Apple's New 'Games' App Brings Game Center, Library, and Arcade Together

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced an all-new Games app, introducing a unified destination for gaming on Apple devices.

The app features a personalised home view that highlights updates, events, and tailored game recommendations. A Library tab shows all the games a user has ever downloaded from the App Store, allowing them to jump back into any title instantly. Apple Arcade now has its own dedicated tab within the app.

A new Play Together tab lets users see what their friends are playing, compare scores and achievements, invite friends to multiplayer games, and issue challenges. These challenges are built on top of Game Center leaderboards, enabling single-player games to become competitive experiences among friends.

Apple noted that over half a billion people play games on iPhone, and the new app is designed to help them get more out of their games, rediscover favourites, find new ones, and have more fun with friends.

Article Link: Apple's New 'Games' App Brings Game Center, Library, and Arcade Together

 

[mansplains]

Noticed a lack of Fortnite in the presentation

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get Mega Run Redford's Adventure and ninjatown Trees of Doom back on iOS ? Thank you

 

[DocMultimedia]

Glad I'm not a child who sits around playing video games all day. Posting on forums is far more entertaining. 😀

 

[macduke]

My hope is that this will help surface more games for more people. It has been difficult to get traction for my game as a new indie developer.

 

[damienDevZ]

I’m excited to try this out.

 

[NeoSe7en]

I’m hoping this is customizable to show the games you play often in a Favorites section. I was to be able to easily find everything there and wipe the individual game icons from my Home Screen.

 

[svish]

Have to try it out. But wish there are new games that are added to Arcade. Overall the new app seems to be ok.

 

[Mr.Mozi]

So the classic Game Center wasn’t that bad after all

 

[kurtfoster]

Hopefully there’s a way to disable this. Since I originally signed into Game Center accidentally when it first came out, I’ve been periodically looking for ways to completely disable that “feature”. I guess I’m the small percentage of people who do not want any of that crap on my device.

 

[JosephAW]

Hopefully they’ll be a toggle button to disable all the suggestions and button for Apple Arcade for those of us that don’t subscribe.

 

[CasinoOwl]

"favourites"? How British.

 

[iDento]

Inzoi is coming to macOS 🥲

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

Having learned that Amanita Games no longer has a close relationship to Apple anymore, I feel Apple is not completely focused on developer relations outside of the big titans like Capcom

Regardless of what they do, I think that will be the biggest hindrance to Apple and gaming.

 

[Appleman3546]

Looks like an Xbox dashboard competitor, especially since Xbox is releasing its own handheld software

 

[pacorob]

I’m hoping this is customizable to show the games you play often in a Favorites section. I was to be able to easily find everything there and wipe the individual game icons from my Home Screen.

I sure hope as well this new app can be used for various purposes and has customization so that you can:
- use as a game launcher since e.g. Backbone app still doesn't allow an option to create your own favorite list(s) as Razer Nexus app does (which partly works with a Backbone, since it only works partly the last step to launch a game doesn't work with the Backbone controller you have to tap on the screen while it does work with Razer) and abxy game (does support launching with Backbone, however very limited game catalog and no way to add almost all games via share sheet.
- customize what is shown in the 'Games app' (by e.g removing 'promoted games', 'new games we love, apple arcade, play together')
- show one or more customizable 'Favorites' list(s)
- have landscape mode both on iPhone and iPad (according to screenshots and another user it does support this).
- use with controller (is supported according to Apple's presentation, although not visible in the App Store in the places where you would expect this to see)
- launch games from the app (should be the case)

I hope to try it out when the official iOS26 launches later this year.

 

[slkjflla]

Do you still buy games in the regular App Store or are they now available in the Games App?

 

[pacorob]

Do you still buy games in the regular App Store or are they now available in the Games App?

You will still buy games in the 'regular' App Store. You can launch games via the Games app if you want (or directly from e.g. home screen).