Apple Announces Xbox Game Pass-Like Game Subscription Service: Apple Arcade
- Mehedi Hassan
- Mar 25, 2019
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At its services-focused event, Apple is announcing a new game subscription service. The new game subscription service called Apple Arcade, will allow users to get access to premium games for a monthly subscription. The company says it’s the “world’s first game subscription service for mobile and desktop”.
The idea behind the service is almost exactly like what Microsoft did with Xbox Game Pass: a subscription service that lets you access certain Xbox games.
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As for Apple’s service, users will be able to get access to paid iOS/Mac games. It is essentially bundling some of the popular iOS paid apps into a subscription that lets users access the games without having to separately purchase each of the games. You will have access to more than 100 new and exclusive games — some of which won’t be available on any other platforms. Apple will constantly add new games to Apple Arcade, much like Xbox Game Pass.
Apple Arcade will have its own dedicated tab on the App Store. The games will be available across iPhones, Mac, iPads, and Apple TV. There’s even a feature that lets you play across your devices and pick up where you left off which is pretty neat.
Just to be clear, Apple is not announcing a game streaming service like Google Stadia. This is just a subscription service that gives users access to a catalog of paid games for a monthly subscription. The company even said at stage that Apple Arcade doesn’t limit you, and lets you play your games even when you are offline.
Apple Arcade will be launching this Fall in over 150 countries and regions. Pricing is yet to be announced.