The European Union’s Digital Market Act, however, requires that all electronics devices sold on its territory allow alternative app installation avenues so that both users and developers have a choice how to obtain and distribute their software. This mandate may force Apple to lift its restrictions on sideloading in some way that is yet to be disclosed at WWDC with iOS 17.
After all, all rumors point to Apple budging on the universal USB-C charging and data port standard with the iPhone 15 series, so EU mandates apparently have a sway with its upper management. Apple wouldn’t want to lose the world’s largest common trading block as a market, so it could ultimately give in on the sideloading app mandate, too, which could open a whole new window of opportunity for iPhone users and developers alike.