If you've been a loyal user of the Amazon Appstore on Android, brace yourself for some disappointing news. According to a recent report by TechCrunch, Amazon has informed developers that the store will officially close its doors on Android devices on August 20th this year. This marks the end of an era for the Amazon Appstore, which has been serving users since its launch back in 2011.
While it's commendable that the store managed to sustain itself for over a decade, this news offers little consolation to the numerous developers and their fans who have relied on the platform. The official support page clarifies that Android apps installed from the Amazon Appstore will no longer receive guaranteed updates or support. However, there's a silver lining for users of Amazon's proprietary devices; the Amazon Appstore will continue to operate on Fire TV and Fire Tablets.
It's somewhat ironic that Amazon is pulling the plug on its Android app store just as alternative app stores are beginning to gain popularity. Yet, it's understandable given that the Amazon Appstore never quite became a household name. The reasons for this are varied, but a key factor is likely that Amazon didn't offer compelling incentives to attract and retain users. For instance, the Epic Games Store, which launched more recently, has successfully drawn in users with its free games program.
This development serves as a reminder that even major corporations can't always sustain their ventures indefinitely. But don't worry—there's no need to despair. If you're looking for exciting new mobile games to explore, why not check out our list of the top five new releases to try this week?
