Most mobile developers think the industry cannot endure without alternative app stores

A significant 84% of developers in the mobile industry think that the sector is unsustainable under the control of Apple and Google, who currently dominate app distribution markets.

This conclusion comes from a study sponsored by Aptoide, which delves into the industry's current duopoly and the move towards alternative app distribution platforms.

Conducted by Atomik Research, the study surveyed over 300 senior-level developers from mobile game companies in both the US and the UK. The survey results were featured in a whitepaper entitled 'Ctrl. Alt. Del. – Reclaiming The Gaming Distribution Landscape'.

Among the main grievances were high app store fees and marketing expenses, cited by more than half of the respondents, followed by acquisition costs (46%) and policy restrictions (44%).

Additionally, 43% expressed concerns over discoverability and saturation issues on these major platforms.

Despite 87% of respondents indicating most of their revenue still originates from Apple and Google stores, 74% are planning to integrate alternative app stores into their distribution approach in the next five years.

Close to half of the developers noted that the content limitations posed by Google and Apple are restrictive, prompting a shift towards other stores promising better revenue sharing and offerings.

About 73% foresee a notable growth in revenue by utilizing alternate stores, helped by new user demographics and fewer policy constraints.

Paulo Trezentos, CEO and co-founder of Aptoide, remarked, "For too long, an entrenched duopoly has stifled commercial and creative potential, setting too many rules and taking too much revenue. Our findings confirm that developers are ready to reclaim control."

"A new wave of opportunity is emerging through alternative app stores – platforms that offer game makers greater control, better economics, and access to untapped audiences."

Last June, Aptoide made history by launching as the first non-Apple iOS store, and earlier this year, it expanded its services to iOS users throughout the EU.