Published: August 16, 2026

An app store for your app store

Following intense legal battles, Google begins distributing rival marketplaces directly through the Play Store, reshaping the Android ecosystem alongside upcoming Pixel 11 announcements.

In a landmark shift that fundamentally alters the mobile software landscape, Google has officially begun distributing third-party Android app stores directly through its own Google Play Store in the United States. This unprecedented move follows a protracted and highly publicized legal battle over antitrust concerns, forcing the tech giant to dismantle some of its most fiercely guarded digital walls.

For years, Android users wishing to access alternative marketplaces—such as the Epic Games Store or the Amazon Appstore—had to navigate a cumbersome process known as "sideloading." This involved