Verizon Ending Free Apple Arcade Access and Loyalty Discounts

[MacRumors]

Verizon customers with select legacy plans have had free access to Apple Arcade, but Verizon is ending support for the benefit starting in September.

Customers are receiving emails letting them know that the Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass freebies included with some plans will be discontinued by September 22, 2025.

Verizon used to bundle its 5G plans with free access to Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Disney+ and Hulu, and more, and customers on these prior-generation plans have continued to be able to use the included perks.

In 2023, Verizon changed its plan options, unbundling cellular service from the perks that it had used to lure subscribers in the past. Verizon now offers three base plans starting at $75 per month ($65 with auto pay enabled), and customers can pay an additional fee to get access to subscription services that used to be included.

Apple One with Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade is $15 per month through Verizon, for example, and Apple Music is $10 per month. Through Apple directly, the base Apple One plan is $19.95 per month.

In the email announcing the change, Verizon encourages subscribers to choose a myPlan option instead of one of the legacy plans.

We are writing to let you know that a discount on your account will soon end. This discount will be removed no sooner than September 1, 2025. It is important to us to be upfront and transparent when changes are made to your account.

We want to ensure you get the best value and experience from Verizon and encourage you to check out our myPlan options for the plan that works best for you.

Verizon's new plans with add-ons are more expensive than the bundled plans that it offered in the past.

Verizon is also removing loyalty line discounts from customers starting in September. The company says that to "continue improving" its mobile network and services, legacy discounts are being removed from accounts. Line level loyalty, the $10 Verizon loyalty discount, $10 and $15 loyalty account credits, and discounts on select unlimited offers are being discontinued.

Article Link: Verizon Ending Free Apple Arcade Access and Loyalty Discounts

 

[Taq'aix]

Then it’s now time to end support for Verizon.

 

[Olde Dave]

I’m not surprised that carriers would start ending these types of perks. I get HBO Max free through my legacy AT&T account, but I’ve been waiting for them to eventually shut it off and force me to another plan.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Been a Verizon Wireless customer for over 15 years.

On a family plan with 5 people. With a company discount - I'm within $10-15/mo of something like Visible. Verizon just hopped on the "locking in your price for 3 years" bandwagon and made a big deal about that. Combined with a Verizon Wireless credit card giving me crazy rewards on groceries (4%) - I'm covering my Verizon Wireless bill (my portion) with points. Been pretty happy with it.

Recently changed to the Unlimited Ultimate for the unlimited mobile hotspot data.

Quite a few members of my family plan enjoy the cheaper Disney+, iCloud Music, Hulu add-ons. It's a little bit cheaper than signing up for the service directly.

If I didn't have this family plan with an employer discount, I'd be on Visible or Mint.

They just gave me a $10/mo loyalty discount for a year.... wonder how that's going to impact me...

 

[Pgskater18]

I’m not surprised that carriers would start ending these types of perks. I get HBO Max free through my legacy AT&T account, but I’ve been waiting for them to eventually shut it off and force me to another plan.

I’m hoping AT&T does not pull that stunt. I like my hbo max and that’s the only reason why I’m keeping my unlimited plan.

 

[Biro]

I still get Netflix (with ads) Hulu (with ads), Apple TV+ and MLB.tv for free through my T-Mobile plan. If I lost these benefits, I’d probably move to US Mobile.

 

[Unity451]

How about providers just lower their prices instead of adding in a bunch of perks to try and artificially offset their cost to customers?

I switched to PureTalk a while back and love it! Solid American company without all the frills that I don't want/need.

 

[jimscard]

I’m hoping AT&T does not pull that stunt. I like my hbo max and that’s the only reason why I’m keeping my unlimited plan.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t do it soon, since they sold off their interest in HBO back in 2022, and now that Warner Discovery has split into two companies, I imagine this deal will come up for review and price increases.

 

[ab2c4]

Since my wife and I moved to another state our Verizon service sucks. The only reason we are staying with Verizon is the free add on perks. If they cut our freebies we will be going to AT&T since their service is much better where we are at.

 

[jimscard]

How about providers just lower their prices instead of adding in a bunch of perks to try and artificially offset their cost to customers?

I switched to PureTalk a while back and love it! Solid American company without all the frills that I don't want/need.

Because customers like the perks, which for the vast majority are things they would buy anyway, but obtaining separately would be higher cost. The bundle brings significant discounts from the perk providers, as a result of both volume and reduced cost of customer acquisition. Almost always makes sense for the consumer.

 

[dude-x]

Well looks like a good time for me to drop Verizon. Customer for at least a decade, and I was thinking of getting a cheaper carrier.

 

[gleepskip]

US Mobile offers perks, also. The main perk that I like is getting four lines for a grand total of $40.

 

[TheDailyApple]

I’m hoping AT&T does not pull that stunt. I like my hbo max and that’s the only reason why I’m keeping my unlimited plan.

Same. Though I'm already annoyed with how the standard plan lost access to 4K, HDR, and Dolby Audio during the Warner bros/discovery restructuring.

 

[MacAle2]

My wife and I left Verizon last summer after ten years for US Mobile since we tend just to buy our phones outright. I got tired of feeling like Verizon was always changing up the playing field so to speak. We have saved a lot of money over the past year and no regrets leaving Verizon.

 

[ghostface147]

I’m good with total wireless. With the $25 a month, which is essentially Verizon’s best plan, that money I save helps with stuff I subscribe to.

 

[xander49x]

it's time to switch carriers, bye bye Verizon.

 

[Donkey Man]

Losing AA access is not a loss, it’s a gift.

 

[jlc1978]

I'm sure most carriers would love to 'upgrade' their legacy customers to the 'new, improved' plan. My legacy plan is half of the cheapest new plan, and while I don't get all of those plan perks it would still be cheaper just to subscribe to them than upgrade all my lines. As long as I still get free texting and data abroad I am happy.

To switch to VZW would mean paying as much for 2 lines as I do for 4 plus internet access and a watch.

 

[Populus]

Apple Arcade could have been a great on demand gaming service, they had a good, promising start with games such as Fantasian.

But over the last two years I’ve lost my hope in Apple Arcade. Clearly Apple doesn’t care too much about it. Maybe because the profits aren’t big enough? I don’t know, but Apple Arcade could have been a great rival to other game streaming platforms. Maybe relying more into indie projects for a lower subscription price; I don’t know, maybe including games with a more expensive bill in exchange of a higher mensual price, there are many strategies, but it’s a shame that having a base of M1, M2, M3 and M4 powered computers and tablets, they aren’t taking advantage of that to get serious in gaming.

 

[christian.terra]

Just got another email letting me know that the tablet plans are increasing by $5 a month starting September as well.

 

[chrfr]

I'm on a legacy plan which includes fully unlimited/unrestricted data, Apple Music, the Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle, and Apple Arcade for about $99 a month before fees. Verizon keeps advertising for me to move to a newer plan because it's better and it'd cost me about $50 more to get all these features on the new plan.
Oh and Verizon is raising the price of a tablet add-on line from $10/month to $12.50/month as well. All told I'll be paying about $20-25 a month more due to these changes (though I may drop Apple Arcade altogether.)

 

[morphineseason]

Visible is a great prepaid option if you're looking to switch. It's basically same as Verizon (and owned by them), uses the same towers, etc. $25-45 a month depending on the plan/features you want, and they're offering $6 discount on all plans for your first year currently.

The only real catch is that their support is entirely chat-based on their app, which is fine because I rarely have issues (only instances I can think of is when Verizon had outages, ironically). I remember paying like $80-90...maybe more through Verizon for an individual plan, same exact service. Can't imagine ever going back to that.

 

[barnyard]

When perks as part of a bundle price are taken away, I expect carriers to reduce my price. When they don't, I leave them on principle.

 

[lostPod]

I still get Netflix (with ads) Hulu (with ads), Apple TV+ and MLB.tv for free through my T-Mobile plan. If I lost these benefits, I’d probably move to US Mobile.

Does T-Mobile still offer perks? I recall when I had T-Mobile the perks were great. I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon and now I’m on Spectrum. The first year my phone bill is only $10 a month unlimited using the Verizon towers

 

[Böhme417]

How about providers just lower their prices instead of adding in a bunch of perks to try and artificially offset their cost to customers?

I switched to PureTalk a while back and love it! Solid American company without all the frills that I don't want/need.

Verizon prefers to do the opposite. They remove perks and charge more.