Tencent Holdings has agreed to allow Apple Inc. to handle payments for WeChat mini games and apps, taking a 15 per cent cut of purchases.

The agreement, negotiated over more than a year, opens a new revenue stream for Apple, which had been pressing Tencent to close loopholes that let app makers push users to external payment systems, avoiding Apple’s standard 30 per cent commission, according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Under the deal, developers will need to meet Apple’s software requirements to qualify, sources said.

While the 15 per cent fee is below Apple’s usual charge, the arrangement gives the iPhone maker access to China’s massive entertainment market.

WeChat mini games, used by 1.41 billion people monthly, contributed 32.3 billion yuan ($6.92 billion) in social network revenue during the September quarter, highlighting the potential scale of the opportunity for Apple.