Apple announces ‘Apple Arcade’ game subscription service through App Store

Apple today has revealed a new game subscription service it is calling “Apple Arcade.” This will allow iOS, macOS, and tvOS users to pay a flat monthly fee and access a bundle of otherwise paid apps through the App Store.

Apple is working with a handful of publishers and developers for Apple Arcade. The company touted that the service will unify gaming between mobile, desktop and living room, a clear reference to macOS, tvOS, and iOS gaming.

Apple says that with a “single subscription,” Apple Arcade will give you access to over 100 new and exclusive games. Arcade will be a new area on the App Store, with a new tab along the bottom.

You’ll be able to download and play Apple Arcade games directly from the App Store without your subscription. Games will be playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. There’s also syncing between all of your devices, and offline playing. All games are “all you can play” with no ads or in-app purchases.

• 100+ new and exclusive games
• No ads or additional purchases
• Play across your devices
• Offline play

Apple did not reveal pricing for Apple Arcade. The service will launch later this fall in 150+ countries.

Apple’s game subscription service was first rumored earlier this year, but today marks Apple’s official announcement of the service. It comes as the company is significantly increasing its investments in Services, including video, News, and more.

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Cupertino, California — Apple today announced Apple Arcade, a game subscription service that will feature over 100 new and exclusive games, including original releases from renowned creators Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong, Will Wright and dozens more. Apple Arcade games will redefine games and be curated based on originality, quality, creativity, fun and their appeal to players of all ages. Apple Arcade will give customers the freedom to try any game from its handpicked collection of titles that are all-you-can-play, have no ads, ad tracking or additional purchases, and respect user privacy.

The App Store is the world’s most successful and vibrant gaming platform with nearly 300,000 free and paid games. Free games, supported by advertising or in-app purchases, are enjoyed by hundreds of millions of players around the world. Paid games are often critically acclaimed and beloved by the people who play them, but competing with free is hard, so even the best of these games have only reached a smaller audience. With the simplicity of a single subscription, Apple Arcade will bring games like these to the App Store’s more than 1 billion gaming customers. Apple Arcade is the perfect complement to the already enormously popular catalog of free games on the App Store, making iOS the premier gaming platform for players of all ages.

Apple is not just handpicking the games in Apple Arcade, but also contributing to the development costs and working closely with creators to bring the games to life. Made by some of the most critically acclaimed game developers in the world, Apple Arcade games will entertain customers with incredibly fun gameplay and immersive stories, while capturing imaginations with original art and music. The service will feature games from Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games and dozens more.

“The App Store is the world’s biggest and most successful game platform. Now we are going to take games even further with Apple Arcade, the first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We are working with some of the most innovative game developers in the world to create over 100 new and exclusive games to play across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Apple Arcade games will be great for families, respect user privacy and will not have ads or require any additional purchases. We think players of all ages are going to love Apple Arcade.”

Apple Arcade will introduce an innovative way to access a collection of brand new games that will not be available on any other mobile platform or in any other subscription service. Rather than pay up front for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk. Since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content and future updates, no additional purchases will be required. Every game will be playable offline, and many games will offer support for game controllers. Because subscribers can play Apple Arcade games across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, they can pick up where they left off in a game, even if they switch devices. New games will be added to the service on a regular basis.

Apple Arcade will launch in fall 2019 in more than 150 countries from a new tab on the App Store across iOS, macOS and tvOS. Developers interested in being considered for Apple Arcade should visit developer.apple.com/apple-arcade