Arrives on iOS, but only for video games: Aptoidethe alternative store already widespread on Android, is preparing to debut on iPhone and iPad starting from 6 June 2024. The arrival of Aptoide on iOS is a direct consequence of the Digital Markets Act, the new European regulation which requires Apple to open its own ecosystem to the installation of alternative stores.
Access to Aptoide on iOS, however, will initially be reserved for a limited number of users, who will be able to obtain it via a invitation system. Aptoide already has a waiting list of over twenty thousand people and expects to grant access at a rate of 500-1,000 per day.
Initial phase dedicated to video games, then it will expand
In this first phase, Aptoide will focus exclusively on video games, with an initial catalog of seven titles that will include classics such as Solitaire and Mahjong. The selection of games will be expanded on a weekly basis, and Aptoide has already announced that it has over one hundred developers interested in publishing on its store.
There will be no shortage of in-app purchases within the games. However, Aptoide has decided not to pass on Apple’s Core Technology Fee (€0.50 for each installation) to end users. While alternative App Stores such as Setapp and AltStore amortize it by imposing a subscription on users, the Aptoide company would have decided to cover the costs by placing them on the shoulders of the developers through a small commission on in-app purchases; but he does not exclude that later, if things go well, he may also decide to eliminate this commission completely. The company is focusing a lot on in-app purchases: as the CEO himself, Paulo Trezentos, underlines, these will guarantee the sustenance of the platform.
To install the store, simply visit this page from Safari on iPhone and follow the on-screen instructions. The arrival of Aptoide on iOS represents an important innovation for the panorama of alternative stores, offering users greater choice for downloading video games on iPhone and iPad. It remains to be seen whether the gradual approach with invitations and the initial focus on video games will prove successful in the long term.
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