100%. I always roll at my eyes at Apple fans who complain about subscriptions too. After all, it's Apple who basically transformed the software landscape into a subscription hellscape. Apple is the one who popularized subscriptions in the consumer market and made things like micro-payment play-to-win games not only possible, but pervasive. As you note, demanding a ridiculous cut of everything drove developers to stuff their games and apps with ads.
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Game Developers Describe 'Smell of Death' Around Apple Arcade
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I think the rub of it is that on mobile, Netflix Games is pretty aggressive in getting some solid titles (some that are even already on Apple Arcade) and Apple is not. Hard to entice keeping (or returning) to a subscription if its predominately all ages games.
What sucks is that Apple has helped some studios produce games that are AA exclusive or began as exclusive, but not enough to make it must have for gamers. Maybe one day Apple actually does treat video games with respect.
What sucks is that Apple has helped some studios produce games that are AA exclusive or began as exclusive, but not enough to make it must have for gamers. Maybe one day Apple actually does treat video games with respect.
Like Stadia. Google has cancelled so many products that few if any people trusted Stadia to last. Think my brother and I were quipping about it during the launch event.
I think Apple will keep Arcade but it's unlikely they're going to give the right people enough room and resources to make it more than it currently is.
Just following up, I remembered that the game featured during their largest marketing push was Sneaky Sasquatch. A pretty good game, has a lot of stuff you can do, pretty big overworld, very well supported long after release. Checks all the boxes. But it's like... fine. Ultimately it's a game where you have to go to work at your office job to make money in order to do any of the "fun" stuff. Wears pretty thin, pretty quick. Any of the other "good" games I've mentioned would do just as well to sell hardware, and are more engaging than Sneaky Sasquatch. This was back when it seemed as though Apple Arcade (assuming you had an apple tv) was aiming pretty close to console parity. Oceanhorn 2 is a perfect 1-to-1 Zelda clone. The Last Campfire and Samurai Jack are great but, like I said, you can get a better version of them on other platforms that come with a controller included.
I did some more research, and I was only further dismayed. A Monster's Expedition is one of the greatest games (maybe the best puzzle game) I've ever played. Removed from the service. Stela, ATONE, and Down In Bermuda, all of which did well to evoke some strong emotions in me as well as being very engaging and fun - removed from the service. Cat Quest 2, a delightful RPG (2P iirc!) on a service in desperate need of them - removed. Fallen Knight, which was kind of messed up and I didn't care for but they had the right idea of "we should make a 2D side scrolling action platformer" - removed. The Pathless, a gorgeous, juicy, wonderful game which would not have felt out of place on a modern console - removed. Any one of these games being no longer on the service is inexcusable. That all of these have seemingly been permanently erased from history is criminal. What the hell have I been paying for over the last five years. You really want me to play Hello Kitty Animal Crossing? You really want me to play Sponegbob Tennis? $4000 for an uncomfortable headset that lets me do three hours of spreadsheets and chores. Very funny. Joke's over now guys, come on, be serious. Be for ****ing real
I'm don't play video games, but if I did I don't think I would care much at all for Arcade. Most of the games look like cartoons for children.
There was Halo (almost...) and the Myth games from Bungie under Jobs. Not to mention Marathon. And the Unreal games up to and inckuding UT 2004.
And I remember Quake 3 came out as a Mac first preview or something. Which got Windows users was upset. Just like when the Arc browser was released for Mac first now last year (I think it was).
You mean ”nobody”.
Edit:
Wanted to add that Halo did come to Mac later (2003 I think) ported by Westlake Interactive. But the app is only 32 bit so can’t be ran beyond MacOS Mojave.
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What would go a long way with the gaming community is if Apple made emulators. Gaming emulators for PPC, 32bit Intel, early iOS and so on with formal commitments to keep them up to date.
I think there are good reasons for breaking away from 32-bit and PPC for software like web browsers and word processors but games need to be brought forward and be allowed to be played (without intervention from the producer) like movies and music.
Huh, could just be my demographics or my circle, but I don't know anyone who even knows what Apple Arcade is. My whole family uses Apple devices (including those outside of my household) and I just got a subscription to AA last month and was asking around if anyone wanted to jump on my family plan to use it. Had to explain it to everyone. Even my friends and colleagues don't know what it is. But according to their research, 10% of US consumers are using it all the time. So that is like 1/5 iPhone users. And that's just people that use it consistently, that doesn't include all the people that signed up for free trials, or stopped using it in the years it's been out. Either my anecdotal experience is way out of wack with the rest of the US, or this survey has something weird going on.Ahem...
"10% of US consumers use Apple Arcade weekly (MIDiA Research consumer survey Q4 2023). For context, this nearly matches that of Nintendo Switch Online or Steam (both at 11% in the US) and double Ubisoft+ (5%) or Nvidia’s GeForce Now (4%). Apple also has a number of Arcade originals."
For years, we said to take games efforts of these companies seriously – now they are serious players
MIDiA has always been bullish about traditionally non-gaming tech companies’ opportunity in games. The first time we wrote about Netflix’s opportunity in games was in 2017. We also wrote about the significance of Apple Arcade early on ( here , here , and reiterated reasons for the games industry...www.midiaresearch.com
How can Apple Arcade have the "smell of death" when its user base is only 1% lower than Steam?
I guess I'm one of the rare people who plays games on my Apple devices. I always have. Apple Arcade was a welcome alternative to all the pay-to-play crap in the app store. But in the last year it's hardly had any games of interest. And of those, few get regular updates. Honestly, I wouldn't still have it if it wasn't part of Apple Premier One. I still want it to succeed, so I hope Apple gets serious.
The only way Arcade makes sense is if they bring AAA titles to the iOS and macOS platforms. I would pay a subscription fee to get games I actually WANT to play on those devices, but sure as hell not for mobiles games I’d rather just outright buy if I have to rather than shelling out for an ongoing subscription.
Arcade is still decent, plenty of solid games. It started off good and even the breath of life they gave it a couple years ago made it clear theres lots of potential. Apples problem indeed is they just don’t have much of a passion for any type gaming (aside from their 30% cut from IAP garbage freemium games). There are so many simple things they could do to make Arcade a better experience. They have tons of power and clout if they wanted to use it.
I‘ve been saying for years they should bundle it with an Apple TV/controller/one year of Arcade for $200. Marketing is super simple since you can pick up and play on ANY apple device. I can literally see the commercial in my head.
I‘ve been saying for years they should bundle it with an Apple TV/controller/one year of Arcade for $200. Marketing is super simple since you can pick up and play on ANY apple device. I can literally see the commercial in my head.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
For the answer, adapt this little girls question asking her father if they are ever going to Disney World to Apple becoming a PC-like, gaming machine...
And why is that? Because the others- console makers and PC- take gaming very seriously and pushes LOTS of money in that direction... FOCUSED in that direction... to buy exclusives, subsidize development, buy whole studios, etc. Apple seems to sling some lip service and play on a "build it and they will come" mentality. Developers- exactly like Apple- simply go where they can make the most money. Who can blame them?
A few months ago there were multiple threads about Apple finally taking gaming seriously. Now we're back to "smell of death." This repeats every few years. The key problem is that the approach doesn't change: Apple doesn't want to put AppleTV+-like money and focus on gaming... so developers don't choose to code the big games for a niche platform, when they can make much more sure money developing for the established players... and then much more retail money because those markets are accustomed to paying more than $1 for big games. Us Apple people freak if a game is launched at $10 or more... we abhor in-app advertising... and rail hard against in-app purchases. In other words, we want AAA games for a $1.
It's also a bonus that the other guys won't opt to block sales of popular games and then attempt to wage legal war into oblivion over commissions on sales instead of make peace and be a good win:win partner so that your mutual customers can enjoy those games and you both can make some income from selling them.
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I seriously doubt this. Perhaps 10% of Apple Arcade subscribers use the service on a weekly basis, but 10% of US consumers being Apple Arcade subscribers?... that's impossible. I am not aware of anyone in my circle who subscribes to Apple Arcade or even has knowledge of its existence.Ahem...
"10% of US consumers use Apple Arcade weekly (MIDiA Research consumer survey Q4 2023). For context, this nearly matches that of Nintendo Switch Online or Steam (both at 11% in the US) and double Ubisoft+ (5%) or Nvidia’s GeForce Now (4%). Apple also has a number of Arcade originals."
For years, we said to take games efforts of these companies seriously – now they are serious players
MIDiA has always been bullish about traditionally non-gaming tech companies’ opportunity in games. The first time we wrote about Netflix’s opportunity in games was in 2017. We also wrote about the significance of Apple Arcade early on ( here , here , and reiterated reasons for the games industry...
How can Apple Arcade have the "smell of death" when its user base is only 1% lower than Steam?
You seem pretty confident. Better email the editors and let them know they've made a grave mistake with this article. All is well with Apple Arcade, both among users and developers. Apple brings the magic again!
Yeah you make a ton of valid points. From a technical perspective games look as they did nearly a decade ago….think about that. They brag and brag about how great these new chips are to run games that ran well on an iPhone 4! There’s no incentive anymore. Back in the golden age of mobile gaming (2008-2013), there were more risks, amazing graphics for the time on mobile. Fast forward 11 years and it’s still mostly the same stuff wrapped in different skins with 5 different in app currencies to purchase. All this because people thought $5 was too much for a game a decade ago. But will spend the same on a Latte.
I first blame consumers and then blame apple for just milking it with zero innovation/marketing/ambition.
In-App Purchases was the death of it all and that’s solely Apple’s pure greed tax
You're welcome to not use them, as should always be your choice. However, actions have reactions—don't be surprised if Apple, and developers, don't necessarily target your needs and wants as a customer.
It's a bit like the iPhone Mini: So huge was the silent majority apparently beating down the doors for a small phone, even Apple, the king of manufacturing demand, couldn't make a go of it. But sure, everyone is gonna cast off their phablets any day now just like subscription services are teetering on the edge of irrelevancy.
There isn't a smell test in the world that passes.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
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Apple could make a go of it. They failed. Biggest issue was price and battery life on the 12 mini. Apple needs to make their 250% margin on everything