Skich Launches Challenge in Alternative App Store Market

With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a wave of new alternative app stores has emerged, each vying to be the first successful alt app store on iOS. The latest entrant, Skich, sets itself apart with a dedicated focus on gaming and a robust set of discoverability features.

Skich's core strategy revolves around enhancing user engagement through three key features: a recommendation system, 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 bear a resemblance to those found on Steam, a comparison that isn't necessarily negative. The Epic Games Store on iOS, for instance, has been critiqued for lacking the social and discoverability elements that platforms like Steam and GOG offer.

Big Fish, Small Pond?

While Skich's emphasis on discoverability and social engagement is a strong selling point, the question remains whether it will be enough to draw users away from established platforms. Epic Games Store lures players with free games, whereas Apptoide broadens its appeal by including a variety of apps beyond gaming. Skich's gamer-centric approach has potential, but its success is far from guaranteed.

The landscape is shifting, however, with larger publishers like EA and Flexion exploring alternative app stores. This trend suggests a future where official storefronts might take a backseat to innovative newcomers. Skich's focus on what gamers want could position it well in this evolving market, but only time will tell if it can truly stand out in the increasingly crowded altstore space.