Why my apps will soon be gone from the Google Play Store

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope of the Complaint

  • New Google Play requirements (D-U-N-S number for organizations, verified legal identity, public phone/email, and sometimes physical address) are seen as disproportionate for hobby and solo developers.
  • Some argue “doing business has costs” and these are standard KYC/AML measures similar to Apple and payment processors.
  • Others emphasize that for old, low-traffic, or non-monetized apps, the admin and privacy burden is not worth it, so they’ll let apps die or move them elsewhere.

Privacy, Safety, and Contact Requirements

  • Many object strongly to having a phone number and home address publicly exposed, citing spam, scams, and even safety concerns.
  • Counterpoint: you can use alternate numbers, virtual offices, or different SIMs; phone ≠ personal phone.
  • Some distrust giving Google passport/ID scans; others say Google is among the more secure stewards of such data.

Backward Compatibility and API Churn

  • Frequent minimum-API bumps and app-hiding/removal are criticized as destroying otherwise-working apps, especially simple games/tools.
  • Multiple comparisons to Windows’ long-lived compatibility; some claim Android/iOS trade usefulness for sandboxing and security.
  • Others defend deprecations as necessary to improve permissions and security, arguing old, over-broad APIs can’t always be safely emulated.

Open vs Closed Ecosystems, Sideloading, and Alternatives

  • Several praise Android’s APK sideloading and F-Droid as escape hatches; others describe sideloaded apps as privacy-invasive and unreliable.
  • Concerns that regulatory pushes for sideloading on iOS will incentivize more “abusive” behavior and erode the “protective garden.”
  • Suggestions: move to F-Droid, personal APK hosting, or web apps/PWAs. Pushback notes browser fragmentation, limited Web APIs (e.g., BLE), and monetization headaches.

Indie Developer Future and “Long Tail”

  • Many see platforms increasingly optimized for large companies and a handful of mega-apps, not small indie titles.
  • Some predict a shift away from native apps toward web apps, or simply fewer hobby projects on major app stores.
  • A few plan to open source their delisted apps or keep them alive outside official stores.