Brazil Mandates Apple to Enable Sideloading

Another significant blow has been dealt to Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem, as Brazil has now mandated that the tech giant must allow sideloading on its iOS devices within the next 90 days. This ruling echoes similar mandates Apple has faced in other countries, prompting the company to prepare an appeal.

For those unfamiliar, sideloading refers to the ability to download and install apps directly onto a device, bypassing the official app store. This practice has been common among Android users for years, facilitated by APK files that enable the installation of third-party applications.

Apple has historically resisted sideloading and third-party app stores, citing privacy concerns as their primary defense. This stance was thrust into the spotlight following Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple more than five years ago, which questioned the tech giant's control over its ecosystem.

PeekabooDespite Apple's emphasis on privacy, their resistance to sideloading and third-party storefronts has drawn increasing regulatory scrutiny. In 2022, Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes shook the gaming industry by requiring developers to seek permission for advertising and limiting user profiling capabilities, a move that did not apply to Apple itself and thus attracted further criticism.

As Apple faces these challenges in countries like Vietnam and across the European Union, it appears the era of their exclusive control may be waning. While Apple gears up for another legal battle, users interested in exploring new mobile experiences can check out our list of the top five new mobile games to try this week, featuring exciting launches from the past seven days.