"Flexion and EA Partner to Expand Hit Mobile Games to New App Stores"

The partnership between Flexion and EA marks another significant step toward expanding the availability of EA's mobile game catalog on alternative app stores. This move enhances accessibility for users who prefer not to use Google Play or the iOS App Store, signaling a major shift in how large publishers view the potential of alternative platforms beyond Apple and Google.

This year has been pivotal for alternative app stores, especially following Apple's decision to allow them in regions like the EU. This change has been a hot topic, and now, with Flexion's previous success in bringing Candy Crush Solitaire to these platforms, they're teaming up with EA once more to distribute the publisher's mobile back-catalogue to alternative storefronts.

You might be wondering, "What does this mean for me?" Traditionally, the mobile gaming market has been dominated by the iOS App Store and Google Play. However, recent legal battles have pushed Apple and Google to abandon some anti-competitive practices, paving the way for the rise of alternative app stores. The benefit for gamers? Many of these platforms are rolling out attractive incentives to draw in users.

Take the Epic Games Store, for instance, with its free game program. While I doubt the platforms Flexion is partnering with will offer free games, they're likely to provide more flexible policies that Apple and Google have historically resisted.

Looking to the future, EA's involvement is telling. As one of the gaming industry's giants, known for acquiring smaller developers, their move toward alternative app stores suggests a broader trend that other companies will likely follow. It's a clear sign that the winds of change are blowing in the mobile gaming world.

Although we don't yet know which specific games EA will bring to these new platforms, speculation includes titles like Diablo Immortal and other Candy Crush games. This expansion could bring a fresh wave of gaming options to players worldwide, enhancing competition and innovation in the mobile gaming space.