Apple Offering Up to 3 Free Months of Apple Arcade With Holiday Gift Card Purchase

[MacRumors]

Apple is offering U.S. customers who purchase and redeem an Apple Gift Card three months of free access to Apple Arcade. Holiday gift card purchases made before January 6, 2026 are eligible for the Apple Arcade trial, as long as the card is redeemed by January 13, 2026.

The offer is available to new or qualified returning Apple Arcade subscribers, but it is not an option for existing Apple Arcade subscribers. New subscribers can try Apple Arcade for three months, while returning subscribers get two months of access.

There is no minimum denomination required for the gift card purchase, and the gift card can be acquired from the Apple retail store or Apple online store. Apple gift cards from third-party retailers or new value added to an Apple Account balance are not eligible for the Apple Arcade trial. Only one trial per Apple Account is available.

Apple will provide the bonus code immediately after gift card redemption to an Apple Account balance. An Apple Account with a payment method on file is required, and the plan will automatically renew at $6.99 per month unless it is canceled.

Apple Arcade is Apple's subscription gaming service, offering over 200 games with no in-app fees or ads. Up to six family members can access Apple Arcade with a single subscription.

Article Link: Apple Offering Up to 3 Free Months of Apple Arcade With Holiday Gift Card Purchase

 

[Apple247]

Everyone remain calm! There's enough 3 Free Months of Apple Arcade for everybody.

 

[t0rqx]

Today I learned there is such a service.

 

[Donkey Man]

Just give it up, Apple - seriously. Bury that corpse already.

 

[DribbleCastle]

Great service if you have kids with devices. I've purchased it on/off but mostly have lived off free trials and promos like this.

Looks like the lowest denomination you can buy is $10. So effectively, you can get $14+tax or $21+tax worth of value for free. Then, if you already have Apple subscriptions (ie, iCloud), you can just use the $10 credit for that easily if you don't continue with Apple Arcade.

 

[eclipse01]

Great service if you have kids with devices. I've purchased it on/off but mostly have lived off free trials and promos like this.

Yup this, I only have this for my toddler, there has never been anything worth while for me to play? I get more excitement out of the Netflix games releases

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Lose the three months of Apple Arcade and you got yourself a deal.

 

[coolfactor]

Just give it up, Apple - seriously. Bury that corpse already.

Apple Arcade provides supportive compensation for fledging game developers.

It's not trying to be the Xbox and Playstation platforms of the world. Quality over Quantity is the emphasis.

Isn't it much more pleasant to play games without intrusive ads, and pressure to buy stuff after every gameplay? That, alone, is a huge market.

 

[kenta_]

Apple Arcade provides supportive compensation for fledging game developers.

It's not trying to be the Xbox and Playstation platforms of the world. Quality over Quantity is the emphasis.

Isn't it much more pleasant to play games without intrusive ads, and pressure to buy stuff after every gameplay? That, alone, is a huge market.

Or the fledgling game developers could just sell their games for a one-time price with no IAP, no subscriptions, etc! I’d gladly support them if that were the case. What a novel concept.

 

[Plutonius]

It seems to be a good deal if you were planning on getting Apple Arcade.

Otherwise, it's doubtful to me that many people would buy a Apple gift card just to get Apple Arcade for free for three months.

 

[applefan8254]

Get Set Games / Mega Run should be part of it. If that means we can't play it without arcade, then I would take back what I just said. I just feel that mega run is a quality title that should be seen by more and promoted by apple arcade. The sprites, the gameplay, the early 2010s aura, I think it's a good thing overall. And while it has been re-released on iOS, I think it's a good enough title to be promoted on Apple arcade as well. I would hope that along with that, the game could have a resurgence and even hopefully have more levels, worlds and features added on in the future. Another thing it reminds me of is the tommy sparks "next level fun" iPod touch ad. Miss that early 2010s marketing style as Nintendo Wii /iPod touch were coming of age.