November 5, 2025
App Store Sumo: Japan enters the ring
iOS 26.2 to Allow Third-Party App Stores in Japan Ahead of Regulatory Deadline
Apple cracks the door in Japan—freedom fans cheer, security purists panic
TLDR: Apple will allow third‑party app stores in Japan with iOS 26.2 to satisfy new rules. Comments split between cheering choice and lower fees, and fearing Android‑style malware, with many noting Apple may still control via notarization—another round of tech vs regulators.
Apple’s iOS 26.2 beta just cracked open a side door in Japan, letting iPhone users install alternative app stores like AltStore PAL and Epic Games, per this X post. Yes, you can download apps; no, Fortnite’s in‑app purchases aren’t flowing yet (region‑blocked—cue groans). The move comes after Japan’s 2024 law meant to curb tech giants’ control, echoing the EU’s Digital Markets Act already in play. And the comments? Pure fireworks.
One camp is yelling “Finally!” and accusing Apple of only changing when regulators twist arms. “Gatekeeping” is the word of the day, with users tired of Apple’s region maze. On the other side, the pearl‑clutchers warn this opens the door to a “race to the bottom” and a flood of fart apps—because nothing says internet drama like toilet humor. Another spicy thread blames it all on money: app store fees are the golden goose, and Apple won’t let it go without a court order.
There’s a subplot too: skeptics say Apple still holds the keys via notarization (their approval stamp), so even with extra doors, the same bouncer checks IDs. Meanwhile, EU veterans are asked to report back: is the alt‑store life bliss or bugs? The memes are strong—“Tim Cook gets a dojo pass,” “App Store Sumo,” and “Fortnite microtransactions stuck in customs.” Japan enters the ring, and the crowd is roaring.
Key Points
- •Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 26.2.
- •The update is expected to allow iPhone users in Japan to install third‑party app marketplaces when publicly released in December.
- •Testing shows AltStore PAL and Epic Games stores can be installed on iOS 26.2 beta in Japan.
- •Fortnite in‑app purchases are currently region‑blocked by Epic on the beta.
- •Apple previously enabled alternative app marketplaces only in the EU via iOS 17.4/iPadOS 18, and Japan passed a law in June 2024 requiring such access.