With Apple's ecosystem now more open than ever, a wave of new alternative app stores has emerged on iOS, each vying to be the first to truly succeed. The latest to enter this competitive arena is Skich, an alt store with a laser focus on gaming, aiming to carve out a niche against established players like Apptoide by emphasizing gaming over other app categories.

Skich's unique selling proposition lies in its robust discoverability system, which is built around three key features: a recommendation engine, a swipe-based discovery interface, and a social system that includes lists showing what games your friends and like-minded users are playing. These features may remind you of Steam, which is not a bad thing at all. The Epic Games Store on iOS, for instance, has been criticized for lacking the social and discovery tools that users of platforms like Steam and GOG have come to expect.

Big Fish, Small Pond?

Skich's emphasis on these gamer-centric features is certainly a strong selling point. However, the question remains whether this will be enough to make a significant impact in the crowded iOS app store landscape. As I've noted previously, new entrants need to offer compelling reasons for users to switch from their familiar platforms.

Epic Games Store entices users with free games, while Apptoide broadens its appeal by including a variety of apps beyond gaming. Skich's success hinges on its ability to draw gamers away from these established platforms with its specialized features. While there's potential for success, it's by no means guaranteed.

The landscape is shifting, however, with larger publishers like EA and Flexion teaming up to focus on alternative app stores. This trend suggests a future where official storefronts might take a backseat to innovative newcomers. Skich's journey will be one to watch as it navigates this evolving market.