Apple is launching a new app that acts as a central hub for games and gaming features across all of its platforms. The new Apple Games app brings together Apple Arcade, App Store game recommendations, your App Store game library, and your friends list in one place. Apple calls it “a one-stop place to play games and connect with friends.”
The new app will be available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, starting with the versions released this fall. In addition to collecting games, you will also be able to view leaderboards in supported games and complete “challenges” set by developers. Apple sees this as a way to create multiplayer experiences out of single-player games.
In addition to the new Apple Games app, Apple is also adding a Game Overlay feature on iPad and Mac that allows players to access Game Center features, friend lists, and game settings without leaving the game.
This news is the latest move by Apple to develop the gaming industry. In 2023, the company added Game Mode to Macs running macOS Sonoma, which optimizes your Mac for better gaming performance. Last year, it also added Game Mode to iOS in iOS 18. Apple also offers a Proton-like tool that can help Windows games run on Macs. The company has made a lot of noise about the ray-tracking capabilities of the chips in the new iPhones. And, of course, it offers a subscription service for Apple Arcade games.
Apple has worked to bring big AAA games to its platforms, including Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and a number of Resident Evil games, including Resident Evil 2, 3, 4, 7, and Village. However, some of these big games reportedly did not sell very well.
