Brazil Forces Apple to Permit Sideloading

Another brick in Apple's walled garden has been thoroughly kicked out, as Brazil becomes the latest country to demand that the iOS giant open up to sideloading on its devices. Apple now has a 90-day window to comply with this court order, which aligns with similar rulings they've already adhered to in other countries.

Apple, however, is not taking this lying down and plans to appeal the decision. For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the practice of downloading and installing apps without using an official app store. This feature has been a staple for Android users, who have long enjoyed the flexibility of installing third-party apps directly onto their devices via APK files.

Despite the convenience, Apple has staunchly resisted sideloading, a stance that came under intense scrutiny following Epic's lawsuit over five years ago. That case highlighted Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem, bringing issues of app distribution and control to the forefront.

Apple's primary argument against the ruling remains centered on privacy concerns. This has been a consistent point of contention not only with sideloading but also with third-party app stores. In 2022, Apple's introduction of App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes shook the gaming industry, mandating developers to seek user permission for advertising and limiting the creation of user profiles—a move that drew regulatory attention, especially since Apple itself was exempted from these rules.

Despite their emphasis on privacy, Apple continues to face challenges and appears to be losing ground in the battle against sideloading, third-party storefronts, and other changes. In regions such as Vietnam and the broader EU, the era of Apple's exclusive control seems to be waning.

While Apple may be preparing for another round of legal battles, 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? Discover some exciting new launches from the past seven days!