Apple Arcade: The Complete Guide

[MacRumors]

Apple in September 2019 launched its subscription gaming service, Apple Arcade, allowing App Store users to pay a $4.99 monthly fee to get access to hundreds of games that have no in-app purchases or additional costs. This guide features everything you need to know about Apple Arcade.

What is Apple Arcade?

Apple Arcade is Apple's premium subscription gaming service that lets users download and play included games for one monthly fee with no added costs.

What's Apple Arcade cost?

Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month with a free trial available to test it out. Apple has a one-year subscription option available for $49.99 per year, a savings of $9.89 over the month to month payment price. Apple also often offers extended trials for those who purchase new devices and through partnerships with carriers like Verizon.

Is Family Sharing included?

Yes. A single $4.99 Apple Arcade subscription lets up to six family members access games. You just need to set up Family Sharing, which requires all family members to have the same credit card associated with their Apple IDs.

What games are included?

Apple has teamed up with both indie developers and big-name gaming companies to create "new and exclusive" games for the Apple Arcade service. Almost the content that is released through Apple Arcade is freshly created for Apple Arcade, with the exception of the classic titles that Apple has revamped.

Apple worked with Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, LEGO, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games and many other developers for Apple Arcade games.

Apple has been steadily adding new titles to Apple Arcade on a regular basis, so there are now over 200 games to play. This includes original titles, along with many classic games like Fruit Ninja, Monument Valley, Threes, and more. On occasion, Apple also retires underperforming games.

Where can I find Apple Arcade games?

Apple added an Apple Arcade tab to the App Store where you can find all of the games included in the Apple Arcade service. Apple's App Store editors highlights different titles, make suggestions for you, and help you find new games to play.

Are there ads?

Nope. Apple Arcade is a play all you want subscription service with no additional in-app purchases or costs to unlock content. Since there are no ads, there's also no ad tracking, so user privacy is protected. All future upgrades and content additions are also included in the subscription price.

Will Apple Arcade games be able to be purchased separately?

No. Apple Arcade games are available in the iOS App Store only through Apple Arcade and cannot be purchased individually without an Apple Arcade subscription. Some of these games are also available on consoles, however.

Can Apple Arcade games be played offline?

Yep. Apple lets you download these games and play them even without a cellular or WiFi connection. Apple Arcade games are downloaded just like any other game in the App Store, just through the Apple Arcade tab.

What devices can Apple Arcade games be played on?

Apple Arcade games will work on the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Macs. The games are supported by Made for iPhone game controllers along with PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Apple built controller support into tvOS 13, iOS 13, and iPadOS 13, so iOS/tvOS/iPadOS 13 or later is required if you want to use a controller with Apple Arcade.

Because multiple platforms are supported, you can start a game on one device and then swap over to another without losing your place. So if you want to play a title on Mac and then take it on the go on your iPhone, you can do so.

What countries is Apple Arcade available in?

Apple Arcade is available in more than 150 countries. Basically, any country with an App Store available has access to Apple Arcade titles.

When did Apple Arcade launch?

Apple Arcade officially launched on September 19, 2019 alongside iOS 13, and it is available on all later versions of iOS as well. Apple Arcade games can be accessed on iOS devices, Macs, and the Apple TV.

Free Trial

Apple offers a free trial to test out Apple Arcade before paying for a subscription. It's worth noting that if the trial is canceled before the expiration date is up, it will end immediately on the date of cancelation. That means if you want to try it for the maximum amount of time without paying, you should wait until the end of the trial to cancel.

Hands-On With Apple Arcade

We tested out Apple Arcade, so if you want to get a little taste of what it's like before signing up, make sure to check out our video.

Guide Feedback

See something we left out of our Apple Arcade guide or have a question not answered here? Let us know in the comments or Send us an email here.

Article Link: Apple Arcade: The Complete Guide

 

[Logic368]

My bet is they release a stand-alone VR headset when they release this service.

 

[StellarVixen]

None of the titles mentioned here are worth my time. I've thought Arcade would be the cloud game streaming service like Google Stadia, GeForce Now...etc? This is stupid.

 

[Khedron]

Since there are no ads, there's also no ad tracking, so user privacy is protected.

Isn't every second you spend in every game being tracked to determine payment sharing?

 

[tubular]

Not for the upcoming iPod? I’d figured this is what had resurrected it.

 

[jclo]

Isn't every second you spend in every game being tracked to determine payment sharing?

Probably, but it's not being shared with third-party companies or used for ad tracking, according to Apple. Not sure how revenue sharing for the Arcade service works yet.

 

[GregJohn]

I’m actually kind of excited for this

 

[chumps52]

Anyone know what happens to the updates tab?

 

[macfacts]

Wake me up when there are $60 AAA games that can compete with console games.

 

[err404]

This is an interesting idea that could enable mobile gaming to reach the potential that died so long ago. Funding models made mobile gaming a joke due to IAP currencies and quickly abandoned premium titles.
Apple Arcade addresses both of these problems by making all games “premium” with a funding model that encourages extended support post launch.
The questions will come around how this is curated.

 

[kwikdeth]

Wake me up when there are $60 AAA games that can compete with console games.

Sleep well, Rip Van Winkle.

 

[Khedron]

Wake me up when there are $60 AAA games that can compete with console games.

Sounds like a Twilight Zone episode. You finally wake up and there are lots of AAA games but you're now the only human left, and you don't know the wifi password.

 

[now i see it]

$9.99 is my guess. Add it to the stack.
Boy... $120/yr for 100 unproven games written from the ground up.

 

[racerhomie]

I cannot wait for this.
[doublepost=1553630497][/doublepost]

$9.99 is my guess. Add it to the stack.
Boy... $120/yr for 100 unproven games written from the ground up.

If you don’t like it, don’t get it. Apple isn’t forcing you to get it.

 

[eoblaed]

Apple is subsidizing many of these games and contributing to the development costs to create them.

No wonder so many of those developers on the video during the presentation were saying things like “we’d never have been able to develop this without Apple Arcade”.

I think I like the idea of game studios being able to go above and beyond due to subsidized assistance.

 

[Schizoid]

And the controller is?...

 

[GeneralChang]

None of the titles mentioned here are worth my time. I've thought Arcade would be the cloud game streaming service like Google Stadia, GeForce Now...etc? This is stupid.

Cloud? There is no such thing. The thing you call "cloud" is just someone else's computer...

 

[eoblaed]

None of the titles mentioned here are worth my time. I've thought Arcade would be the cloud game streaming service like Google Stadia, GeForce Now...etc? This is stupid.

Just because it’s something you don’t see value in doesn’t mean it’s stupid.

I have zero need or desire for the services you mentioned, but I can see how others might.

The Arcade concept, though, I especially with Apple funding some of the development effort of those games, is something I can definitely see myself taking advantage of.

Not stupid, just not for you.

 

[Sethal]

Although there’s plenty of people that this will appeal to, there’s another plenty that this is useless to. It’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out. News+ will probably fail, TV+ looks nothing like a “Netflix killer” at all. That said, out of all of the services announced, Arcade is the only one I can see surviving. If priced right.

 

[StellarVixen]

Cloud? There is no such thing. The thing you call "cloud" is just someone else's computer...

Yes, since it is a little bit expensive to upgrade hardware every two years to play newest titles (and the price of hardware keeps climbing), I can as well borrow someone else's computer. For a small fee, of course.

 

[blacktape242]

Ill tell you what I know so far....i'm not interested at all and never will be. I have NO real interest in anything they pushed in yesterdays crap fest..

 

[anson42]

Ill tell you what I know so far....i'm not interested at all and never will be. I have NO real interest in anything they pushed in yesterdays crap fest..

Nothing at all? That's too bad. I found a lot of it interesting, already signed up for News+, read a bunch of stuff, and will probably trial the games when Arcade is released.

 

[timborama]

I cannot wait for this.
[doublepost=1553630497][/doublepost]
If you don’t like it, don’t get it. Apple isn’t forcing you to get it.

Yet. But rest assured you WILL be bombarded with banners, alerts, etc “encouraging” you to sign up.

 

[Kaibelf]

Wake me up when there are $60 AAA games that can compete with console games.

Yeah who needs indie games when you can just buy more "AAA" titles like Fallout76, Anthem, yet another CoD skin, Farcry, (ALL of which were terribly received) or one of the various $100+ editions of whatever "AAA" title is about to come out that includes all the missing story you get dinged for above that $60 in the form of DLC?

 

[Spendlove]

The post apocalypse game looked interesting but not worth a years subscription at god knows what Apple price they pull out of thin air.