Amazon to shutter its app store on Android after more than ten years on mobile

Amazon is shutting down its Android app store
The service will continue to be available on Fire TV and Fire Tablet
The Amazon Appstore first launched in 2011

If you're a fan of the Amazon Appstore for Android, here’s some disappointing news: as reported by TechCrunch, Amazon has notified developers that the store will close on August 20th this year.

Given that the Amazon Appstore has been operating for more than a decade, it’s impressive it lasted this long. But for developers currently publishing on the platform and their users, this news is likely a letdown.

According to Amazon’s support page, apps installed on Android devices through the store won’t be guaranteed to receive updates or ongoing support. However, the company confirms the Amazon Appstore will remain active on its own devices, including Fire TV and Fire Tablet.

Alternatively—it’s ironic that just as alternative app stores are gaining momentum, Amazon is stepping back. I don’t entirely blame them, though; even after all this time, they’ve never really become a go-to name in the app store space.

I believe the reasons are varied, but largely stem from Amazon failing to offer compelling incentives for users or developers. For example, the recently launched Epic Games Store already provides a strong value proposition with its free games program.

In any case, this serves as another reminder that even major corporations can’t guarantee long-term survival in this space.

Still, there’s no need to worry—if you’re looking for fresh mobile games to try right now, check out some of the top five new releases we’ve highlighted this week.