Apple Magazine - Issue 389 (2019-04-12)

(Antfer) #1

Arcade is the first step towards Apple’s
stunning virtual gaming multiverse and will set
the company apart from the likes of Google,
Microsoft, and Sony, by taking control over
the entire gaming experience. Rather than
allowing developers to build titles and earn
a revenue cut, Apple is overseeing the entire
project - from commissioning original titles
to gameplay on its services. And because the
Apple ecosystem is so popular, Tim Cook and
Co are hedging their bets on becoming the
world’s biggest gaming platform.


Apple’s “Netflix of Games” will offer gamers more
than 100 games, curated and original to the
new subscription service. Already announced
titles include Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost
Realm, The Pathless, Where Cards Fall, Mr. Turtle,
No Way Home, Overland, Winding Worlds, LEGO
Arthouse, and Sneaky Sasquatch. In a move that
sets the new service apart from some others, all
games will be available to download and play
offline. Cross-platform technology will then
tie together the games on iPhone, iPad, Apple
TV, and the Mac. Start a game on one device,
and pick up where you left off with a simple,
intuitive user interface. What’s perhaps most
notable about the service is that users won’t
be bombarded with microtransactions - games
will be built with a premium feel and will just
work - no adverts, no add-ons, no coins, and
no additional fees to enjoy the gaming world
experience at its full.


Apple Arcade plays just a small part in Apple’s
plan to unify the iOS and macOS experience,
with the company first porting apps like Voice
Memos, Stocks, News, and Home from iOS to
macOS last year. This year, an Apple Arcade app

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