixes and achievement support. With the original source code lost, no major updates are expected beyond simple technical tweaks. Priced at 240 rubles, it’s currently discounted 40% until July 8.
Publisher Fulqrum Publishing (formerly 1C Publishing) has revived a beloved brand without investing in a full remake. Whether the game will find an audience beyond nostalgic fans remains to be seen over the coming weeks.
Steam summer sale offers discounts up to 70%
Valve has launched its annual summer sale, offering discounts up to 70% or more on thousands of titles. From cozy indie gems to big-budget AAA games, there’s something for every taste. Featured deals include:
- A Plague Tale: Innocence – 219 rubles
- The Invincible – 119 rubles
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth – 44 rubles
Notable recent releases on sale in Russia include:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – 2,799 rubles (20% off)
- Mouse: P.I. For Hire – 880 rubles (20% off)
- Arc Raiders – 2,415 rubles (25% off)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – 1,499 rubles (25% off)
- Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era – 1,124 rubles (25% off)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – 532 rubles (25% off)
- Mewgenics – 825 rubles (25% off)
- Hades 2 – 770 rubles (30% off)
- No Rest for the Wicked – 1,190 rubles (30% off)
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – 959 rubles (70% off)
The Russian gaming audience continues to show strong interest in a range of local and international titles during seasonal sales.
While Apple’s sudden removal of VK apps hints at growing geopolitical tensions spilling into tech, Rockstar’s GTA VI launch follows industry pricing trends for premium titles. Valve’s Steam Machine faces a tough challenge competing with more affordable consoles, but appeals to PC enthusiasts craving Steam access and Linux flexibility. Yandex’s AI enhancements underline Russia’s push into AI-powered consumer tools, and Google’s loosening of Play Store payment rules signals progress against monopolistic practices. Keep an eye on how these developments shape user experiences and platform control in the coming months.