Following Epic loss, Google has started hosting rival app stores in the Play Store - Ars Technica
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A new day has dawned in the Play Store, and it’s one that Google tried very hard to avoid. The first third-party app store has arrived in Google Play as a result of the long-running antitrust lawsuit with Epic. Those in the US can now head into Google Play and download Aptoide, a game-focused store that has been available as a sideloaded client since the early days of Android.
Forcing Google to distribute third-party app stores in Google Play was one of several remedies imposed by Judge James Donato after Epic emerged victorious in 2023. The remedies also included lowering developer fees, mirroring Google Play apps in other app stores, and allowing developers to use alternative payment systems. But it was the app store stipulation that seemed to irk Google the most.
Google almost avoided this outcome when it agreed to a settlement with Epic, which was announced early this year. Under the terms, Google would certify third-party app stores to allow users to install and use them with less friction, but it would not host them in Google Play. However, Google and Epic withdrew the settlement when it appeared the court would not approve it. This Registered App Store program is still slated to launch internationally, but in the US, Google is only doing what it must to comply with the judge’s orders.
There are no sideloading warnings when installing approved app stores.
Credit:<br>Google / Aptoide
There are no sideloading warnings when installing approved app stores.
Credit:
Google / Aptoide
The upshot is that you can now download Aptoide from the Play Store on your Android device from this link. You can install the store just like you would any app—you don’t have to enable sideloading or tap through any scary warnings. Likewise, you can install games via Aptoide just as easily as you can through the Play Store. This is much smoother than the previous sideloading process.
Aptoide’s offerings are currently quite sparse compared to Google’s, but Aptoide CEO Paulo Trezentos confirms the company has access to the full app catalog of 1.9 million apps and 295,000 games, as allowed under the judge’s ruling. More will be added in the future, giving users the option to download much of the same content available in the Play Store. Developers can opt out of this sharing arrangement, but it’s really just another acquisition channel that uses the same versioning and billing as the Play Store, so it’s unlikely many will want to stay Google-only.
Ghost town
The new third-party app stores page in Google Play is currently empty aside from Aptoide. This menu is pretty buried in the Play Store at this time. You can find it under Apps (bottom bar) > Categories (top bar) > Third-party app stores (way at the bottom). You can also search for “Aptoide,” and Google will suggest the link to the app store list, which will presumably fill out in time. We’ve asked Google if the app store list will be more accessible in the future and will update this article if we hear back.
Google doesn’t expose the app store landing page very well right now.
Credit:<br>Google
Google doesn’t expose the app store landing page very well right now.
Credit:
It’s curious that Epic, the company that sued over being unable to effectively distribute its Android storefront, was not the first to take advantage of the ruling. It certainly has the money and resources to beat Aptoide to the punch, as does Microsoft with its planned Xbox mobile store. But for now, Aptoide stands alone.
Trezentos notes that there was still considerable friction getting to this point. Google was under order to begin offering alternative app stores on July 22, but that’s only when it published the rules and fees to access the program. Google stipulates that stores must have reasonable security practices and user safety features and must provide copies of APKs to Google for review before serving them to users.
Participation costs the app store operator $15,000 up front, $5,000 of which will serve as credit for review costs. However, Google may charge more if costs climb higher (which they likely will). Oddly, Google’s landing page claims it does not “review every app in these stores.” Regardless, the program could end up a spendy proposition for a smaller storefront, but the access it gives to users in the Play Store could still make it worthwhile. Aptoide seems to think so, which is why it spent the past few weeks working toward...