https://www.theverge.com/news/717440/google-epic-open-play-store-emergency-stay
So basically Google lost against Epic, and they now have to allow third-party app stores (like Epic Games Store) to be on Play Store. This eliminates one of the reasons that the official itch.io Android client is not developed.
More context: /t/495651/how-would-you-feel-about-an-unofficial-android-itchio-client
If they develop an Android client, because that hurdle is down, they better start listing Android rights on the game pages and the client. It is bewildering, how they can offer Android apps for download on the website, but the users cannot see what rights an app will demand.
There's a lot of shovelware adware type games posted on Itch. Seeing the rights they will demand would expose those.
And a big issue is malware. Scammers abuse Itch at every opportunity. Users are too trusting on Android, and unverified apps being installed by an installer app would be problematic.
If this lawsuit truly clears the path for third-party app stores on Android, then itch.io has a real shot here. An official client could make indie games way more accessible on mobile. That said, I hope they address permissions transparency—Android apps need to clearly show what access they require. Otherwise, it could open the door to sketchy uploads and user trust issues.
