Apple Arcade Gaming Service To Launch Later This Year

Content and Downloads, News, Tablets & Computers, News by Orlaith CostelloMarch 26, 2019March 26, 2019 Share

Apple has unveiled its new game subscription service, dubbed Apple Arcade, set to launch later this year in more than 150 countries, including Australia. Pricing has not been revealed.

The service was announced as part of Apple’s March event which showcased its new news and content subscription service.

Unlike other game streaming services like Google’s Stadia and Microsoft’s upcoming xCloud service, Apple Arcade will not stream games to iOS devices.

In order to access games, users will need to download games from the App Store — making it not the “Netflix of Games”, but the “Apple iTunes of Games”.

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Apple Arcade is slated to launch with 100 new and exclusive titles only available on iOS devices — iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

It appears the service may exist inside the App Store as its own dedicated tab, rather than as a separate app.

Any games downloaded to a user’s account can be played on any iOS device and resumed on another device. Meaning users can be playing on their Apple TV and pick up from where they finished on their iPhone.

According to the Apple Arcade homepage, no ads will be shown within the games — which many are suggesting is how Google will monetize Stadia.

A full list of games has not been released, but a number of exclusive titles have been revealed which includes LEGO Brawls, Sonic Racing, Beyond the Steel Sky, Hot Lava, and more.

While Google announced its own game studio for its Stadia service, Apple has not announced any game studio itself.

However, it has said it will be involved by contributing to development costs and “working closely with creators” mentioning Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman and ustwo as its game development partners.

The company is also inviting game developers to sign up for more information ahead of the service’s official launch.

“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.”

Subscription costs have not been revealed but it states on its site that up to six members will be able to access the service from a single account.

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