Apple Arcade could use an ‘always allow’ feature that’s separate from App Store

Zac Hall | Apr 7 2026 - 4:21 pm PT

I love Apple Arcade. The game catalog really clicks with my son, and a single subscription unlocks hundreds of premium games. The best part is that the games have no ads or in-app purchases.

This makes for a much better gaming experience on his iPad. There’s just one feature I’d love to see Apple add.

Apple Arcade games generally get a pass

Spring break is here, and my kid has just one question: “May I download this Apple Arcade game?” The only problem is he has that one question a lot.

(We also did some fishing during his spring break from school. The one question then was if I could bait his hook again, please, but back to Apple stuff.)

I’m generally in favor of him downloading and trying a bunch of Apple Arcade games and discovering which ones he likes.

If Apple offered it, I think I’d even be OK with allowing him to download any Apple Arcade title without asking for approval. If a game passes Apple’s threshold for being in Arcade, it’s usually a good fit for him (with a few exceptions).

App Store’s Ask to Buy feature

That’s not the case with the App Store.

Apple’s Ask to Buy feature is an essential part of Family Sharing and managing App Store usage with kids. It lets you or another guardian review and approve or decline requests to download apps and make in-app purchases.

What I’d like to see is Ask to Buy for the App Store without requiring Ask to Buy for Apple Arcade. Until that’s possible, I’ll happily approve each Apple Arcade game — one request at a time.