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. Launched back in 2011, the Amazon Appstore has been a fixture in the Android ecosystem for over a decade, which makes its closure a significant event for both developers and users.
For developers currently publishing on the store and their fans, this news might be of little consolation. According to the support page, if you have Android apps installed from the Amazon Appstore, their future support and updates are not guaranteed. However, there's a silver lining: the Amazon Appstore will continue to be available on Amazon's proprietary devices, such as the Fire TV and Fire Tablet.
It's somewhat ironic that Amazon is pulling the plug on its Android app store at a time when alternative app stores are gaining traction. While it's understandable that Amazon might not have seen the expected success, the Amazon Appstore never quite became a household name. This could be attributed to various factors, but primarily, Amazon didn't offer compelling incentives to attract users. For instance, the Epic Games Store, which recently launched, has successfully drawn users with its free games program.
This development 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, why not check out some of the top five new mobile games we've listed for you to try this week?
