King and Flexion Team Up on Candy Crush Solitaire Launch

King's Candy Crush Solitaire: A Multi-Platform Launch and a Shift Towards Alternative App Stores

King is taking a significant gamble with the upcoming release of Candy Crush Solitaire, hoping the combination of their popular franchise and the classic solitaire card game will attract a large player base. However, their strategy extends beyond the typical Google Play and iOS App Store releases. For the first time, King will launch simultaneously on multiple alternative app stores.

This strategic move is thanks to a partnership with publisher Flexion, bringing Candy Crush Solitaire to at least five alternative app stores including the Samsung Galaxy Store and Huawei AppGallery upon launch. While Flexion celebrates this collaboration with a major developer, King's emphasis on this being their first simultaneous multi-platform launch is noteworthy. This suggests a growing interest in alternative app stores as a viable distribution channel.

The Rise of Alternative App Stores

King's immense popularity and profitability (rivaling the GDP of some smaller nations) makes their previous lack of focus on alternative app stores somewhat surprising. The key takeaway from this simultaneous launch is King's recognition of alternative app stores as a significant opportunity to reach a broader audience. This marks a potential turning point, indicating that major gaming companies are finally acknowledging the potential of these previously overlooked platforms.

For those interested in learning more about alternative app stores, exploring the Huawei AppGallery Awards for 2024 offers insights into the successful apps and games on that platform.