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AltStore PAL is officially operational across the EU thanks to the new Digital Markets Act ( DMA), which requires Apple to allow third-party software downloads.
The Marketplace costs €1.50 per year + tax (to cover Apple's core technology fee) and launches with the free Nintendo Delta emulator and Clip clipboard manager, which is banned from the App Store (as for Delta, then it also launches in the Apple store, but for users outside of Europe).
When first installing, users will be greeted with Apple's so-called “scary screens” – a warning that “updates and purchases in this app will be managed by the developer.” The company says the steps are smart security measures, but critics say they will make iOS users hesitant to venture outside the ecosystem, implying it's riskier than downloading through the App Store.
As The Verge notes, AltStore itself is not a new program and has existed since 2019. However, it was installed in a roundabout way using companion software called AltServer, which runs on a Mac or PC. For the EU, developer Riley Testut offered a separate version called AltStore PAL.
Testut notes that once AltStore PAL is “working smoothly,” third-party application developers will be able to submit their programs for distribution. The marketplace is designed to be decentralized without a directory, so developers will need to advertise their apps themselves and direct users to their websites to install apps through the AltStore.
AltStore PAL is also integrated with Patreon to allow developers to monetize their apps. EU iPhone owners can download AltStore PAL from the AltStore website.
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