This Is the First Third-Party App Store From Google Play.
If you have an Android device, you officially have a new app store to try—the first of what will likely be many to come. If you haven’t installed apps from third-party sources before , all the apps on your smartphone or tablet likely came from the Play Store, Google’s own app store, or your device manufacturer’s official app store, such as the Samsung Galaxy Store. However, starting today, you can download this new third-party app store from the Google Play Store.
Aptoide Games is the first third-party app store on Google Play.
As The Verge reports , starting today, August 10th, you can download the Aptoide Games app store directly to your Android smartphone via the Play Store. Aptoide isn’t exactly a new development: prior to this change, the company operated an unofficial app store that could be installed on Android, which was useful for accessing apps unavailable in the official Google Play Store . But now you can install it on your smartphone like any other app from the Play Store.
While today’s news is noteworthy, it could have happened at any point in the past two and a half weeks. Google effectively allowed developers to create and distribute third-party app stores within the Play Store as of July 22nd . However, this decision wasn’t actually made by Google, as the company likely would have preferred to maintain the Play Store as the only official app store available to most Android users. Instead, the policy change is the result of a settlement between Google and Epic Games following years of litigation. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite , has long battled both Google and Apple in court, arguing that the companies unfairly control the app stores.
While not all of Epic Games’ lawsuits were successful, the company certainly achieved its goal: a judge ruled that Google had an illegal monopoly on Android apps and should open its platform to third-party developers. Google appealed this ruling and then attempted to compromise with Epic Games by allowing third-party app stores—but not through the Play Store. However, the company abruptly reversed course and agreed to host third-party app stores within the Play Store.
While app stores like Aptoide Games are now allowed on the Play Store, they must operate according to certain rules set by Google , particularly regarding security, privacy, and user protection. They can distribute both their own apps and those found on the Play Store, but must pay Google certain fees to maintain the overall integrity of the platform.
Aptoide may be the first, but it won’t be the last. Epic Games is expected to launch its own app store soon, as it was the company that initially spearheaded the process. But other app stores will likely follow.