Apple Arcade is a Game Changer

On Sept. 19, Apple officially launched Apple Arcade, the company’s new game subscription service. Available for $4.99 a month, with a 1-month free trial, Apple Arcade gives users access to more than 100 games across their iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and Apple TV devices.

It’s a first-of-its-kind service for mobile games, giving users the ability to download as many games from the Arcade as they want, without having to pay any of those in-game microtransactions like you otherwise would with titles like “Candy Crush.”

With Arcade, Apple has managed to put together a compelling list of offerings that are sure to please gamers looking for more from mobile games than having to pay $0.99 to play each level. As for game developers, the service could give them the means to reach an audience they may never have been able to before.

Apple Arcade will live as a new tab in the App Store. When you’re subscribed, you’ll be able to browse games, and download the ones you want to try. Importantly, every game in Apple Arcade has to be playable offline. That means you’ll be able to download your games and play them on the subway or on a flight without having to worry about an internet connection.  That’s a big benefit right out of the gate, because many games force you to stay online to play, or they simply won’t work.

Games available for Apple Arcade exist across a spectrum of exclusivity for the service. There are games that are exclusively available on mobile via Apple Arcade, but still available on consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Sony’s PlayStation 4, or Microsoft’s Xbox One, on one end of the spectrum. And then there are those that are only available on Apple Arcade full-stop.

The vast majority of Apple Arcade games can also be played across devices, and are tied to your Apple ID. So if you start a game on your iPhone, you can pick up on your iPad, Apple TV, or Mac, right where you left off. What’s more, if you play on your Apple TV or iPad, you can use your existing PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller rather than shelling out cash for a new third-party controller.

Game ON.

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