Certified Third‑Party Stores as Gatekeepers

Google will allow third‑party Android app stores but invite them into a 'Registered App Stores' program that grants streamlined installation and a preferred experience if they meet quality and safety benchmarks. That creates a two‑tier market: registered stores that benefit from easier distribution versus unregistered sideloading that remains possible but inferior for most users. The change accompanies lower Play Store commission rates and regional rollout dates tied to the Epic Games settlement. — This suggests platform firms can appear to loosen control while preserving a soft gate — regulatory and competition debates should track whether certification privileges entrench incumbents or genuinely open markets.