Gamers on iPhones and iPads will soon have a new place to buy games.
Aptoide, the leading independent app store, will have its closed launch in the EU on Thursday, June 5. This launch would mark the first non-Apple games store on iOS.
Aptoide's iOS platform brings new high-quality games to iOS, as well as new features. For example, Aptoide offers a gamification feature that offers players bonuses of up to 10% on every purchase.
"The Aptoide iOS game store represents a significant shift in the way users and developers interact with the iOS gaming ecosystem. It marks a significant departure from the traditional iOS gaming ecosystem, which has been controlled by Apple's App Store," said Paulo Trezentos, Aptoide's co-founder and CEO.
The recent launch by Aptoide comes in the wake of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) policy in Europe, which went into effect in 2022. The DMA specifically aimed to regulate big tech companies--or gatekeepers--on digital platforms to allow for fairer competition. These digital platforms included search engines and social networks, as well as mobile app stores.
"We thank Apple for their support thus far, knowing that there are still areas for improvement in the alternative distribution of iOS apps. We are optimistic that, with continued cooperation from Apple and regulators, the business terms and user experience will continue to be improved in the coming months," Trezentos continued.
Interested EU users can still sign up to the waitlist for access codes to the closed launch.