The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through other app stores or via sideloading — Android will remain open in that regard. However, developers who appreciated the anonymity of alternative distribution methods will no longer have that option.

Google will soon require identification for developers outside the Play Store and will block sideloading of their apps if they do not comply.

Google is slowly rolling out new restrictions on sideloading for Android. Eventually, developers will have to verify their identities with Google, or be blocked from distributing apps.