Skich Enters the fray as a new alternative app store competitor

With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a wave of new alternative app stores has emerged on iOS, vying for dominance. The latest contender, Skich, sets itself apart by zeroing in on the gaming community, aiming to rival established players like Apptoide with its dedicated gaming focus.

At the heart of Skich's strategy lies its robust discoverability system, designed to enhance user engagement and game exploration. This system is built on three pillars: a sophisticated recommendation engine, a swipe-based discovery interface, and a social platform that integrates lists, allowing users to peek into the gaming habits of friends and like-minded gamers. These features may remind seasoned gamers of the Steam platform, which is not necessarily a drawback. Where the Epic Games Store for iOS has been criticized for lacking the social and discovery features familiar to users of Steam and GOG, Skich aims to fill this gap.

Big Fish, Small Pond?

Skich's unique selling proposition is its focus on enhancing the gaming experience through superior discoverability and social interaction. However, the question remains whether this alone will be enough to carve out a significant market share in the increasingly crowded altstore space. As I've noted previously, the key for any new storefront entering the iOS ecosystem is to attract users away from their established habits.

Epic Games Store leverages free games as its main draw, while Apptoide diversifies its offerings beyond gaming. Skich's gamer-centric approach certainly has potential, but success is not guaranteed in this competitive landscape.

Nevertheless, as larger publishers like EA and Flexion explore partnerships to create their own altstores, we might be on the cusp of a shift where these new entrants could challenge the dominance of official app stores. Skich's fate will depend on its ability to not only attract but also retain a dedicated gaming audience in this evolving market.