Skich is the next competitor to take a swing at the new alternative app store market

Skich: A New Contender in the iOS Alt-Store Arena

Apple's ecosystem has seen a surge of alternative app stores vying for dominance. The latest entrant, Skich, is making a bold play by focusing specifically on gaming. Can it succeed in this increasingly competitive landscape?

Skich's core strategy hinges on enhanced discoverability. It boasts three key features: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based browsing system, and a social element incorporating friend lists to showcase games enjoyed by users and those with similar gaming preferences. This approach bears a resemblance to Steam's successful model. A notable weakness of the Epic Games Store on iOS, mirroring its PC counterpart, is the lack of robust social features and discoverability tools commonly found on platforms like Steam and GOG.

Can Skich Make a Splash?

Skich's gamer-centric features represent a strong selling point. However, success is far from guaranteed. Existing alt-stores employ different strategies to attract users: Epic Games Store offers free games, while Apptoide diversifies beyond gaming. Skich's success will depend on whether its focus on gamer-first features is enough to lure users away from established platforms.

The increasing involvement of major publishers like EA and Flexion suggests a potential shift in the app store landscape. The future may see alternative stores challenging the dominance of official storefronts. Whether Skich can capitalize on this trend remains to be seen.