With iOS 26.2, Apple has extended alternative app marketplace distribution to Japan in response to the country's Mobile Software Competition Act. Developers who want to reach Japanese users via non-App Store channels can now configure their apps for distribution through approved alternative marketplaces in that region. This continues Apple's incremental rollout of alternative distribution, previously limited to the EU under the Digital Markets Act. Developers targeting the Japanese market should review Apple's notarization requirements and marketplace entitlement documentation to determine if this channel is relevant to their distribution strategy.