Apple Arcade

Last updated

Apple Arcade
Apple-arcade-logo.svg
Developer Apple
Type Video game subscription service
Launch dateSeptember 19, 2019;4 years ago (2019-09-19)
Platform(s) iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro
Operating system(s) iOS 13 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, macOS Catalina or later, tvOS 13 or later, VisionOS
StatusActive
Pricing modelUS$6.99 per month or US$49.99 annually
Website Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade is a video game subscription service offered by Apple. It is available through a dedicated tab of the App Store on devices running iOS 13, VisionOS, tvOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. [1] [2] The service launched on September 19, 2019. [3]

Contents

It offers experiences that exclude practices such as in-app purchases and advertisements. Some of the games are produced by Apple.

Features

All games available on the service are free of advertisements, in-app purchases, data tracking processes, and always-on DRM, meaning games can be played offline and without interruptions. [2] Subscribers can share access with up to five others through family sharing and the service can also be purchased through the Apple One bundle. Both standalone subscriptions and the Apple One bundle provide a free one-month trial and can be cancelled at any time.

Games on the service feature integration with Game Center and iCloud, allowing games to implement social features such as achievements and leaderboards, and to carry data between devices when linked to the same iCloud account. In addition to Apple's own products, many games are compatible with third-party controllers such as the DualShock 4, DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller, [1] with support for Joy-Con and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller added with the release of iOS 16. [4] By extension, controllers modeled after classic Nintendo and Sega gamepads for use with Nintendo Switch Online are also supported with iOS 16. [5]

History

Apple Arcade was announced in March 2019 at an Apple Event showcasing their various upcoming services. It launched in September 2019 with 71 games, with Apple stating that the number would grow to over 100 by 2020. [6] The apps support a minimum of 14 languages and can be accessed in over 150 countries. [6] Launch titles included Sneaky Sasquatch , What the Golf , Sayonara Wild Hearts , Rayman Mini , Exit the Gungeon , and Lego Brawls . [7]

Noted publishers and developers that have partnered with Apple to create Arcade games include Capcom, Sega, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Konami, and Annapurna Interactive. [3] Developers cannot release their Apple Arcade games on other mobile platforms due to exclusivity agreements, but are allowed to offer their games on console or PC. Apple does not share game performance metrics with developers, only revealing whether the game has been accepted onto the Apple Arcade platform. [8]

There are several categories within the platform that group together similar games based on their premise, genre, level of difficulty and more. Some categories include "adventure", "puzzle", and "education". [2] There is also a category called "daily play suggestions", which offers a curated selection of games based on the consumer's download and gameplay history. [2]

In June 2020, Bloomberg reported that Apple ended its contract with some future Arcade titles and shifted its strategy to seek games with stronger engagement to retain subscribers. It was further noted that Apple invited former Arcade partners to return and develop titles that would fit Apple's new strategy. [9]

On April 2, 2021, Apple released a number of new games and announced that it would be bringing "Timeless Classics" and "App Store Greats" to the service. These are versions of pre-existing popular games already available on the App Store with in-app purchases and ads removed, denoted by a "+" at the end of the application name. Notable games added to the service include Fruit Ninja Classic +, Monument Valley +, and Threes!+ . [10] [11] Unlike titles developed exclusively for Apple Arcade, these games are only available for iOS and iPadOS devices.

As part of the reboot of the service, Apple cancelled an unknown number of games that were in development, preferring to focus on family-friendly games attached to existing IP. [12]

On May 31, 2022, creator of the classic shoot 'em up Space Harrier Yu Suzuki announced an original arcade style rail shooting game Air Twister exclusively for Apple Arcade. [13] In September 2022, Horizon Chase 2, the sequel of the award-winning retro racing game Horizon Chase , was released exclusively on the platform. [14]

Reception

According to CNET, "Every game platform rises or falls on whether it has games that people actually want to play. The breadth of Apple Arcade's catalog, bolstered by consistent new releases and updates, is impressive. There are a ton of different types of games -- mystery games, family games, puzzle games, nostalgic games and more." [15]

In TechRadar, David Lumb wrote, "The hope is that Arcade games distinguish themselves, and the service as a whole, thanks to Apple assistance written into the platform. When developers sign their games up to be on Arcade, the company pledges an undefined level of financial support to give creators breathing room to make the games they want to make." [16]

Referencing Lifewire, artist and programmer Tyrone Evans Clark told Lifewire, "I feel personally more attracted to the Apple Arcade because they have more of a variety pack of games to choose from," "Nintendo's Switch Game Store has a limited number of games, and they are mostly predominantly Nintendo brands such as anything relating to the characters Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, etc. Apple Arcade, on the other hand, has a little bit of everything for everyone." [17]

Jordan Minor of PC Magazine wrote, "That's why, as someone who believes in mobile gaming's potential, Apple Arcade's launch was so exciting. For $5 per month, Apple gives you access to a fast-growing library of nearly 200 premium games to enjoy on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with a real controller connected. None of these games compromise their design with garbage F2P mechanics, and that's so refreshing to see in this space." [18]

Revenue

In 2018, premium games on the App Store generated US$476 million while free-to-play games produced US$21.3 billion in revenue. [8] Also, the number of premium apps available on the App Store fell from 21.6% of total App Store games in 2014 to 9.3% in 2018. [8] Some analysts argue that this is a contributing factor to the development and founding of Apple Arcade, with the economic perspective that consumers will be more incentivized to pay a subscription fee to access a range of premium apps rather than purchasing individual premium games. [19] Others have argued that Apple Arcade is another source of revenue for Apple and enables them to compete with other video-game subscription services like Google Play Pass and Xbox Game Pass. [3]

Apple spent $500 million to launch Apple Arcade. Apple pays app developers an upfront fee to create video-games for the platform and corresponds with some developers in the development process. [8]

List of games

TitleDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)Date first released on Apple ArcademacOSiOStvOS
Sonic Racing SEGA September 19, 2019
NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition 2K Games September 14, 2021
NBA 2K23 Arcade EditionSeptember 8, 2022
NBA 2K24 Arcade EditionSeptember 29, 2023
The Oregon Trail Gameloft April 2, 2021
Pac-Man Party Royale Bandai Namco October 18, 2019
Hello Kitty Island AdventureSunblinkJune 26, 2023
Doctor Who: Hidden Mysteries Tilting Point March 24, 2023
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis Viacom International December 14, 2021
Samba de Amigo: Party-Go-Go SEGA
Football Manager 2023 Touch
My Little Pony: Mane MergeGameloftNovember 18, 2022
Lego Star Wars: Castaways
Ballistic Baseball 2019
Disney Getaway Blast2023
SongPop Party
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Angry Birds Reloaded Rovio
Sneaky Sasquatch RAC7 Games RAC7 GamesSeptember 19, 2019
Spek.RAC7 GamesSeptember 19, 2019
Splitter Critters+RAC7 GamesDecember 10, 2021
Mini Metro Dinosaur Polo Club April 2, 2021
Mini Motorways
Kingdom Rush Frontiers TDIronhide
Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD
Legends of Kingdom Rush
Iron Marines
DecoherenceEfecto Estudias
Red Reign Ninja Kiwi September 15, 2019
Bloons TD 6
Outlanders Pomelo GamesOutbox
Dandara: Trials of Fear Raw Fury
The MosaicNovember 1, 2019
Kingdom Two Crowns
Summon QuestThe Label Team17 March 27, 2023
What the Golf?The Label
FarmsideThe LabelDecember 9, 2022
The_OthersideThe Label
SpacelandTortuga Team
Cluedo: Classic EditionMarmalade Game Studio
Game Dev Story Kairosoft
Lego Star Wars Battles TT Games
The College AtlasJohn William EvelynRobot House GamesSeptember 15, 2020
Dear Reader Local No. 12September 13, 2019
Samorost 3 Amanita Design
Pilgrims Amanita Design October 5, 2019
Creaks Amanita Design July 10, 2020
Squiggle DropNoodlecake StudiosNovember 1, 2022
Bridge Constructor ClockStone SoftwareHeadup GmbH
PruneJoel McDonaldJoel McDonald2022
Castle CrumbleOrbital KnightDecember 14, 2022
Cut the Rope RemasteredPaladin Studios ZeptoLab April 2, 2021
Moonshot - A Journey HomeNoodlecake StudiosApril 4, 2022
Lifelike: Chapter OneKunami BrotherOctober 25, 2019
Blek
Chameleon Run Noodlecake Studios
Nuts - A Surveillance MysteryDecember 19, 2020
Slash Quest!September 1, 2020
Super Stickman Golf 3June 24, 2021
Cricket Through the Ages Devolver Digital September 12, 2019
My Bowling 3DiWare DesignsJune 21, 2022
Pro Snooker & Pool 2023
Charrua SoccerBatovi Games Studio
Gris Devolver Digital
Reigns: BeyondNerialOctober 13, 2020
Game of Thrones: Tale of CrowsAugust 7, 2020
Bleak Sword
Pro Darts 2023iWare Designs
Retro Bowl New Star R&DJune 1, 2023
Retro GoalJune 4, 2023
Grand Mountain AdventureToppluvaToppluvaMarch 27, 2023
Easy Come Easy Golf (prev. Clap Hanz Golf) Clap Hanz April 2, 2021
Sociable Soccer '21Rogue Games
Mind Symphony
Super Impossible Road September 19, 2019
Hexaflip: The Action Puzzler
SP!NGSMG Studio2020
Osmos Hemisphere
Hill Climb Racing Fingersoft May 4, 2023
Snake.ioKooappsMay 4, 2023
Getting Over It Bennett Foddy Bennett Foddy May 4, 2023
Fledgling HeroesSubtle BoomSeptember 18, 2019
Things That Go BumpTinybopOctober 18, 2019
Crayola Create and PlayRed Games
Crossy Road Hipster Whale October 28, 2021
Crossy Road CastleFebruary 27, 2020
SolitaireRed Games
Super Mega Mini PartyNovember 1, 2019
Bold MovesMay 26, 2023
finity.SeabaaAugust 21, 2023
Fruit Ninja Classic Halfbrick Studios April 2, 2021
Jetpack Joyride
Jetpack Joyride 2 July 28, 2022
MasterChef: Learn to Cook! Tilting Point August 27, 2021
Star Trek: LegendsApril 2, 2021
Chess UniverseMay 4, 2023
SpongeBob: Patty PursuitNickelodeon Viacom International May 28, 2020
Leo's Fortune 1337 & SenriApril 1, 2021
Badland FrogmindHypeHypeApril 2, 2021
Badland PartyMarch 22, 2022
OddmarMobgeOctober 30, 2021
Star FetchedCrescent Moon GamesNovember 1, 2019
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Broken Rules January 8, 2022
Jumper JonEsteban DuranEsteban DuranNovember 1, 2019
Old Man's Journey Broken Rules
Shadow Blade Crescent Moon Games
Crashlands Sumo DigitalJune 12, 2020
Little Orpheus
Wonderbox: The Adventure MakerAquiris Game StudioSeptember 22, 2020
Don't Starve: Pocket Edition Klei April 2, 2021
Inmost Chucklefish Limited October 11, 2019
Stela SkyBox Labs October 11, 2019
Limbo Playdead2023
Oceanhorn 2 Cornfox & BrothersJuly 25, 2019
Beyond a Steel Sky Revolution Software June 25, 2020
Mutazione Die Gute FrabikSeptember 13, 2019
Lifeline 3 Minute Games
SpyderSumo DigitalMarch 20, 2020
Horizon Chase 2 Aquiris Game StudioAugust 29, 2022
Riptide GP: Renegade Vector Unit
Warped Kart Racers Electric SquareApril 29, 2022
Detonation RacingJune 21, 2021
Speed DemonsRadiangamesSeptember 12, 2019
Warp DriveSupergonkOctober 27, 2020
Gear.Club Stradale Eden Games March 1, 2022
What the Car?TribandMay 4, 2023
ShockRods Stainless Games October 11, 2019
Jet Dragon Grezzo May 26, 2023
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Game Freak December 20, 2022
Chess - Play & Learn Chess.com April 2, 2021
Subway Surfers TagSybo GamesJune 30, 2022
Farming Simulator 20 GIANTS Software2019
Amazing Bomberman Konami August 3, 2022
Monster Hunter Stories Capcom
Monument Valley Ustwo Games
Monument Valley 2
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure November 10, 2020
Assemble with Care
The Pathless Giant Squid Annapurna Interactive October 13, 2020
Beyond Blue E-Line MediaApril 17, 2020
Sayonara Wild Hearts SimogoAnnapurna InteractiveSeptember 13, 2019
Rayman Mini Ubisoft
Populus RunFiftytwoDecember 19, 2020
Alto's Adventure: RemasteredSnowmanFebruary 28, 2022
Alto's Odyssey: RemasteredJune 7, 2021
Baldo Naps Team
Sonic Dash SEGA SEGA April 5, 2022
Super Leap Day Nitrome July 6, 2021
JellyCar Worlds Walaber EntertainmentNovember 16, 2022
Tiny Wings Andreas Illiger Andreas Illiger September 13, 2021
Temple Run Imangi Studios May 4, 2023
Air Twister Ys Net May 24, 2022
Ridiculous Fishing EX Vlambeer July 13, 2023
Time LockerSotaro OtsukaSotaro OtsukeMay 4, 2023
UFO on Tape: First ContactRevolutionary ConceptsNovember 8, 2019
Skate CitySnowmanSeptember 14, 2019
Where Cards Fall September 15, 2019
DoDonPachi Resurrection HDCave Co.
Frogger in Toy TownKonamiSeptember 4, 2019
Survival ZEmber EntertainmentJanuary 21, 2021
Galaga Wars Bandai Namco October 25, 2021
PPKPShimada ToshihiroShimada ToshihiroMay 4, 2023
Yaga The Roleplaying Folktale Versus Evil October 25, 2019
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball HeroesFirefly GamesDecember 3, 2020
Hitchhiker - A Mystery GameMad About Pandas Versus Evil March 12, 2021
The Bradwell Conspiracy Bossa Studios October 5, 2019
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy Level-5
DiscoloredShifty Eye GamesNovember 8, 2019
Takeshi and HiroshiOink GamesOink GamesNovember 8, 2019
Hogwash Bossa Studios October 25, 2019
Stranded SailsShifty Eye GamesSeptember 17, 2019
Operator 41September 15, 2019
Wylde FlowersStudio DrydockJanuary 25, 2022
Guildlings Sirvo StudiosNovember 8, 2019
Pocket BuildMoonBearMarch 1, 2022
MonomalsPicomyNovember 1, 2019
Exit the Gungeon Devolver DungeonSeptember 15, 2019
Redout: Space Assault34BigThingsOctober 5, 2019
Shovel Knight Dig Yacht Club Games August 30, 2022
Fallen KnightFairPlay StudiosOctober 25, 2019
Dead Cells PlaydigiousNovember 17, 2022
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls Konami September 10, 2021
Frogger and the Rumbling RuinsMay 23, 2022
Marble It Up: Mayhem The Marble CollectiveMarble It UpNovember 8, 2019
Human: Fall Flat 505 Games
Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap BeatBandai NamcoApril 2, 2021
Very Little Nightmares
Thumper: Pocket EditionDrool LLCSeptember 7, 2021
TMNT Splintered Fate Viacom International May 4, 2023
SpongeBob SolitairePantsOctober 29, 2022
Spider Solitaire: Card GameMobilityWareMobilityWareSeptember 19, 2022
Solitaire by MobilityWareMobilityWareApril 2, 2021
Flipflop Solitaire Zach Gage STFJ LLC
Slay the Spire MegaCrit Humble Bundle June 26, 2023
Card of Darkness Zach Gage Zach Gage September 16, 2019
Good Sudoku Zach Gage STFJ LLC
SpellTower Zach Gage Zach Gage
Really Bad Chess Zach Gage STFJ LLC
Solitaire StoriesRed Games
Agent InterceptPinPokProdidy Design Limited, Sidhe InteractiveSeptember 15, 2019
Nightmare FarmHit-Point Co.October 5, 2019
Cityscapes: Sim BuilderMagic Fuel GamesPlaystackMay 4, 2023
Construction Simulator 2Rarebyte Astragon Entertainment March 30, 2022
My Talking Tom Outfit7ARM
My Talking Angela 2
Stardew Valley ConcernedApe
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector Hit-Point Co.
Farm It!!Tummy GamesMarch 26, 2021
Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon Cornfox & BrothersDecember 8, 2020
The Survivalists Team17 September 8, 2020
Goat Simulator Coffee Stain Studios Coffee Stain Publishing April 14, 2022
South of the Circle State of Play GamesOctober 28, 2020
The Gardens Between The Voxel Agents
Kingdoms: Merge & BuildCherrypick GamesJuly 17, 2023
Love You to BitsAlike Studio
All of YouOctober 6, 2020
IllustratedBorderLeapDecember 20, 2022
Grindstone Capybara Games September 19, 2019
PatternedBorderLeap
INKS.State of Play GamesMay 11, 2021
Kimono CatsHumanAture StudiosFebruary 13, 2023
Hidden Folks Adriaan de JonghAdriaan de Jongh
Cozy Grove Spry Fox February 11, 2021
Hot Lava Klei July 31, 2019
Octodad: Dadliest Catch Young Horses
Gin Rummy ClassicMobilityWare
Lego Duplo WorldStoryToys Entertainment Limited
Threes! Sirvo LLC
Cooking Mama: Cuisine!Office Create Corp.May 23, 2022
My Town Home - Family GamesMy Town GamesMay 4, 2023
Hearts: Card GameMobilityWare
Spades: Card Game
Checkers RoyalGamma Play LimitedApril 2, 2021
BackgammonAdikusApril 2, 2021
Tiny CrosswordPlaySimple GamesApril 2, 2021
Garden Tails: Match and GrowPlaydots
9/19/2019
Zookeeper WorldKiteretsu Inc.
Jigsaw Puzzle by MobilityWareMobilityWareApril 20, 2022
Millionaire Trivia: TV Game Uken Inc.June 1, 2023
Hanx101 TriviaBlueLine StudiosAugust 30, 2022
stitch.Lykkegaard Europe LimitedSeptember 26, 2022
Frenzic: Overtime The Iconfactory May 17, 2021
tint.Lykkegaard Europe LimitedSeptember 26, 2022
lumen.December 15, 2020
The Room Two Fireproof Studios
Lego Builder's Journey LEGO LEGO December 20, 2019
Lego Brawls LEGO
Disney Coloring WorldStoryToys Entertainment Limited
Zen Pinball Party Zen Studios August 25, 2021
Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade EditionGameloft Montreal Gameloft December 5, 2023
Sonic Dream Team Hardlight SEGA December 5, 2023
Tamagotchi Adventure KingdomBandai NamcoJanuary 10, 2024
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop h.a.n.d SEGA SEGA April 4th, 2024

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