King and Flexion Partner to Bring Candy Crush Solitaire to Alternative App Stores

With the upcoming release of Candy Crush Solitaire, King is taking a bold step by integrating their renowned franchise into the classic solo card game, aiming to attract a fresh wave of players. More notably, King is expanding its reach beyond the traditional Google Play and iOS App Store by launching simultaneously on multiple alternative platforms. This move marks a significant shift in their distribution strategy.

King has teamed up with publisher Flexion to debut Candy Crush Solitaire on five new alternative app stores, including the Samsung Galaxy Store and Huawei AppGallery. This collaboration highlights Flexion's excitement to work with a major developer like King, while King emphasizes the novelty of launching across so many platforms simultaneously. This strategic decision underscores a growing interest in alternative app stores as viable channels for reaching broader audiences.

Embracing Alternatives

King's influence in the gaming industry cannot be overstated. Their successful adaptation of the match-three puzzle genre has generated revenues comparable to small countries, making their move towards alternative app stores somewhat surprising yet strategic. The decision to launch simultaneously on these platforms indicates King's recognition of their potential to significantly expand their player base, which has been largely untapped in these markets until now.

This move by King signals a broader industry trend where major gaming companies are beginning to appreciate the value of alternative app stores. If you're curious about one of these platforms, Huawei's AppGallery, you might want to explore their 2024 AppGallery Awards to see which games received top honors last year.