You've likely seen ads for Gossip Harbour, a surprisingly successful merge-and-story puzzle game. Developer Microfun has earned over $10 million on Google Play alone. However, their next move is unexpected: a partnership with Flexion to launch Gossip Harbour on "alternative app stores."
What are alternative app stores? Simply put, they're any app stores besides Google Play and the Apple App Store. Even major players like the Samsung Store are dwarfed in comparison.
The Profit Motive (and the Future of Mobile)
The reason for this move? Increased profitability. Alternative app stores are poised for significant growth. Recent legal challenges against Google and Apple are forcing a reevaluation of these alternative platforms, leading to increased competition and promotions. Established games like Candy Crush Saga have already made the switch.
Microfun and Flexion are betting on this trend. Whether it becomes a mainstream success remains to be seen.
While we don't comment on game quality, if you're searching for excellent puzzle games, check out our top 25 list for iOS and Android!
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