Mobile Platforms
For publishing mobile games, the two main platforms are Google Play and the Apple App Store. Both let you publish games to users, but the process of creating the account, verifying the company, uploading the build and signing the app is different.
In general, Google Play is simpler to start with, while Apple is stricter and more tied to its own ecosystem (Apple ID, Mac, Xcode). If you publish under the company name (an SRL or a PFA), not as an individual, it's worth preparing the business infrastructure before you start.
Set your expectations realistically: on mobile, now more than ever, there's no organic reach. To get to players you need paid UA (user acquisition), which is very expensive and can burn through a budget fast. Think about the cost of acquiring a player before launch, not after.
What to prepare beforehand
You don't need everything on day one, but these are the pieces that show up for a "company" developer account:
| Area | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Entity | active company (SRL) or PFA |
| Business identity | D-U-N-S Number + official details written consistently (legal name, address) |
| Online | website, Privacy Policy, Terms, Support URL, company email |
| Accounts | company Google account, company Apple ID |
| Payment | company card or payment method |
| Documents | access to company documents for verifications |
The company name, address, website and D-U-N-S details must be consistent everywhere. Google and Apple use this information to verify the developer and reduce the risk of fake accounts. A mismatch (a different legal name or address) can block you at verification.
Google Play vs Apple App Store
| Platform | Cost | D-U-N-S | Initial difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | 25 USD, one-time fee | required for organisations | medium | simpler to start, but recent verifications are stricter |
| Apple App Store | 99 USD/year | required for organisations | higher | requires Apple ID, enrollment, identity verification, agreements and usually access to a Mac / Xcode |
Apps and tools you'll use
You don't need to create a "test" account to understand them, but it helps to know which tools appear in the process:
| Tool | Platform | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Console | Google Play | developer account, store listing, Data Safety, build upload |
| Google Payments profile | Google Play | the registration fee and payments |
| Apple Developer | Apple | enrollment, membership, certificates |
| Apple Developer (app) | Apple | identity verification and enrollment (in certain regions) |
| App Store Connect | Apple | apps, builds, TestFlight, agreements, tax, banking |
| Xcode (on Mac) | Apple | build, signing, archive, upload |
| Transporter (on Mac) | Apple | an alternative way to upload the build |
Ownership: use company emails
For a studio, create the accounts using company emails, not personal ones. Good examples: admin@company.com, developer@company.com, accounts@company.com, legal@company.com.
The reason is ownership. Platform accounts must belong to the company, not to an individual. If the company grows, takes investment, sells an IP or transfers the project, it's much cleaner for Google Play, Apple Developer, the domain, the email and the documents to be tied to the company's infrastructure.
What to prepare for the store listing (both platforms)
| Group | Assets |
|---|---|
| Game identity | official name, package name / bundle ID, icon, category, age rating |
| Visual | screenshots, trailer (if you have one) |
| Text | short description, long description, keywords / tags |
| Legal | Privacy Policy, Terms, Support URL, contact email |
| Technical | stable build, list of SDKs used, explanations for permissions, test account / demo credentials (if the game has login) |
| Monetisation | free, paid, IAP, subscriptions or ads |
The most important thing
Don't create accounts chaotically, across different personal emails. A clean structure, company email, company Google account, dedicated company Apple ID, D-U-N-S on the correct company, website and Privacy Policy on the company domain, the company's tax and banking details, helps with review, verifications, audits, transfers and any serious conversation with publishers, investors or buyers.
Keep your official details handy in My company details. For the concrete steps, go to Google Play and Apple App Store.