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AltStore Available in Japan One Day After Apple Enables Alternative App Marketplaces

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Just a day after Apple announced alternative app marketplace support for iOS users in Japan, AltStore PAL has launched in the country.

altstore japan
iPhone users in Japan can download the alternative app marketplace from the AltStore website, and then use the AltStore to download apps without having to go through Apple's App Store. Prospective AltStore users need to be physically located in Japan, and have a Japanese ‌App Store‌ account. Devices also need to be running iOS 26.2 or later.

AltStore developer Riley Testut said that Apple did not provide a heads up about the ‌App Store‌ rule changes that went into effect yesterday, but the marketplace was able to launch within a few hours because it has been live in the European Union for months now.

To celebrate AltStore PAL's launch in Japan, users can get a month of free Patreon access with patron-exclusive features. AltStore is free to download, but the AltStore Patreon provides access to beta updates for the popular Delta game emulator.

Along with Delta, AltStore PAL offers several other apps created by independent developers, some of which have functionality that's not allowed in the standard ‌App Store‌. Apps distributed through AltStore PAL are able to monetize through Patreon subscriptions.

Apple is allowing alternative app marketplaces to meet the requirements of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) that went into effect on December 18. Marketplace apps are required to pay Apple a five percent Core Technology Commission.

Alternative app marketplaces require authorization from Apple to operate, and are able to distribute apps that have also been notarized by Apple. The notarization process checks for basic functionality and ensures that apps do not include malware, but marketplace apps are not subject to the same content requirements, and Apple has little content oversight.

Tags: AltStore, Japan

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Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
12 weeks ago

I agree with @Art Mark, having these other stores on a phone is silly.
They.
Are.
Optional.

Choice is good folks.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Jamie0003
12 weeks ago
Why is it whenever this stuff is brought up, everyone conveniently forgets that the Mac has had non App Store apps since day 1, and the world never imploded?

This shilling for the mega corps is getting old guys. Choice is good.

Also, it’s optional. You can ignore it entirely if you want
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdavid_rp Avatar
jdavid_rp
12 weeks ago
AltStore should do thematic wallpapers for every new country it gets available, like apple when opening apple stores 😂
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
ProbablyDylan
12 weeks ago

We’re rapidly moving toward a world where NA gets the worst version of the iPhone. Very strange times.
We're already there for cars and fast food. Why not phones?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
Art Mark
12 weeks ago
Not sure this is anything that matters in any way. But it will be great for grifters, cons, apps that steal info, apps that don't work as promised and there's no way to get your money back. I mean, if you don't like your local electronic store there is always a shady guy in a van outside the roller rink who has computers too! And so much freedom, right? What's funny is - these stores will all pop up, and then go away. Probably taking a bunch of money they stole. Have fun!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
WarmWinterHat
12 weeks ago

We’re rapidly moving toward a time when NA is getting the best and most secure version of the iPhone.

Choice is great when the choice is legitimate.
Apple approved this store, and AltStore is an actual registered company.

Seems like a legitimate choice to me.


It would seem that folks paranoid about security outside iOS shouldn't even be using Macs.
Apparently Macs are really dangerous and risky since Apple doesn't control them as fully as iOS devices.

I don't know about everyone else, but I sync and use all the same data across all of my Apple devices, so naturally if one is really worried about one platform as the weak point (macOS in this case), should they even be using a Mac?
That’s a good point. I have vastly more sensitive and personal data on my Mac than my phone, and everything on my phone is also on my Mac, and all backed up to my Synology.

It must suck to live in fear.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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