If you're a fan of the Amazon Appstore for Android, I've got some unfortunate news for you. Amazon has announced, as reported by TechCrunch, that it will be shutting down its app store on Android devices come August 20th this year. This decision marks the end of an era for the store, which has been operational since its launch back in 2011.

Despite its impressive run of over a decade, this news will likely be cold comfort for the many developers who have been actively publishing on the platform and their loyal user base. According to the support page on the topic, if you have Android apps installed from the Amazon Appstore, you won't be guaranteed further updates or support. However, there's a silver lining: the Amazon Appstore will continue to be available on Amazon's proprietary devices, such as the Fire TV and Fire Tablet.

It's quite ironic that Amazon is pulling the plug at a time when alternative app stores seem to be gaining momentum. I don't necessarily blame Amazon for this move, as the Amazon Appstore never quite became a household name in the app store landscape. The reasons for this are multifaceted, but a key factor is that Amazon didn't offer compelling incentives to attract users and developers. For instance, the Epic Games Store, which launched more recently, has successfully drawn in users with its free games program.

This closure serves as a reminder that even the backing of a major company like Amazon isn't a guarantee of longevity in the competitive app market. However, there's no need to worry. If you're looking for great new releases, why not explore some of the top five new mobile games we've listed for this week?