Another brick in Apple's meticulously constructed walled garden has been dislodged, as Brazil becomes the latest country to mandate that the iOS giant allow sideloading on its devices. Apple now has a 90-day window to comply with this court order, following a similar pattern of rulings in other countries that the company has had to adhere to.
Apple, predictably, plans to appeal the decision. For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the ability to download and install apps directly onto a device, bypassing traditional app stores. This practice, facilitated by APK files, has been a staple for Android users for years, enabling the installation of third-party applications.
Despite the convenience and flexibility that sideloading offers, Apple has staunchly resisted it, maintaining a closed ecosystem. The issue was thrust into the spotlight more than five years ago during Epic's lawsuit against Apple, which criticized the tech giant's stringent control over its platform.
PeekabooApple's primary contention against the ruling revolves around privacy concerns. This has been the central argument against sideloading, third-party app stores, and other related changes. In 2022, Apple introduced App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes, which shook the gaming industry by requiring developers to seek permission for advertising and limiting user profiling capabilities—a move that drew regulatory attention, particularly since Apple itself was exempt.
Despite these privacy-focused initiatives, Apple continues to face challenges and appears to be on the losing side of the battle against sideloading, third-party storefronts, and other modifications. In regions like Vietnam and the broader European Union, it seems the era of Apple's all-encompassing control is gradually waning.
While Apple navigates these legal waters, if you're eager to explore new gaming experiences, why not check out our curated list of the top five new mobile games to try this week? Discover some exciting new releases from the past seven days!
