The new alternative app store for iOS in Europe focuses on games.
"When they finally get it, at least."
A new third-party app store is about to launch for iPhone users in the European Union, particularly targeting mobile gamers. Skich joins a select group of alternative app marketplaces that are emerging due to the easing of Apple’s App Store restrictions thanks to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Other examples include AltStore Pal, SetApp Mobile, and Mobivention.
As of today, the Skich Store is available for download in the EU through its official website, promising a more "personalized" game discovery and distribution experience compared to other app marketplaces. An Android version has also been confirmed to be in development.
However, it is important to mention that upon its launch, Skich will not have any games available. In contrast, Aptoide, another iOS app store focused on games, had eight core titles when it launched last June. Sergey Budkovski, CEO of Skich, reported that games will begin to appear on the platform in March and that they have received requests from approximately 20 developers so far.
The Skich Store's business model includes a 15 percent fee for developers on each purchase made, including in-app purchases from games downloaded through the store, compared to the 20 percent that Apple charges developers in the EU. Budkovski also highlighted that they have developed a recommendation system similar to Tinder, effectively pairing gamers with games using an algorithm that encompasses 240 genres, a figure 14 times higher than that found in the App Store.
Despite the limited arrival of third-party app stores since the DMA came into effect in March last year, the emergence of Skich is noteworthy, even with its empty game title offering. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to wait for them to expand their catalog to assess whether they truly provide more optimized recommendations.