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 making a bold play, focusing exclusively on gaming and leveraging innovative discoverability features. Can it succeed in this rapidly expanding market?
Skich's core strategy hinges on a sophisticated discovery system. It boasts three key elements: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based browsing interface, and a social component featuring friend lists and curated lists based on shared gaming preferences. These features draw parallels to the popular Steam platform, a model known for its effective game discovery. This is in contrast to the Epic Games Store's iOS iteration, which currently lacks many of the social and discoverability features that gamers appreciate.
Skich's gamer-centric approach is a strong selling point. However, its success is far from guaranteed. Existing alt-app stores like Epic Games (with its free game offerings) and Apptoide (with its broader app selection) already occupy the space. Skich needs a compelling reason to lure users away from established platforms.
While the future remains uncertain, the increased interest from major publishers like EA and Flexion suggests a potential shift in the landscape. We may be witnessing the rise of alternative app stores, potentially eclipsing the official storefronts in the years to come. Skich's success will depend on its ability to capitalize on this evolving market and offer a truly unique and valuable gaming experience.
