Apple Arcade, the tech giant’s ambitious game subscription service, launches this month.
Later this month, Apple will offer access to more than 100 games across iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac and Apple TV. Significantly, $4.99 US/£4.99 a month will purchase the full library for up to six family members through Family Sharing. Apple Arcade will be available, via iOS 13 on September 19, with tvOS 13 and macOS Catalina access coming on September. 30.
Apple Arcade is differentiating itself from Google Stadia – its chief, tech giant-created, “play anywhere” competition – in a few key ways. First, Apple Arcade will allow subscribers to download games and play offline. Secondly, subscribers are paying for the library of games, rather than, in Stadia’s case, paying for the option to stream individual games.
And, Apple’s service will boast some impressive exclusives (though Apple’s definition of exclusive may differ from your own).
“You can’t find these games on any other mobile or subscription service,” said Ann Thai, the App Store’s Senior Product Manager, during the company’s live stream.
In other words, you won’t be able to play Shantae and the Seven Sirens on mobile platforms or through other subscription services. But, Shantae will still release on PC and consoles.
Semantic quibble aside, the games look pretty cool! During the live stream, Konami announced a new Apple Arcade exclusive Frogger game, called Frogger in Toy Town. Additionally, Capcom is bringing a newly announced underwater survival platformer, Shinsekai: Into the Depths to the platform.
New entries in popular franchises like Sonic, Lego, Rayman and Pac-Man will also be available when Apple Arcade launches later this month. And, if you don’t want to play demanding games with touch controls, good news! Many of the games will feature compatibility with DualShock 4, Xbox One Wireless controllers and MFi game controllers.
