Japan is moving toward allowing third-party iPhone app stores after a ruling from its Fair Trade Commission, with iOS 26.2 beta screenshots suggesting support for alternative stores in the country.

Apple is still slated to release iOS 26.2 in December 2025, with a public window typically between December 9 and December 16.

Industry observers view Japan’s move as potentially a model for broader reforms that could fragment the app economy and reshape how apps are distributed and monetized.

The iOS 26.2 beta appears to enable installing and using alternative stores such as AltStore PAL and Epic Games, though Fortnite in-app purchases remain region-blocked for now.

Regulators worldwide have pressed Apple to permit third-party app stores, with the EU Digital Markets Act mandating them in 27 member states and similar push elsewhere including Brazil and Australia.

If regulatory momentum continues, a broader shift away from a fully closed iPhone experience could unfold, with future rollouts potentially targeting other regions.

Apple has historically opposed these rulings and has called for DMA repeal or reform, even as regulators push for broader access to app stores.

Analysts suggest Apple would benefit from embracing the evolving regulatory landscape rather than resisting, amid ongoing legal pressures and potential more store openings.

Regulatory and antitrust scrutiny worldwide is accelerating efforts to loosen Apple’s control over app distribution and in-app commissions.

Japan’s approach appears to be a staged rollout designed to refine processes before wider adoption, aiming to align with law while addressing security concerns.

The beta’s approval of alternative storefronts points to a December 2025 public release and could include stores like AltStore or Epic’s store in Japan.

The development reflects ongoing global antitrust momentum challenging Apple’s closed ecosystem, as DMA-like rules spread across jurisdictions.