A rival Android app store finally lands inside Google Play
Aptoide Games has become the first alternative app store officially downloadable through Google Play in the US, following a years-long legal fight between Epic Games and Google.
US users can now download Aptoide Games directly from the Google Play Store, marking the first time a competing app store has been made officially available on Google's own platform. Previously, Aptoide's gaming-focused store could only be accessed through preinstalled versions on certain devices or by sideloading it manually.
Aptoide CEO and co-founder Paulo Trezentos said in the announcement that for more than a decade, Android users had no way to discover alternative app stores through Google Play, but that this has now changed. He said the shift gives users more choice, gives developers new ways to distribute their apps, and pushes Android toward becoming a more open, competitive ecosystem.
Years of legal battles
The change follows nearly five years of litigation between Google and Epic Games. Epic sued both Google and Apple in 2020 after Fortnite was removed from their respective app stores. Google had also previously blocked OnePlus and LG from offering the game in ways that bypassed the Play Store.
In 2024, US District Judge James Donato ordered Google to open the Play Store to competing app stores. Since then, Google and Epic have reached an agreement covering additional billing options, a program for registered app stores, and reduced fees along with new programs for developers. The deal also permits third-party app stores to operate within Google Play itself.
That option has only existed since July 22, and Aptoide appears to be the first company to take advantage of it — though it is unlikely to be the last.
