Another brick in Apple's walled garden has been thoroughly dislodged, as Brazil becomes the latest country to mandate that the iOS giant allow sideloading on its devices. Apple now has 90 days to comply with the court order, a timeline that mirrors similar rulings they've faced in other countries.
As expected, Apple plans to appeal the decision. For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the ability to download and install apps directly onto devices without using the official app store—a feature Android users have enjoyed for years through the use of APKs.
Apple has long resisted sideloading and third-party app stores, a stance that came under scrutiny following Epic's lawsuit more than five years ago. This legal battle spotlighted Apple's approach to managing its ecosystem.
PeekabooApple's primary defense against such rulings continues to be privacy concerns. This has been a significant hurdle not just for sideloading but also for third-party app stores and other ecosystem changes. In 2022, Apple's ATT (App Tracking Transparency) changes stirred the gaming industry by requiring developers to seek permission for advertising, which also limited user profiling—a move that drew regulatory attention due to Apple's exemption from these rules.
Despite their privacy advocacy, Apple faces increasing pressure and appears to be on the losing side of battles over sideloading, third-party app stores, and broader ecosystem openness. In regions like Vietnam and the EU, the era of Apple's tightly controlled environment seems to be waning.
Better luck next time to Apple, perhaps. Meanwhile, if you're eager to explore new gaming options, check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week, featuring exciting releases from the past seven days.
