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While most of the hype from Apple's latest event was surrounding the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro (deservedly so), that isn't the only Apple-related venture dropping this week. Today (September 19), Apple is unleashing Apple Arcade, a venture that's aimed to do for the world of gaming what iTunes did for music (or what Netflix has done for TV and film). The one question people have is, obviously, "what the hell is Apple Arcade?"
We get it; Apple's revolutionized the smartphone game with the iPhone, and anyone with a smartphone at least has a few games and time-wasters that they dive into when waiting for the train or when they should be paying attention during a meeting. It'd make sense for Apple to dive into this realm; hell, they made sure to note how their upgraded chips will handle gaming specifically, but this venture here? This is something different.
For anyone who has questions about what Apple Arcade actually means, we've got you covered. Here's everything you need to know before you eventually sign up.
It costs $4.99 a month
That price point alone might be worth more than anything else written here. Five bucks a month to have complete access to 100+ games (with more said to be added in the future)? It’s a steal, especially when you realize that that’s it. As long as you are subscribed you can play any of these games to your heart’s content. No further in-app purchases, no annoying ads...no other payments to worry about.
Fun for the whole family
For $4.99, you can share your Apple Arcade subscription with up to five family members; with so an array of titles for games 6 to 60. Apple Arcade also works with Screen Time, which means that you can set time limits on gaming for kids, as well as the ability to set parental controls (which would allow you to, say, restrict certain games based on their age ratings).
There’s an awesome batch of games
These games also aren’t just quick time-wasters; Apple’s taken pride in curating deeper experiences, many of which you couldn’t find in mobile games, from both independent game developers and established companies like Capcom and Sega. It’s a win-win for gamers of all ages.
When we got to test-drive Apple Arcade, we fell in love with Skate City, which has gamers playing a skater traversing across multiple cities across the globe (many of which pull from specific skate spots in each city). Skate City was also awesomely easy to get into; I initially played it on an Apple TV paired with a PS4 controller, which felt similar to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games I played the hell out of as a kid. The experience was even doper on the iPhone, with the ease of diving in and out of different board movements and views ways super easy to master. Another dope title was Hot Lava, which flips the idea of the IRL children’s game on its head. The player is thrown into an intriguing world where the floor really is lava, and you must jump from obstacle to obstacle to progress through each level.
Apple has made sure to look for games that blend a level of artistry into the design, and have made sure to keep things diverse; Sayonara Wild Hearts will feature a dope blend of pop music in each level, lead by an intriguing woman as the lead character. That’s not to mention the Sonic games and underwater platformers that will be available at launch.
You can game anywhere
With Apple Arcade, gaming wherever you want, whenever you want is extremely easy. If you’re playing a game on your Mac at home before work, it’s quite easy to pick up where you left off in the game via your iPhone and vice versa. Apple Arcade also allows you the ease of downloading games to play if you happen to be offline, saving your progress for when you hop back online.
Ultimately, Apple's combining the ease of use that has made living with their products a way of life for many and channeling that into the world of gaming. It's a one-stop-shop for those who want to get more out of gaming, on any device they own. It's an intriguing step in the right direction for those who want their devices to be more connected than ever before. And if you're an Apple-loving gamer, Apple Arcade is set to bring you something you've never been able to get in a mobile gaming structure. Welcome to the future.