With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a slew of new alternative app stores are vying to become the first successful alt app store on iOS. Enter Skich, the latest contender in this burgeoning market, with a laser focus on gaming and a robust set of discoverability features designed to stand out.
Skich's primary appeal lies in its sophisticated discoverability system, which includes a recommendation engine, a swipe-based game discovery interface, and a social feature that lets users see what games their friends and like-minded gamers are playing. These elements bear a resemblance to the popular features found on Steam, a comparison that may serve Skich well. Unlike the Epic Games Store on iOS, which lacks the social and discovery tools that many gamers enjoy on platforms like Steam and GOG, Skich aims to fill this gap.
Big fish, small pond?While Skich's emphasis on discoverability is a strong selling point, the question remains whether this alone will be enough to carve out a significant niche in the competitive iOS gaming market. Enticing users away from established platforms is no small feat. Epic Games Store lures players with free games, while Apptoide diversifies its offerings beyond gaming. Skich's gamer-centric approach certainly has potential, but its success is by no means guaranteed.
The landscape of alternative app stores is evolving, with major publishers like EA and Flexion showing interest in this space. This shift suggests a future where these new entrants might challenge the dominance of official app stores, potentially reshaping how gamers access and discover new titles on iOS.
