Google's US Play Store has begun listing a third-party app store within its own app, marking the first time this has been possible without pre-installation or sideloading. Aptoide, a store that specialises in mobile games, is the first to appear, a significant shift given that rival storefronts on Android have previously only been reachable through manufacturer pre-installs, such as Samsung's Galaxy Store, or manual sideloading. The change stems directly from Google's long-running legal dispute with Epic Games and is expected to open the door for further competitors, including Epic's own store, to follow.

The move follows a 2024 court ruling ordering Google to open the Play Store to rival storefronts, which Google initially appealed before losing and agreeing a settlement with Epic. After the judge overseeing the case repeatedly criticised the companies' joint proposals, Google and Epic abandoned that approach last month, clearing the way for the change now taking effect. Aptoide's availability is currently limited to the Play Store in the US, though it remains sideloadable on Android worldwide and already runs an iOS store in the EU, Japan and Brazil under separate regulatory rules; Google's wider "Registered App Store" scheme for other countries appears to still be in development.