Android users in the United States can now finally download a competing app shop directly from the Google Play Store.
Aptoide Games, a mobile game marketplace, is the first rival app store available through Google Play, following years of Google fighting in court against an order that would force it to open its marketplace to rivals.
“Android users in the US can now discover and access Aptoide Games directly through Google Play — opening up a new way to find games, enjoy exclusive bonuses, and experience more choice on Android,” the game store posted on Facebook on Sunday, “This is a major milestone for Aptoide Games and for a more open app distribution ecosystem.”
Google has even added a new section to the Play Store website for other app stores, but Aptoide is the only one listed so far.
Third-party stores aren’t exactly new to Android. Amazon’s Appstore comes pre-installed on Fire tablets, while Samsung’s Galaxy Store is available on its Galaxy devices. Android users have also been able to install alternative stores by downloading an Android Package Kit (APK) online, but that process requires users to allow their browser to install apps from outside Google Play and clicking through security warnings. Now, users can install approved stores through Google Play just like they would any other app.
Why now?
The change to Google’s App Store policy is the result of a years-long legal battle between Google and Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite.
Epic’s fight with Google dates back to 2020, when the company sued both Google and Apple after Fortnite was removed from their app stores after Epic added its own direct payment option to Fortnite, bypassing the companies’ payment systems that took a commission of up to 30% on every sale. The lawsuits challenged what Epic characterized as Google and Apple’s monopolistic practices tied to these payments and how difficult they made it for users to download third-party app store alternatives like the Epic Games Store.
Epic largely lost its case against Apple, though related litigation is still ongoing. Its fight with Google played out differently, however.
In 2023, a jury found that Google had violated antitrust law with how it ran the Play Store. The following year, U.S. District Judge James Donato ordered Google to make a number of major changes to the Play Store, including allowing rival app stores to be distributed through Google Play.
But rather than continue a lengthy appeals fight, Google announced in 2025 that it was proposing a settlement with Epic that would change some Play Store policies.
Among them was a new “Registered App Store” program designed to make it easier for qualifying third-party stores to be installed on Android devices, though it stopped short of requiring Google to actually carry those stores inside Google Play.
Last month, Google and Epic withdrew their proposed settlement after Donato had expressed skepticism about the deal.
Aptoide is likely just the beginning. Epic’s own store showing up on Google Play could be just around the corner, while Microsoft has also floated plans for an Xbox mobile game store.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but we will update this story if they do.
