If you're a fan of the Amazon Appstore for Android, I've got some unfortunate news for you. As reported by TechCrunch, Amazon has sent out a notice to developers announcing that the store will be shut down on Android devices on August 20th this year. This marks the end of a journey that began back in 2011, which is quite an impressive run.
For the many developers currently publishing on the store and their fans, this news might not provide much solace. If you have Android apps installed from the Amazon Appstore, be aware that these apps won't be guaranteed further updates or support. However, there's a silver lining: the Amazon Appstore will continue to be available on Amazon's proprietary devices, such as Fire TV and Fire Tablets.
It's quite ironic that, just as alternative app stores are gaining traction, Amazon is pulling back. While I don't necessarily blame them, it's clear that the Amazon Appstore never quite became a household name. The reasons for this are varied, but a significant factor is that Amazon didn't offer compelling incentives to attract users. For instance, the Epic Games Store, which recently launched, has successfully drawn in users with its free games program.
This situation serves as a reminder that even with the backing of a major company, longevity isn't guaranteed. However, there's no need to worry. If you're looking for great new releases to explore, why not check out some of the top five new mobile games we've listed for this week?
