With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a variety of new alternative app stores are vying for dominance on iOS devices. The latest contender, Skich, enters the fray with a specialized focus on gaming, aiming to stand out against competitors like Apptoide by emphasizing gaming over other types of apps.
Skich's unique selling point is its robust discoverability system, which revolves around three key features: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based discovery interface, and a social system that includes lists showing what games your friends and others with similar tastes are playing. These features may remind users of platforms like Steam, which is not necessarily a disadvantage. The Epic Games Store on iOS, for instance, has been criticized for lacking the social and discovery features that are standard on platforms like Steam and GOG.
Big fish, small pond? While Skich's focus on discoverability is a strong selling point, it remains to be seen whether this alone will be enough to draw users away from established platforms. Epic Games Store entices users with free games, while Apptoide offers a broader range of apps. Skich's success hinges on its ability to attract gamers with its gamer-first features, but the outcome is far from certain.
The landscape of alternative app stores is becoming increasingly competitive, especially with major publishers like EA and Flexion entering the space through partnerships. This trend suggests a future where official app stores might take a backseat to innovative newcomers like Skich.
