With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a wave of alternative app stores has emerged on iOS, each vying to become the go-to platform for users. The newest player in this space is Skich, an alt store with a dedicated focus on gaming, aiming to carve out its niche against competitors like Apptoide by prioritizing gaming over a broader range of applications.
Skich's primary draw is its robust discoverability system, which is built around three key features: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based discovery interface, and a social system. These components allow users to see what games their friends and like-minded gamers are playing, effectively creating a personalized gaming hub. This approach might remind seasoned gamers of Steam, which is not necessarily a drawback, as it taps into a familiar and successful model. In contrast, the Epic Games Store on iOS, much like its PC version, lacks these social and discovery elements that are standard on platforms like Steam and GOG, potentially leaving gamers wanting more.
Big fish, small pond?
While Skich's emphasis on discoverability and social interaction is a strong selling point, the question remains whether it's enough to attract users away from established platforms. Epic Games Store lures players with free games, and Apptoide offers a wider range of apps, so Skich's gamer-centric strategy needs to prove its worth. There's potential for success, but it's not guaranteed.
The landscape is shifting, however, with larger publishers like EA and Flexion entering the alt store fray. This could signal a future where alternative app stores challenge the dominance of official storefronts. Skich's focus on what gamers want could position it well in this evolving market, but only time will tell if it can rise above the competition.
