Apparently as of August 2021 developers can only upload apps in .abb format. And from the Play Store is the only place people can get working .abb apps. If a developer wants their app to be available on any 3rd party app store they will have to make their app in .apk format. I don't see them jumping to get their apps on 3rd party stores so people can get them free.
Maybe I'm wrong but it looks like other app stores may be going away.
This is just an official announcement about the introduction of ".apks" formats which affect only newly released apps (app updates aren't required to be posted in .apks format), so I don't think it'll make any difference
This is just an official announcement about the introduction of ".apks" formats which affect only newly released apps (app updates aren't required to be posted in .apks format), so I don't think it'll make any difference