Aptoide becomes the first rival app store to return to Google Play in the US
Aptoide has brought its games store back to Google Play after more than a decade, as court-ordered changes open Android to competing app stores.
Aptoide, a Portugal-based rival app store, has returned to Google Play in the U.S. after a decade-long absence, marking a significant milestone in increasing competition in the Android app market. The store, which offers over 40,000 applications to its 25 million monthly active users, had previously been restricted from direct access to Google Play due to what critics deemed anticompetitive measures.
This change came after a U.S. District Judge's ruling in the Epic Games lawsuit, which required Google to permit third-party app stores to access its app catalog. Google's Play Catalog Access Program, implemented from June 22, 2026, enables such third-party stores to leverage Google Play's infrastructure while maintaining their independence.
This development follows Epic Games' successful lawsuit against Google in 2023, following an initial ruling in 2020. Google has since announced plans to eliminate Play Store commissions and facilitate easier installation of alternative app stores.
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