What are the timelines like for app approval heading in to the Christmas holidays?
Do you think it’s too late to submit an app to get it approved by the 23rd (closing date for itunes connect)?
You can check the App Store review status at Latest News - Apple Developer.
Edit: Hmm, they apparently haven’t updated that in a while. So who knows.
–Eric
Thanks seen that before but had forgotten the link.
Anyone had any experience with the approval time of a themed version of an existing app (not an update), do they get approved faster?
Any change you make to an app is an update; they still have to do everything they normally do.
–Eric
By not an update I meant not an update 
i.e. Releasing a new application similar to an existing one but with holiday themed content.
Oh, I see. According to that page I linked to, a lower percentage of new apps are reviewed within 7 days than updates, so it would probably take longer than an update.
–Eric
That’s what I figure too. Just hoping for someone with a counter example 
From my experience, approval time takes longer this time of year. if you haven’t already submitted, you’re probably too late to actually cash in on the season.
Let’s say you submit today and it takes 8 days to go through approval which means you’re live on the app store around the 16th. There isn’t much time to actually sell you app before the 26th. At that point, Christmas apps have zero appeal.
Of course, there is a slim changes you’ll get approved and end on on the new apps list. Since itunes connect will be down, that list will be static for a few days. Having a visible place on that list good boost sales a bit.
We submitted our app on nov26 and heard back yesterday… Got rejected :(. (rejected because my app description mentioned we were going to donate our money to charity)
Filed for appeal after changing the description and went back into review 2hr later. Still haven’t heard anything today…
This is our first app, so don’t know if there is much delay. But from what I am reading online it seems that apple is much slower on reviewing right now than they normally are.
In my case it took approx. 13 days. Uploaded 21 november and ready for sale 3 december.
don’t think they gave a date this year due to the waves last year. but whats know is that between 23st and 28th connect is completely offline
My game has been in waiting in review since December 6 (yet it seems alot longer). I never set up my contract so its a race with snail mail, just hope it doesnt get rejected
Posted my game Epic Truck on Nov28 and it was approved today so it took 8 business days. I thought that was pretty speedy considering the time of year.
Just had an update approved in 4 days…submitted Sunday, approved Thursday. (Well…I first submitted on Friday, but cancelled and resubmitted on Sunday because I found and fixed a minor visual glitch.)
–Eric
Well it took me 10 days from start to finish. I submitted on the 6th and it was ready for sale today.
Is there any way to find out how many sales you made (or do you have to wait until the end of the month)?
Check sales in iTunes Connect.
–Eric
Update submitted on the 3rd, approved on 14th. New app submitted on 6th, approved 16th (the new app is the free version of the updated game, I didn’t make a game in 3 days!).
Our latest update took 36 hours (earlier this month).
Update to Epic Truck submitted on 11th and approved today.
I put in a request for an expedited review and got an update in less than 2 days!