We are adding an feature in the app and we want to sell a special subscription for the app which lets users use the feature.
We might want to stop supporting this feature and remove it from the app in the future. Not just stop selling the subscription, but completely get rid of the feature in future version of the app.
Once the feature is removed, the users who bought the special subscription, will not be able to access the feature and they will receive the same experience as users who bough a normal subscript we are currently offering.
What is the best approach to deal with this situation?
Is it possible to force cancelation of this product or changing auto renew to off for all users who are subscribed to it?
Is it possible to force downgrade/upgrade of that product for all users who are subscribed to it?
Are we stuck with supporting this feature forever, or is there a best practice which will allow us to phase it out?
You can sunset a product at anytime. By removing it from sale (globally or per territory) then your app will no longer be able to merchandise it to new subscribers, while your existing subscribers will churn out of their current period as it cannot auto-renew.
You will not be able to "force" plan changes but recommendation would be to move any Sunset SKU to the lowest "level" configured in App Store Connect. That way anyone moving to another plan will be an upgrade (instant). You can message your subscribers to change plans or provide them offer codes to encourage the plan change. If you do sunset a SKU it is important you continue providing service until customer expiration date, even if the product is removed from sale. For a monthly subscription you would remove it from sale 31 days in advance and expect you may have existing subscriptions expiring up to 31 days later. More info here about removing an IAP for sale, deleting and sunsetting: https://help.apple.com/app-store-connect/en.lproj/static.html#dev360aba524
