Aptoide has launched as the inaugural non-Apple iOS store

Following the introduction of the Digital Markets Act, the Europe launch of the independent app store Aptoide on iOS has been confirmed.

According to TechCrunch, the platform became available last Thursday and includes games such as Word Jungle, Condor – A Leap of Faith, and Charades Guess the Word among its initial offerings.

Aptoide has attracted the interest of over 100 developers, with a waitlist of 20,000 users. Daily, between 500 and 1,000 access codes will be issued to manage growth and gather user feedback.

The store also provides an alternative in-app purchase solution for iOS and offers an IAP software development kit in partnership with Apple.

Paulo Trezentos, Aptoide’s CEO and co-founder, highlighted the platform's transformative potential within the iOS gaming industry. He emphasized that, while this move diverges from the conventional Apple App Store model, Apple’s backing has been crucial. He remains hopeful for further enhancements in collaboration with Apple and regulatory bodies.

Aptoide currently focuses exclusively on gaming but might encompass additional services on iOS, as indicated by Trezentos in a discussion with The Verge.