A Brazilian court has ordered Apple to allow sideloading on iOS devices within 90 days. This follows similar rulings in other countries, which Apple has already been forced to comply with, though they plan to appeal this latest decision. Sideloading allows users to install apps directly onto their iPhones, bypassing the App Store—a feature long available to Android users via APK files.
Apple's staunch opposition to sideloading, citing privacy concerns, has been a consistent theme for years. This resistance intensified after Epic Games' lawsuit in 2018 highlighted Apple's control over its ecosystem. Apple's argument centers on user privacy, a point of contention also raised regarding third-party app stores and their App Tracking Transparency (ATT) changes in 2022, which impacted advertising and user profiling. Despite these privacy claims, Apple faces increasing regulatory pressure and is losing ground on this issue, with similar rulings emerging in Vietnam and the European Union.
While Apple plans to appeal, the writing seems to be on the wall. For those looking for new games to play, check out our list of the top five new mobile games released this week.
