Deep Strike — App Store Submission Checklist

✅ Completed

  • App icon (1024×1024)
  • Splash screen (1284×2778)
  • Adaptive icon (Android)
  • Notification icon
  • Real IAP integration (expo-iap)
  • Product IDs defined
  • Restore purchases flow
  • Privacy policy document created
  • Screenshot guide created
  • Screenshot frame generator script
  • EAS build config
  • Bundle IDs configured

🔶 In Progress (Your Action Required)

1. Host Privacy Policy

Priority: HIGH — App Store rejects without this

Location: privacy-policy/index.html

Deploy options (pick one):

  • GitHub Pages (recommended): See privacy-policy/README.md
  • Netlify Drop: Drag & drop at app.netlify.com/drop
  • Vercel: cd privacy-policy && vercel --prod

Once hosted:

  • Update placeholder email (privacy@deepstrike.app) with your real email
  • Add URL to App Store Connect → App Information → Privacy Policy URL
  • Add same URL to Google Play Console → App content → Privacy Policy

2. Register IAP Products

Priority: HIGH — Purchases won’t work without this

Apple App Store Connect:

  1. Log in → My Apps → Your App → In-App Purchases
  2. Create products (use exact IDs from code):
    • com.deepstrike.app.premium — Non-Consumable — $2.99
    • com.deepstrike.app.battlepass — Non-Consumable — $4.99
    • com.deepstrike.app.shards_small — Consumable — $0.99
    • com.deepstrike.app.shards_medium — Consumable — $1.99
    • com.deepstrike.app.shards_large — Consumable — $4.99
  3. Add localized descriptions and pricing for each

Google Play Console:

  1. Your App → Monetize → In-app products → Create
  2. Create same 5 products (same IDs)
  3. Set pricing and descriptions

3. Capture Screenshots

Priority: HIGH — App Store requires minimum 3 screenshots

Guide: screenshots/SCREENSHOT_GUIDE.md

Quick steps:

  1. Run app in iOS Simulator: 
    npx expo start --ios
  2. Choose “iPhone 15 Pro Max” simulator
  3. Navigate to 6 key screens and press Cmd+S to screenshot:
    • Home screen
    • Commander selection
    • Battle screen (mid-game)
    • Campaign screen
    • Battle Pass screen
    • Victory/Game Over
  4. Optional: Add marketing frames: 
    # Move screenshots to screenshots/raw/
node scripts/generate-screenshot-frames.js
# Framed versions output to screenshots/framed/
  5. Upload to App Store Connect → Screenshots section

4. Initialize EAS & Get Project ID

Priority: HIGH — Needed before building

eas init

This generates your project ID and updates app.json → extra.eas.projectId.

5. Build the App

Priority: HIGH — Get .ipa and .aab files

Preview build (for testing):

eas build --platform all --profile preview

Production build (for App Store submission):

eas build --platform all --profile production

Builds take 10-20 minutes. You’ll get download links when done.

6. Test IAP in Sandbox

Priority: MEDIUM — Validate purchases work

iOS Sandbox:

  1. App Store Connect → Users and Access → Sandbox Testers → Add tester
  2. Install preview build on device
  3. Settings → App Store → Sandbox Account → Sign in with test account
  4. Try purchasing (no real charges in sandbox)

Android Test Track:

  1. Google Play Console → Testing → Internal testing → Create release
  2. Upload .aab from EAS build
  3. Add testers → Install via test link
  4. Try purchasing

7. App Store Connect Setup

Priority: MEDIUM — Required before submission

Fill out:

  • App name: Deep Strike
  • Subtitle: Tactical Naval Warfare
  • Category: Games → Strategy
  • Age rating: 4+ (mild competitive content)
  • Keywords: battleship, navy, strategy, commander, voice, AI
  • Description (2-3 paragraphs + bullet points)
  • Support URL: (your website or GitHub repo)
  • Marketing URL (optional)
  • Screenshots (from step 3)
  • Privacy Policy URL (from step 1)

8. Google Play Console Setup

Priority: MEDIUM — Required for Android

Fill out:

  • App name, description, category (same as iOS)
  • Graphic assets: Feature graphic (1024×500), icon
  • Content rating questionnaire
  • Target audience and content
  • Data safety form (what data you collect — see privacy policy)
  • Store listing

9. Update eas.json Submit Config

Priority: LOW — Only needed for auto-submit via EAS

Edit eas.json → submit.production:

  • Replace YOUR_APPLE_ID@example.com
  • Replace YOUR_APP_STORE_CONNECT_APP_ID
  • Replace YOUR_APPLE_TEAM_ID

Or skip this and manually upload builds.

10. Submit for Review

Priority: LOW — Final step

Manual upload:

  • iOS: Xcode Transporter or App Store Connect web UI
  • Android: Google Play Console → upload .aab

Or use EAS submit:

eas submit --platform ios --profile production
eas submit --platform android --profile production

📝 Optional Enhancements

  • App preview video (30 sec gameplay clip)
  • Localized descriptions (Spanish, French, etc.)
  • A/B test different screenshots
  • Add App Store optimization keywords
  • Set up TestFlight beta program
  • Create press kit / landing page
  • Prepare launch social media posts

🛠️ Useful Commands

# Start dev server
npx expo start

# Run on iOS simulator
npx expo start --ios

# Run on Android emulator
npx expo start --android

# Clear cache and restart
npx expo start --clear

# Initialize EAS
eas init

# Build preview (for testing)
eas build --platform all --profile preview

# Build production (for store)
eas build --platform all --profile production

# Submit to stores
eas submit --platform all --profile production

# Check build status
eas build:list

# View logs
eas build:view <build-id>

🆘 Common Issues & Fixes

“expo-iap plugin not configured”

  • Run npx expo prebuild --clean to regenerate native projects

“Product IDs not found”

  • Ensure products are created in App Store Connect / Play Console
  • Wait 1-2 hours after creating products
  • Use exact IDs from code

“Build failed on EAS”

  • Check build logs: eas build:view
  • Common fix: Update dependencies, clear cache, rebuild

“App rejected for missing privacy policy”

  • Ensure URL is publicly accessible
  • Test in incognito browser
  • URL must use HTTPS

“Screenshots rejected for wrong dimensions”

  • Use exact sizes: 1290×2796 or 1284×2778
  • Check with: sips -g pixelWidth -g pixelHeight file.png

📞 Need Help?

  • Expo docs: https://docs.expo.dev
  • EAS Build docs: https://docs.expo.dev/build/introduction/
  • IAP docs: https://hyochan.github.io/expo-iap/
  • App Store Connect: https://appstoreconnect.apple.com
  • Google Play Console: https://play.google.com/console

Good luck with your launch! 🚀