Arcade : New games breathe new life into subscription service

It’s been almost three years since Apple launched Arcade, its $4.99/month subscription service for iOS and macOS games.

Since then, more than 200 original titles have been added, offering consumers incredible value and revolutionizing the mobile gaming market.

A GROWING PORTFOLIO OF GAMES

Apple Arcade gives subscribers access to over 200 games with no ads or in-app purchases, a change from the traditionally microtransaction heavy mobile gaming market. Indeed, it’s thanks to games like Candy Crush and Angry Birds that the App Store is what it is today, changing the way we think about spending money on virtual currency. But to help create a more ‘wholesome’ experience and unlock a new revenue stream, Apple announced in 2019 at a star-studded event that it was to launch a mobile gaming subscription service.

Since launch, it’s added hundreds of games - many winning awards. The company has remained tight-lipped about the number of people who subscribe to its services, but one estimate suggests that the platform has around 30 million users around the world. Remember that many will receive the service for free, as it’s given away on a three- or six-month trial basis when buying a new iPhone or Mac. Others may also receive Arcade as part of Apple One, effectively making the service a ‘free’ add-on.