At the end of March, Apple introduced Arcade, a subscription gaming service. The idea is related to the service Xbox Game Pass from Microsoft: for a fixed monthly fee, subscribers (owners of Apple devices) get unlimited access to high-end mobile games that work both under iOS and Apple TV, and under macOS.
The company aims to bring as many quality games to its service as possible, but how far is it willing to go? According to Financial Times whistleblowers, the stakes are quite high. Apple is said to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars β estimated to be over $500 million already β to get projects of interest to appear on Arcade.
The company reportedly spends several million on a single game and offers additional bonuses if developers are willing to make their projects a temporary exclusive to its platforms. In other words, the game should not appear for a while, neither on Android, nor on game consoles, nor on Windows.
If the information is correct, then the company is serious about the matter: it is about half of the $1 billion that Apple has allocated for the production and purchase of exclusives for its Apple TV+ streaming service. That kind of spending isn't unbelievable, though: a paid game subscription service just won't work unless it has a fair selection of good deals to draw people in (and preferably exclusives).
Apple Arcade aims to revive interest in paid mobile games in the era of free projects relying on ads and micropayments. The service could also help Apple solidify its grip on Android and give macOS owners more choice. Therefore, the current considerable spending by Apple can pay off handsomely in the future.
In addition, the Cupertino company itself does not hide the fact that it actively invests in the creation of projects and gives money to those developers who are interested in it (of course, under certain conditions, including temporary or full exclusivity): βApple has teamed up with the creators of the most advanced games to open up the possibilities of a completely new level. We work with the true visionaries of the industry and help them make the games they dreamed of making. Now it's all real."
Initially, this fall, Apple is promising over 100 new and exciting games to be available to Arcade subscribers. They can be downloaded directly from the Apple Store, and then played even in the absence of an Internet connection (in story projects). The subscription provides access for six family members. The cost has not yet been announced. You can learn more about some of the upcoming entertainment on the official Arcade page.
Source: 3dnews.ru