OpenAI launched an App Directory to browse all the tools currently available and opened its SDK for developers to build new interactive experiences that operate within the bot’s UI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last month that “We are planning to build the obvious features that you would expect for a robust platform over time,” and opening an app store is certainly a huge step in that direction.
https://www.theverge.com/news/847067/openai-app-store-directory-sdk-chatgpt
Nintendo has released an official Nintendo Store app, allowing more fans to access the eShop on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Five years after exclusively launching in Japan as the “My Nintendo” app, Nintendo has now expanded the iOS and Android experience under a new name to other regions, including the US, UK, Canada, and most of Europe.
https://www.theverge.com/news/814054/nintendo-store-app-ios-android-games-shop
ChatGPT can now run third-party apps, including Spotify, for an experience that OpenAI says is closer to an operating system than an app store. “The magic of this new generation of apps in ChatGPT is how they blend familiar interactive elements–like maps, playlists, and presentations–with new ways of interacting through conversation,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/you-can-now-add-spotify-zillow-to-chatgpt-but-dont-call-it-an-app-store
Starting next year, app installs on certified Android devices will be possible only if the developer has been verified by Google. The company compares the move to an "ID check at the airport," and says it is intended to tackle malicious actors who impersonate developers and their brand image to trick users into downloading fake apps.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-to-block-sideloading-of-apps-from-unverified-developers
Apple added 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings to the existing 4+ and 9+ ratings, while removing the 12+ and 17+ age ranges. These changes have been applied automatically, based on developers’ previous responses to Apple’s questionnaires. But you’ll have to wait until September for the public rollout, unless you're running one of the beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, or watchOS 26. The tech giant has also introduced new questions to help identify sensitive content within apps before they are added to the App Store, including those covering the presence of medical or wellness topics, violence, and in-app controls. Apple has asked developers to complete the updated questionnaire via App Store Connect by Jan. 31, 2026. If they fail to comply, app updates will be blocked.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-makes-major-changes-to-app-stores-age-ratings
Utah has become the first US state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users' ages and seek parental consent before allowing minors to download apps. "Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it," Meta, X, and Snapchat said in a joint statement. "We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit."
https://www.pcmag.com/news/utah-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-puts-app-stores-in-charge-of-age-verification
"We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety," Apple said in a statement to The Verge.
https://mashable.com/article/first-porn-app-apple-app-store