Apple announces Apple Arcade, a new, curated game subscription service launching later this year

Apple has revealed Apple Arcade, a brand new game subscription service for iOS coming to Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV later this year.

The “unlike any other” service will feature “over 100 groundbreaking new games where storytelling and design are pushed further than ever before”. One subscription will unlock the entire catalogue, and all games will be available – without ads or in-app purchases – to download to your device. Up to six family members are able to share a single subscription.

Eurogamer reports Apple “will be partnering with a variety of high-profile studios and publishers” including Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Konami, Lego, Mistwalker, and Ustwo Games. Interestingly, it’s reported Apple will be “contributing development costs” to some of the games on its new service.

As for the games themselves? Titles confirmed so far include Little Orpheus from The Chinese Room, Beyond a Steel Sky (a sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky), WayForward’s Spidersaurs, Sayonara Wild Hearts from Simogo, Klei Entertainment’s Hot Lava, Finji’s Overland, Sega’s Sonic Racing, and Giant Squid’s The Pathless.

Right now there’s no confirmation of price, but Apple states the system will roll out across 150 countries in Q3 2019.

“Apple has watched the steady evolution of the games subscription services from Microsoft, EA and Sony, and understands that with the introduction of cloud gaming services, these will increasingly expand onto a broader collection of connected devices including smartphones, tablets and streaming STBs,” said analyst Piers Harding-Rolls.

“Apple’s decision to move up the games value chain with a new curated subscription service and to support the development of exclusive games for its the Arcade platform is a significant escalation of the company’s commitment to the games market,” he added. “Apple joins the other technology companies Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon and others in investing directly in games content and services. The commitments by these companies underline the importance of the games market as a central pillar of the broader entertainment opportunity.”