Devs Want Alternative App Stores
Drama
14 October 2025 11:19
A recent industry report suggests a growing wave of discontent among mobile game developers toward Apple and Google’s dominance over the app store ecosystem, with only 4% believing the mobile development sector can sustain itself under the current conditions.
The findings come from a whitepaper titled Ctrl. Alt. Del. – Reclaiming The Gaming Distribution Landscape, commissioned by Aptoide and conducted independently by Atomik Research. The study surveyed more than 300 senior developers from mobile gaming studios across the United States and the United Kingdom.
The majority of those surveyed voiced concerns over the financial and operational challenges posed by the leading app stores. Over 50% pointed to “exorbitant app store fees and marketing costs” as their top frustration, while 46% cited high acquisition costs and 44% criticized what they describe as “restrictive policies” enforced by Apple and Google.
Additionally, 43% of respondents said they struggle with discoverability and platform saturation, making it difficult for their games to reach audiences through mainstream app stores.
Despite these grievances, 87% of developers acknowledge that most of their revenue still comes through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. However, there's a notable shift on the horizon: 74% of developers expect alternative app stores to become a key component of their distribution strategies within the next five years.
The report also highlights that nearly half of those surveyed feel that Apple and Google’s content restrictions are limiting. This sentiment is pushing many developers to explore alternative platforms in pursuit of better revenue splits and fewer limitations on content and monetization.
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Drama
14 October 2025 11:19
A recent industry report suggests a growing wave of discontent among mobile game developers toward Apple and Google’s dominance over the app store ecosystem, with only 4% believing the mobile development sector can sustain itself under the current conditions.
The findings come from a whitepaper titled Ctrl. Alt. Del. – Reclaiming The Gaming Distribution Landscape, commissioned by Aptoide and conducted independently by Atomik Research. The study surveyed more than 300 senior developers from mobile gaming studios across the United States and the United Kingdom.
The majority of those surveyed voiced concerns over the financial and operational challenges posed by the leading app stores. Over 50% pointed to “exorbitant app store fees and marketing costs” as their top frustration, while 46% cited high acquisition costs and 44% criticized what they describe as “restrictive policies” enforced by Apple and Google.
Additionally, 43% of respondents said they struggle with discoverability and platform saturation, making it difficult for their games to reach audiences through mainstream app stores.
Despite these grievances, 87% of developers acknowledge that most of their revenue still comes through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. However, there's a notable shift on the horizon: 74% of developers expect alternative app stores to become a key component of their distribution strategies within the next five years.
The report also highlights that nearly half of those surveyed feel that Apple and Google’s content restrictions are limiting. This sentiment is pushing many developers to explore alternative platforms in pursuit of better revenue splits and fewer limitations on content and monetization.
Related news
View AllGoogle and Epic Games may finally be putting an end to their long legal battle. The two companies have reached...
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Google has updated its Play Store policies in the United States to permit developers to use alternative payment systems and...
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Oct 31, 2025
Apple has been found guilty of abusing its dominant position in the app distribution market, following a landmark ruling by...
More
Oct 27, 2025
Apple is under increasing regulatory scrutiny in Brazil as the country's top antitrust authority has recommended formal action against the...
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Jul 07, 2025
Apple has announced a new dedicated gaming app, Apple Games, set to debut across its devices this fall. The app...
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