Brazil Mandates Apple to Permit Sideloading

Another brick in Apple's walled garden has been thoroughly dislodged, as Brazil becomes the latest country to demand that the iOS giant allow sideloading on its devices. Apple now has a 90-day window to comply with the court order, which echoes similar rulings they've faced in other countries.

Predictably, Apple is gearing up to appeal the decision. For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the ability to download and install apps without going through a conventional app store. This practice, akin to using APKs on Android devices, has been a staple for Android users for years, allowing them to install third-party apps directly onto their phones.

Despite this, Apple has historically been staunchly opposed to sideloading, much like their resistance to third-party app stores. The issue came under intense scrutiny following Epic's lawsuit against Apple over five years ago, spotlighting the tech giant's approach to managing its ecosystem.

PeekabooApple's primary argument against the ruling centers on privacy concerns. This has long been their key defense against sideloading, third-party app stores, and other changes. In 2022, Apple's ATT (App Tracking Transparency) changes shook the gaming industry, requiring developers to seek permission for advertising and limiting user profiling capabilities—a move that drew regulatory attention, especially since Apple itself was exempted.

Despite their privacy-focused stance, Apple continues to face pressure and appears to be losing ground in the battle against sideloading, third-party app stores, and other modifications. In regions such as Vietnam and the broader EU, the era of Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem seems to be waning.

Better luck next time to them, perhaps. If you're more interested in exploring new gaming options, why not check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week, featuring some exciting releases from the past seven days?