Gossip Harbour Migrates to Alternative App Stores

Gossip Harbour: A Casual Game's Unexpected Move to Alternative App Stores

You've likely seen the ads, even if you don't play it. Gossip Harbour, a merge-and-story puzzle game, is a quiet success story, generating over $10 million for developer Microfun on Google Play alone. However, its next move is surprising: a partnership with Flexion to launch on "alternative app stores."

This isn't about expanding reach on Google Play; it's about exploring a potentially more lucrative avenue. Alternative app stores, simply put, are any app stores besides Google Play and the iOS App Store. Even seemingly significant stores like the Samsung Galaxy Store are dwarfed by these two giants.

The Appeal of Alternative App Stores

The shift to alternative app stores is driven by profitability and the growing potential of this market segment. Recent legal challenges against Google and Apple are forcing a reevaluation of alternative app stores, leading to increased pressure to legitimize them. Companies like Huawei, with its AppGallery, are capitalizing on this with promotions and sales. Established titles like Candy Crush Saga have already made the transition.

Microfun and Flexion are betting on alternative app stores becoming the next big thing in mobile gaming. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but it highlights a significant shift in the mobile app landscape.

While we don't comment on game quality directly, if you're searching for excellent puzzle games, check out our list of the top 25 best puzzle games for iOS and Android!