On February 4, 2025, Apple introduced a new regulation for games listed on the Vietnamese App Store (https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=06h4gf33). Developers must now obtain a license from the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, under the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam. Only after securing this license can the developers submit the license number in the App Store Connect page to publish their game.

Vietnam, as a rapidly growing market in Southeast Asia, has made significant strides in the digital entertainment sector. In particular, the gaming industry has seen increasing attention from both domestic and international game developers who view the country as a promising market. However, a major hurdle for developers is the requirement to obtain a “game license” (also referred to as an approval code) for any game they wish to publish on the App Store.

As governments around the world continue to strengthen their digital content regulations, it’s possible that other regions may follow Vietnam’s lead by imposing similar requirements for game listings. While Google Play has not yet implemented such regulations, the possibility of this becoming a trend is not out of the question, especially in cases like these:

• Increasing Global Regulatory Pressure: With growing data protection laws and stricter content oversight, more countries are demanding that digital platforms review and monitor content to ensure compliance with local laws.

• Localization Demands: As global markets become more diverse, app stores may be required to offer region-specific content. The introduction of a game license could be a way for platforms to better regulate content and ensure compliance with each country’s unique laws.

• National Sovereignty Concerns: Some regions, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, may push for such regulatory measures as a way to protect national culture and avoid content that may be deemed inappropriate or politically sensitive.

With tightening regulations and the need for localized content, game developers could find themselves increasingly constrained by traditional app store requirements. To help developers navigate these challenges, ROIBest offers an innovative solution with its Android Progressive Web App (PWA) technology.

This PWA solution provides a unique alternative to conventional app store distribution, enabling developers to bypass the need for game licenses and publish games without worrying about regulatory hurdles. Here’s why this solution stands out:

• No License Required: Unlike the Apple App Store or Google Play, with ROIBest’s Android PWA solution, developers do not need to secure a game license, which is especially beneficial for markets with strict approval requirements, like Vietnam.
• Global Distribution: PWA technology allows developers to deploy their games across multiple platforms and markets, from Vietnam to China and India, without the need for separate submissions or approval processes for each platform.
• Improved User Experience: PWAs are known for their fast loading times and high security, resulting in a smoother user experience. Games can be added directly to users’ devices with ease.
• Cost Efficiency: PWAs reduce the cost of development and maintenance. Developers can create one version of the game and distribute it across multiple platforms without needing separate builds for iOS, Android, and other platforms.

ROIBest, as the pioneer in non-removable Android apps, boasts the largest market share and user base.

With new features, security enhancements, and behavior changes rolled out in Android 15, all apps will be affected and it’s important for developers to ensure that their apps are compatible with the updates. Let’s break down what’s changing and how you can adapt to keep your app running smoothly.

One of the first big changes in Android 15 is the increase in the minimum target SDK version to 24. If your app targets an older SDK, it won’t install on devices running Android 15. This move is part of an effort to make apps more secure and better aligned with modern privacy standards. So, if your app still targets older SDK versions, you’ll need to update it to at least SDK 24 to ensure it installs and runs on new devices.

Another important change is how PendingIntent works when an app is force-stopped. Previously, PendingIntent objects could remain active even if the app was no longer running. But with Android 15, all PendingIntents are cancelled when an app enters a stopped state. When the app is launched again, it will need to re-register its PendingIntents via an ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED broadcast. If your app uses PendingIntent, you’ll want to consider this change and adapt accordingly to avoid unexpected issues.

Apps that rely on audio playback—especially in direct or offload modes—may run into issues on Android 15 when resources are limited. Android 15 now invalidates AudioTrack objects if another app is using too many resources, causing previous audio sessions to fail. If your app involves audio streaming or similar functions, it’s essential to test under Android 15 to make sure these new limitations don’t disrupt your app’s functionality.

Android 15 introduces support for devices that use 16KB page sizes, a move that will help optimize the performance of apps, especially those that run on devices with larger memory. If your app contains native libraries (like so libraries), you’ll need to rebuild them to be compatible with the 16KB page size. While this might not be an immediate concern for all devices, it’s something to consider as more Android 15-powered devices come to market.

If your app uses the back gesture for navigation, you may have noticed that predictive back animations are now more integrated into Android 15. This feature used to be optional, but now it’s the default. For apps that haven’t yet adapted, this could cause some navigation glitches or broken transitions. To avoid issues, you’ll want to make sure your app handles this animation smoothly, especially if you’re using fragment transitions or custom animations.

Android 15 presents a variety of changes that developers need to prepare for to keep their apps compatible with the latest devices. Alongside these changes are Google Play’s deadline by August 2025, when all new apps must target Android 15 (API level 35) to meet its submission criteria. This means you’ve got some time to adapt, but don’t wait too long to make changes.

We understand it’s not always easy to stay compliant with Google Play’s ever-changing policies. This is where you can leverage ROIBest’s Android progressive web app solution to bypass the app store altogether. Provide an URL of your application and we’ ll have all the rest covered for you. No more worrying about the latest platform restrictions and keep your app accessible to users without any hurdles.

ROIBest is a software service company headquartered in Singapore, pioneering in Android PWA solutions. ROIBest provides Android developers with an innovative app distribution & advertising solution that does not depend on app stores, saves in-app purchase commissions, and eliminates harmful file warnings. ROIBest’s feature-rich product supports AudienceCloud, traffic deduplication, and intelligent push notifications, enabling business success in global markets.