Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If it was 50% off In-App Purchases, they'll sell a ton of these. Almost all gaming revenue is found via IAP on the back-end. Very few games make their first million on the initial purchase since most games are free. It's IAP that's the money maker so if Apple isn't doing anything with that, I don't really see a point.
 
Other than credit card processing what service is Apple providing? Office 365 is a service. Creative Cloud is a service. If Apple was regularly updating iWork for iCloud and charging for it that would be a service. Taking 30% of someone paying to unlock a level in a game or remove ads isn’t a service.
If you don't like it, don't subscribe to the service.

Again, no one cares. Apple is consolidating a package of stuff you want for a price. They don't need to create their own games for a gaming service.

Ever heard of Netflix? They contract with tons of content providers and provide it to you in a bundle for one low monthly fee. They make some of their own content, but most of it is just repackaged shows from other networks brought to you by Netflix.

People want convenience. If Apple becomes the Netflix of gaming, it will obviously be huge. They have the network of devices, now they want to monetize it. If it sucks, no one will buy it. Welcome to business.
 
apple is getting drunk. they are entering territory that they don't know what to do in. pippen was not a good look.
 
  • Like
Reactions: apolloa
So is Apple actually going to be funding the development of games or are they just going to bundle a bunch of existing games together and charge for it?

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to call all these things services when there’s very little service that Apple is providing. Take games with IAP for example. Like a game that allows you to pay for more coins, or to unlock additional levels. Outside of processing credit card transactions for the IAP what service is Apple providing? And does Apple really want to be bragging about increasing revenues from people paying $9.99 to get additional dice rolls or to unlock a feature?

I’m all for Apple looking into meaningful services they can provide (and charge for) but they need to meaningful and something where Apple is actually providing a service. To me a subscription gaming service seems like nothing more than a cash grab.
Plenty of other companies and industries do this all the time. Heck, half of BB is leased out to Kitchen remodelers and cell phone carriers. BB role in all of this is getting the customer.
 
because Apple is so known as the gaming capital of the world!
They weren't known for music until they made iTunes, weren't known for phones until the iPhone, weren't known for ... yeah you get the idea.

Truth is there isn't a great dominant streaming platform for games. They are already starting a movie service, have music already and opened up their services to various TV manufacturers. If they pull this off and we see BIG games on the platform, it'll be a winner
 
apple is getting drunk. they are entering territory that they don't know what to do in. pippen was not a good look.

Well the Newton wasn't exactly product of the year either, but they did pretty OK with the iPad.

Not sure you can judge Apple's current endeavours against their past failures in the '90s. They cause a radical change to every market they enter.
 
Apple has no competency or capability in this area, but if it means they'd start actively discriminating against in-app purchasing lootbox mechanics in the app store then this would at least achieve something.
Huh? Sure they do. They have a flourishing App store, great relationships with gaming app developers, already have millions of Apple TVs, iPhones, iPads, etc out there and opened up their services to various TV manufacturers. They simply need more content, an easy way to play and the right price.
 
These days everybody wants to put you on monthly payment: car lease, antivirus, adblockers, office, music, movies, books, games. What else am I gonna be offered? Subcribtion for using my keyboard? No thank you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeanlain
If you don't like it, don't subscribe to the service.

Again, no one cares. Apple is consolidating a package of stuff you want for a price. They don't need to create their own games for a gaming service.

Ever heard of Netflix? They contract with tons of content providers and provide it to you in a bundle for one low monthly fee. They make some of their own content, but most of it is just repackaged shows from other networks brought to you by Netflix.

People want convenience. If Apple becomes the Netflix of gaming, it will obviously be huge. They have the network of devices, now they want to monetize it. If it sucks, no one will buy it. Welcome to business.
I guess. If Apple now wants to be the company that just re-packages other people’s stuff and charges you $15/month for it they can but it’s not very exciting. I wonder if this service would still include all the IAP garbage found in games now?
 
  • Like
Reactions: WatchFromAfar
It's gonna be ugly for many when we reach Peak Subscription and the dominoes start falling. We'll see if Apple is one of few left standing (as a main player) when it all shakes out. They'll have to make some key acquisitions.
Unlike everybody else, Apple could potentially be the closest thing to a one stop shop
 
Yes whenever people think gaming they think they need an apple product
iOS is the big money-making platform with respect to gaming on mobile devices so why not?

So is Apple actually going to be funding the development of games or are they just going to bundle a bunch of existing games together and charge for it?

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to call all these things services when there’s very little service that Apple is providing. Take games with IAP for example. Like a game that allows you to pay for more coins, or to unlock additional levels. Outside of processing credit card transactions for the IAP what service is Apple providing? And does Apple really want to be bragging about increasing revenues from people paying $9.99 to get additional dice rolls or to unlock a feature?

I’m all for Apple looking into meaningful services they can provide (and charge for) but they need to meaningful and something where Apple is actually providing a service. To me a subscription gaming service seems like nothing more than a cash grab.
Think of it like Steam for iOS
 
I guess. If Apple now wants to be the company that just re-packages other people’s stuff and charges you $15/month for it they can but it’s not very exciting. I wonder if this service would still include all the IAP garbage found in games now?
Is Netflix exciting? That's their entire business. It's also worth a fortune.

If Apple does a TV/Gaming service, it will likely be a rounding error to their entire business and will just be thrown into their service revenue.

They are doing it to create a reliance on the ecosystem. Going to other places for your services is a pain, so people would rather just stick with Apple. It's easy, painless, and everything is there for them. That has value.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bayelrey80
I guess. If Apple now wants to be the company that just re-packages other people’s stuff and charges you $15/month for it they can but it’s not very exciting. I wonder if this service would still include all the IAP garbage found in games now?

Only if you buy the highest subscription tier price! Only $99 a month.
 
Ah! What we’re witnessing before our eyes is the beginning of Apple slowly transitioning into a software and services company instead of a hardware/software/services company.

All hail the new Microsoft! Woohoo!!
I think they're hoping for a synergy between the software and the hardware that will lead to revenue growth on both sides. Reviving the iPod may be a sign of that. We shall see. It will be interesting to see how it all works out.
 
I'm not sure what to think.

I have been hoping that Apple would start expressing more interest in gaming on the ATV(or more interest in the ATV in general), but I have doubts about this gaming subscription.

If the rumor is true, I have doubts that it will extend to the ATV, and even if it does, I have doubts that it will incentivize devo to make quality games for tvOS.

I am hoping though, just like I have been since the rumors of ATV4 started.
 
I'm not sure what to think.

I have been hoping that Apple would start expressing more interest in gaming on the ATV(or more interest in the ATV in general), but I have doubts about this gaming subscription.

If the rumor is true, I have doubts that it will extend to the ATV, and even if it does, I have doubts that it will incentivize devo to make quality games for tvOS.

I am hoping though, just like I have been since the rumors of ATV4 started.

This is most likely Apple just giving game devs a subscription platform to sell their games on. I doubt there is any new renewed interest in gaming within the Mothership.
 
Apple seems to be moving away from being an innovator. People call this "services revenue" but we all know what it really is: a middle man. Was this Steve Jobs dream?

I don't know - as a developer, this sounds like it could be a really good idea. I want to develop games, but I don't right now... as Nintendo has shown, it doesn't matter how good your game is, Freemium is the only viable model right now. One time fees just don't work on iOS like they do on consoles.

I think a Spotify like model could work really well. Charge customers $10/month, and divvy up the profits based on how many hours customers spend in each participating game. Developers actually get paid proportional to how many hours customers want to sink into their game, not based on how aggressively they could market the game (maximizing the one time purchases like on consoles) or how many people with problems they could take advantage of (the freemium model.)

I could put my arcade style games on iOS. They don't do well at $1, but the people who get them play the crap out of them. But ads turn it into a lousy experience, and turn it into a weird experience where they won't pay to remove the ads...
 
  • Like
Reactions: macduke
Using anything these days is heading to "leasing" mode. I guess the video game platforms are the leaders in this - small drops of blood.

Microsoft's software (rental) program, Google's computing mode that is off-site for the programs/OS, etc. are making for a lot of revenue. Same thing with streaming services - little hardware/infrastructure as of old, a newer system that is cheaper and central in maintenance, is the route to not just services now.

Soon, the smartphones will be available only for lease - the way the prices are headed, that would be the only way we can use these candy-bar phones.

Wonder how many people add up all their subscription services and see the cost in B/W in their budgets.

Well certain things in subscription service makes sense. For example Netflix, Hulu. Amazon can replace my cable so I compare price on all 3 of them to cable bill.
Car leasing is nonsense. You loose money.
Phone leasing is also nonsense. You can buy your phone and keep it and you save money.
Leasing apps is also pointless unless it’s required for you to do your job.

I actually have very few subscription services. Amazon, WSJ, iCloud and MS Office. I cancelled music, Hulu, Sling, Netflix after I got a better deal on cable TV although that may change when I move again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KPandian1
Putting aside that Apple has yet to show any competence in gaming, I don't think a Netflix-model for games is really that appealing because people don't consume games the same way they consume movies, shows or music.

I recently heard about Fortnight. Apparently, the bandwidth used by it is beating Netflix into the ground.
 
This news is strikingly similar to that one (Brexit related) of the British Government hiring a company to do ferry service despite having no boats, experience or whatsoever.
 
So now we know why they denied Steam on iOS and Apple TV so strongly.

Valve was suppose to resubmit it to Apple but without the Steam Store built in, but’s it been almost a year...
 
  • Like
Reactions: macfacts
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.