The ever evolving Apple ecosystem is about to add an exciting new branch known as Apple Arcade.
Apple Arcade will be the first ever mobile gaming subscription. The service will feature over 100 games at launch and will be available right on Apple’s App Store. Apple is pulling a lot of resources to ensure they stake a claim on a
Hand held gaming is nothing new, but smartphones have completely changed the way people view handheld gaming. Long gone are the days of the Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Vita. While many hardcore gamers are still purchasing hybrid mobile devices like the Nintendo Switch, that audience is niche compared to the hundreds of millions of people that all have smartphones in their pocket. Many of them are already gamers and just don’t want to carry another device with them from day to day. Apple Arcade looks to be an easy way to incorporate an immersive gaming experience into your daily commute on your iPhone or iPad.
Apple is partnering with experienced video game developers from legendary franchises like FInal Fantasy to bring real stories and immersion to handheld gaming. They want to buck the trend of monetized click bait games whose intentions are to steal attention and money rather than giving thought out and rewarding virtual experiences.
Gaming In The Streaming Age
Apple Arcade is another coffin nail in the standard gaming model that has been dominated by developers like EA who create AAA titles like Madden and Battlefield.
EA seems to be wary of this market shift by giving Respawn Entertainment the ability to publish Apex Legends based on the success of other free-to-play titles like Fortnite.
Apex Legends which is a free-to-play class-based battle royale first-person shooter that made over $92 million since its release. This game makes all its revenue from optional season passes
Paired with the dismal release of EA’s latest AAA shoot-and-loot game Anthem, it might push gaming behemoths to develop more experiences that cater to directly to hardcore gaming communities. Or you have to attempt streaming services similar to Apple Arcade that make games more appealing to non-gamers. But the days of everyone playing the same Battlefield and Madden game year after year are coming to a close, and thank god for that.
