Skich Swings into Action as New Alternative App Store Competitor

With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a wave of new alternative app stores has emerged, each vying to become the first successful alt app store on iOS. The latest contender in this space is Skich, a platform that zeroes in on gaming and aims to stand out with its robust discoverability features. Skich is designed to compete with established players like Apptoide, but with a sharper focus on gaming rather than a broad range of apps.

At the heart of Skich's strategy is its innovative discoverability system, which includes three key components: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based discovery interface, and a social system that showcases what games your friends and like-minded users are playing. These features may remind you of Steam, which isn't necessarily a drawback. In contrast, the Epic Games Store for iOS, much like its PC counterpart, lacks the social and discovery elements that users of platforms like Steam and GOG have come to expect.

Skich's emphasis on these gamer-centric features is a strong selling point. However, the question remains whether this alone will be enough to carve out a significant niche in the competitive iOS app store landscape. As I've noted previously, new storefronts must offer compelling reasons for users to switch from their familiar platforms.

Epic Games Store entices users with free games, while Apptoide attracts them with a diverse app selection. Skich's success hinges on its ability to draw gamers in with its unique features. While there's potential for success, it's by no means guaranteed.

The landscape is shifting, with larger publishers like EA and Flexion collaborating on alternative app stores. This trend suggests a future where official storefronts might take a backseat to innovative newcomers. Skich's focus on gaming and discoverability could position it well in this evolving market, but only time will tell if it can truly make a splash.