Apple Acquires Gaming Studio RAC7

[MacRumors]

Apple has purchased game studio RAC7, according to a report from Digital Trends. RAC7 is a small, two-person company that developed Apple Arcade game Sneaky Sasquatch, and the acquisition was confirmed by an Apple spokesperson.

From Digital Trends:

We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the 2-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us. We will continue to deliver a great experience for Apple Arcade players with hundreds of games from many of the best game developers in the world.

RAC7 will become an internal game studio within Apple, and Apple purchased the company to help Sneaky Sasquatch continue to grow on Apple Arcade. Sneaky Sasquatch was one of the first games to launch on Apple Arcade when the service went live, and it has continued to be popular with subscribers.

Apple already works with developers and game companies to create titles for Apple Arcade, but this is the company's first game studio acquisition. Digital Trends notes that Apple does not appear to be implementing a new gaming strategy, describing the RAC7 acquisition as a unique situation.

Apple Arcade is Apple's subscription gaming service, priced at $6.99 per month. Apple Arcade has hundreds of games, with no additional subscription fees or in-app purchases.

Article Link: Apple Acquires Gaming Studio RAC7

 

[Naraxus]

This means nothing if they don't get AAA titles

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Typical Tim Cook acquisition. He literally has no vision whatsoever.

 

[klasma]

This means nothing if they don't get AAA titles

Apple Arcade Acquisition?

 

[tomtad]

Are we finally getting a new Texas Hold ‘Em (currently Apple's only game) ?

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

I wouldn't read too much into this. RAC7 is literally 2 people. This is probably nothing more than a hiring process with extra steps.

 

[tomtad]

This means nothing if they don't get AAA titles

Not sure I quite agree. There's a huge market for more casual games, not everything has to be AAA

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

“Apple has purchased Take Two, will release GTA VI next week.”

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple has purchased game studio RAC7, according to a report from Digital Trends. RAC7 is a small, two-person company that developed Apple Arcade game Sneaky Sasquatch

Tim Cook says Apple is serious about gaming, Yeti makes a strange purchase like this.

 

[firstcitazen]

Next time buy a Bethesda or Blizzard.....

 

[DocMultimedia]

It does have 214k reviews with a 4.9 rating. Certainly seems popular.

 

[klasma]

I wouldn't read too much into this. RAC7 is literally 2 people. This is probably nothing more than a hiring process with extra steps.

The game in question was the #1 Apple Arcade game in 2020 in the US, and seems to have remained successful. Apple is probably trying to keep them Apple-exclusive.

 

[mentaluproar]

Not sure I quite agree. There's a huge market for more casual games, not everything has to be AAA

exactly. all the good stuff is indie anymore.

 

[dumastudetto]

I'm excited to see what Apple does with this.

 

[ejbenjamin]

I am shocked that Sneaky Sasquatch was made by such a small team. That game is basically Grand Theft Auto for kids. There's a ton of things to do, it can be very funny, my kids love it.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I am shocked that Sneaky Sasquatch was made by such a small team. That game is basically Grand Theft Auto for kids. There's a ton of things to do, it can be very funny, my kids love it.

That’s impressive with two people.

 

[satchmo]

I wonder how much they were acquired for.

Would it be in the million dollar range?

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

The game in question was the #1 Apple Arcade game in 2020 in the US, and seems to have remained successful. Apple is probably trying to keep them Apple-exclusive.

That's pretty much what I was getting at. These comments are going to be filled with people saying that this move won't solve Apple's gaming woes (see below), when in reality it's just a small move to keep a successful indie dev in their stable.

Typical Tim Cook acquisition. He literally has no vision whatsoever.

 

[Piggie]

Really going to push the top of the line iPad's with M4 chips to their very limits

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

This means nothing if they don't get AAA titles

Eh. Not that I feel this studio will be golden, but many of the best games (sales or actual game) have been indie and AA titles.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I absolutely love this game and how it means the guys at RAC7 got paid!

 

[klasma]

That's pretty much what I was getting at. These comments are going to be filled with people saying that this move won't solve Apple's gaming woes (see below), when in reality it's just a small move to keep a successful indie dev in their stable.

Well, FWIW I still think that moves like this won’t solve Apple’s gaming woes, and that Tim Cook lacks the right vision.

 

[m1mini]

“Apple has purchased Take Two, will release GTA VI next week.”

If Apple wants people to take gaming on Mac seriously, they should actually buy Take-Two and bring GTA 6 to Apple Silicon. Imagine m1 running it at 720p 30fps and m2 pro at 900p 60fps m3 pro at 1080p 60fps with rt etc etc. They can even bundle it with Macs. GTA alone is enough they don’t even need other games. A lot of people would buy the Mac just for that. They got enough cash in hand to buy take two even at a premium

 

[TechnoMonk]

I wonder how much they were acquired for.

Would it be in the million dollar range?

I would guess Few millions. 6-8X their annual Revenue.

 

[Naraxus]

Next time buy a Bethesda or Blizzard.....

I doubt Microsoft would sell Blizzard, esp to Apple.