Skich: A New Contender in the iOS Alt-App Store Arena
Apple's ecosystem has exploded with new alt-app stores vying for dominance. The latest entrant, Skich, is taking a different approach, focusing specifically on gaming. Can it succeed in this increasingly competitive market?
Skich's core strength lies in its innovative discoverability features. It leverages three key elements: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based browsing system, and a social network integrated with friend lists. This allows users to easily see what their friends and others with similar tastes are playing.
The system bears a striking resemblance to Steam's successful model, which is far from a negative. A notable weakness of the iOS Epic Games Store is its lack of robust social features and discoverability options—features many gamers value highly.
Can Skich Make a Splash?
Skich's gamer-centric approach is a compelling selling point. However, its success is far from guaranteed. Other alt-app stores, like Epic Games Store (with its free games) and Apptoide (with its broader app selection), offer different enticements to draw users away from the established iOS App Store.
Skich's future hinges on whether its gamer-first features will be enough to attract a significant user base. The increased interest in alt-app stores from major publishers like EA and Flexion suggests a potential shift in the landscape, where official storefronts might eventually take a backseat to innovative newcomers.
