ALL-APPLE GAMING PLATFORM
Perhaps the most interesting new player on
the block, however, is Apple. The Cupertino
firm is arguably responsible for revolutionizing
the mobile gaming landscape with the release
of the iPhone and iPod Touch, the company
has generated billions of dollars in revenue for
games developers around the world, and now
wants to take a different approach. Of course,
this new venture isn’t Apple’s first foray into
gaming - the company released its own games
console back in 1996 called Pippin, but it sold
just 42,000 units and was discontinued.
Rather than focusing on hardware, or integrating
more features into iPhones and iPads, like iOS
12’s augmented reality features which improved
gaming on the iPhone, Apple now wants a
slice of the gaming subscription service pie
and announced at its March event a brand new
service: Apple Arcade. Billed as “games that
redefine games,” the new service is set for release
later in the year and will offer cross-platform
gaming on a different level.
Unlike Google Stadia, which will serve as a
platform for new gaming experiences, Apple
has taken the best parts of mobile gaming
and brought them to new heights. Apple is
already commissioning original games and
applications, rather than purchasing licenses to
existing titles, and will offer an ad-free gaming
platform for the whole family. The new service
will work across iOS, macOS, and tvOS, and with
rumors of Apple Glasses stronger every year,
an augmented reality gaming experience with
Apple Glasses could perhaps follow soon after.