Aptoide Games Lands on Google Play Store via New Catalog Access Program

Android users in the US have been waiting for over a decade to get an alternative to Google Play Store, and that wait is finally over. Aptoide Games is now available on Google Play via the new Play Catalog Access program, allowing users to download curated games from the store without having to sideload them.

Aptoide has been around since 2009 and claims to have 15 years of safety tech, including malware checks and developer verification. The company boasts a user base of 25 million and a library of 400,000 apps, but users who download Aptoide Games from Google Play will only see a handpicked selection of mobile games that meet Google's rules.

Aptoide CEO Paulo Trezentos says the new program brings more choice to Android users, allowing developers to reach users through multiple channels and giving users freedom to choose where they discover applications. The shift in policy is likely to open up opportunities for other third-party stores to appear on Google Play, potentially including giants like Amazon and Samsung.