Apple is finally opening the gates of the iPhone to third-party app stores in Japan with its upcoming iOS 26.2 update.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- iOS 26.2 enables alternative app stores in Japan, including AltStore PAL and Epic Games Store.
- This follows a new Japanese law and competition guidelines targeting Apple and Google’s dominance.
- Japan is the first country outside the EU to gain access to rival app stores on iPhones.
- Apple’s move comes just ahead of a December 18, 2025 regulatory deadline.
What Happened?
Apple has released the beta version of iOS 26.2 to developers, and it includes support for third-party app stores in Japan. This major update allows users to install alternative app marketplaces like AltStore PAL and Epic Games Store. The full public rollout is expected in mid-December, just ahead of Japan’s new law enforcement deadline.
iOS 26.2 to Allow Third-Party App Stores in Japan Ahead of Regulatory Deadline https://t.co/JeU5pOpy3u pic.twitter.com/Wy5gEO3Xc7
— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) November 5, 2025
Apple Loosens Grip Under Regulatory Pressure
Japan is officially the 29th country to get third-party iPhone app stores, but what sets it apart is that it’s the first non-European Union nation to receive this access. Until now, Apple only allowed this feature in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), implemented earlier with iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 18.
The shift in Japan is a response to new antitrust legislation passed in June 2024 by the Japanese parliament. This law demands that large digital platforms open up their ecosystems to competing app stores and payment systems. Apple and Google were clearly in the crosshairs.
To ensure compliance, the Japan Fair Trade Commission later introduced the Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines in August 2025. These rules explicitly ban platform operators from blocking or limiting access to alternative app marketplaces and payment options on mobile devices. The guidelines come into effect by December 18, 2025.
Apple’s iOS 26.2 update is strategically timed to launch between December 9 and December 16, aligning with the legal deadline. The developer beta has already revealed working support for AltStore PAL and the Epic Games Store. However, some region-specific restrictions remain, such as in-app purchases in Fortnite, which are currently blocked by Epic itself in Japan.
The Global Domino Effect
This development in Japan builds on growing global momentum. Apple has faced increasing antitrust scrutiny worldwide over its tight control of the App Store and the commissions it charges developers. Countries like Brazil and Australia are also preparing similar legislation.
The EU’s Digital Markets Act was a game-changer, forcing Apple to allow third-party stores across 27 countries. Despite Apple’s resistance, including efforts to challenge the DMA’s legitimacy, the rollout in Europe marked the start of a new era. Japan now joins that era, and more nations may soon follow.
Daily Research News Takeaway
I’ve got to say, this is a pretty big deal. Apple’s tight ecosystem has always been a double-edged sword. Great for security and experience, but incredibly limiting for developers and consumers alike. Japan stepping up as the first non-EU country to break into Apple’s walled garden shows that global pressure is working.
Honestly, I think Apple should have seen this coming and gotten ahead of the wave. Instead, they’re getting dragged country by country. If you’re a user in Japan, this means more choice, possibly better prices, and new innovations. And for everyone else? It’s probably just a matter of time.
