Another brick in Apple's walled garden has been thoroughly dislodged, as Brazil emerges as the latest country to mandate that the iOS giant allows sideloading on its devices. Apple now faces a 90-day deadline to comply, following a court order that highlighted their previous adherence to similar rulings in other nations.
As expected, Apple is poised to appeal the decision. For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the ability to download and install apps without relying on a traditional app store. This practice, familiar to Android users through the use of APKs, enables the direct installation of third-party apps onto their devices.
Historically, Apple has been staunchly opposed to sideloading, much like their resistance to third-party storefronts. However, the issue gained prominence following Epic's lawsuit over five years ago, which scrutinized Apple's approach to managing its ecosystem.
Apple's primary argument against the ruling remains centered on privacy concerns. This has been the crux of their opposition to sideloading, third-party storefronts, and other related changes. In 2022, Apple stirred the gaming community with its ATT changes, which mandated developers to seek permission for advertising and limited user profile tracking, drawing regulatory attention due to Apple's own exemptions.
Despite these privacy-focused efforts, Apple continues to face challenges and appears to be losing ground in the battle against sideloading, third-party storefronts, and other modifications. In regions such as Vietnam and the broader EU, it seems the era of Apple's all-encompassing control is drawing to a close.
Better luck next time to Apple, perhaps. But if you're more interested in exploring new gaming options, why not check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week for some exciting launches from the past seven days?
