On iOS you simply cannot publish a game, or an app, independently.
This is not just just a 30% issue.
Imagine I intended to publish a game, or an App, criticizing China, even mildly. This game will never be published on the App Store, because Apple has business interests in China. And this is ok and understandable.
However, in this case, because the App Store is the one and only way to get software on an iOS device, as a developer, I am encouraged to avoid sensitive topics and taking risk, because if I am out...I am out. For good.
I've subscribed to Apple Arcade since day one, but candidly, I tune any game out immediately when I open the app and there's some high production, thematic video / cut scenes, followed by lots of narrative to get through. That seems to be the bulk of the new selections that get added the last several months. Certainly, I can appreciate the skill and vision of the developers and artists -- but they just are not fun to me.
I just want to play something mindless and move on with my day after the distraction -- without having to deal with ads popping up ever 30 seconds. Maybe it's just time for me to admit to myself I'm not the target audience for Arcade...
Many people don't get the big picture. If Apple changes their App Store rules a bit, we can have apps like Xbox Cloud, Stadia, PS Now, Kindle with the store builtin, Comixology with the store, etc. Many apps are currently crippled or not on the store due to the policies.But Epic's whole thing is customer choice and then they sign these exclusive deals that tie games to one store. On top of that Epic doesn't allow all games on their store, which means that you can't launch on Epic unless Epic agrees. So in addition to them forcing timed exclusives if they think your game is good they have repeatedly forced developers to delay competing store launches even after customers have paid for the game on that platform.
And it's not like they don't have multiple PC game stores to launch on. Steam, GOG, and Windows are huge popular stores. uPlay and Origin allow non-Ubisoft and non-EA games on their stores. Options exist for the policy you want.
Maybe exclusives are good. Maybe not. But Epic isn't doing themselves any favors by screaming that about customer choice and than locking games behind their ironically insecure and incomplete launcher.
Looks like a nice game. So far I’ve been really enjoying Arcade. Some pretty nice games, especially for the kids.
I think video gaming is in some sort of awkward teen era of taking themselves rather too seriously. The soundtrack, the attempts at meaningful drama when the character - - pulls a chain and lights a lamp. Ahhh, ok. That changed my life. I just came back to this comment. I feel I need to add - yes the game looks beautiful and I respect the time and effort put into such things. But it seems rather a cliche that is divorced from some sort of meaningful resonance for a player. Cliched? Trying too hard? I don't know...I don't mean to bitc* about the ELEMENTS and the effort. But too many games lately feel like they want us to go breathless into an 'adventure' that is not an adventure in any sense of the word and be overcome with emotion because of shadows or reflections. Those are things that enhance visual storytelling but in and of themselves are not meaningful.
PS: I wonder if it's a teen phase, or a hipster one? =)
On a PC, if Epic wants me out, I can try to publish on Steam. In the worst case I can publish on my own website. There is always an alternative.
Oh Apple.
It’s like they’re run by people who are over the hill with their best days behind them.
the hardware is good.
Mac OS is mostly good.
Apple Music is average since they webified it.
everyting else is bland.
FYI. This is another game that Epic paid to not be released on Steam.
It's all about consumer choice. Remember?
I think you are confounding exclusivity with monopoly. There is no problem with content being exclusive for one platform. No one complains that For all mankind is available on Apple TV+ only or iMessage being apple only, This is annoying for consumers but legitimate behaviour. The problem is that apple doesn't allow competitors to publish on their system, unless they pay an unacceptable cut, or prevents services from working on iOS that would compete with their own, such as xCloud
Personally, I've always been glad that Apple didn't want to go the "me too" route with Arcade. The selection of games has reminded of the early days of video gaming in terms of having a much wider variety of themes and styles. The obsession with realism for style and grim/gritty for theme on PC and consoles has limited some of the creativity, IMO.
Many people don't get the big picture. If Apple changes their App Store rules a bit, we can have apps like Xbox Cloud, Stadia, PS Now, Kindle with the store builtin, Comixology with the store, etc. Many apps are currently crippled or not on the store due to the policies.
Everyone wins if the policies are modified. Apple would still make plenty of money. Right now, they are just being stubborn.