For months, there have been reports that iPhone and Mac makerApplewas preparing to launch a game subscription service that would be like the gaming version of Netflix. Today, Apple clarified things by announcing Apple Arcade during its “show time” event.
Apple says that Apple Arcade will feature more than 100 “new and exclusive” games when it launches in fall 2019. Only a fraction of these have been confirmed so far. Games like Annapurna Interactive’sThe PathlessandSega’sSonic Racinghad already been confirmed for other platforms. Other games such asHot LavafromDon’t Starve’s Klei Entertainment and LEGO’sLego Brawlsare newly announced titles. Studios like Konami and Cartoon Network along with creators likeFinal Fantasycreator Hironobu Sakaguchi are also working on games for Apple Arcade.
Exclusivity means that these games won’t be available on any other mobile platform or game subscription service. Storefronts like the Epic Games Store have been criticized heavily for its exclusive games. It remains to be seen how the wider gaming public will respond to Apple Arcade exclusivity, but so far, it seems as though most expectedAppleto make these deals happen.
Apple hasn’t announced Apple Arcade pricing yet, and so it’s too soon to suggest how many will be willing to pay for the service. One could argue that the company is in an excellent position, having doled outrevenue of more than $20 billion to App Store developersin 2016. This figure was largely because of games likePokemon GO. With so many mobile gamers already spending so much on App Store titles, for many of them, it will make sense to get Apple Arcade, as it saves them money.
However,AppleArcade does face a huge amount of competition. Sony and Microsoft have game subscription services in PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass,Apple Arcade competitor Google Stadiawill likely be subscription-based, and the online retailer Amazon is said to be planning a similar service, too.
