Most Mobile Developers Believe the Industry Needs Alternative App Stores to Survive

A staggering 84% of mobile app developers think the industry's survival depends on the emergence of alternative app stores, beyond those dominated by Apple and Google. This finding is part of a report commissioned by Aptoide, which delves into the duopoly of the mobile market and the quest for alternate distribution channels. Conducted independently by Atomik Research, the study surveyed over 300 senior developers from mobile game studios in the US and UK, as outlined in the whitepaper 'Ctrl. Alt. Del. – Reclaiming The Gaming Distribution Landscape'. The majority of respondents, over 50%, criticized Apple and Google's app stores for exorbitant fees and marketing costs, followed by acquisition costs at 46%, and restrictive policies at 44%. Furthermore, 43% of the developers surveyed admitted struggling with getting their apps noticed and dealing with market saturation on major platforms. Although the Google and Apple stores still generate the bulk of revenue for 87% of developers, a significant 74% anticipate that alternative app stores will become integral to their distribution strategy within the next five years. Almost half of the respondents believe that the content restrictions imposed by Google and Apple are limiting, prompting them to seek alternative stores for better revenue sharing and offerings. A notable 73% of developers expect to see double-digit growth by embracing alternative stores, citing access to new user bases and freedom from restrictive policies as key benefits. According to Aptoide CEO and co-founder Paulo Trezentos, 'The current duopoly has long stifled innovation and revenue potential by imposing too many rules and taking a significant share of the revenue.' He adds, 'Our findings show that developers are now poised to take back control.' Aptoide, which launched as the first non-Apple iOS store last June and expanded to consumers across the EU earlier this year, represents a new wave of opportunity for game developers, offering them greater control, improved economics, and access to previously untapped audiences.