While most of the hype from Apple's latest event was surrounding the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro (deservedly so), that isn't the only Apple-related venture dropping this week. Today (September 19), Apple is unleashing Apple Arcade, a venture that's aimed to do for the world of gaming what iTunes did for music (or what Netflix has done for TV and film). The one question people have is, obviously, "what the hell is Apple Arcade?"
We get it; Apple's revolutionized the smartphone game with the iPhone, and anyone with a smartphone at least has a few games and time-wasters that they dive into when waiting for the train or when they should be paying attention during a meeting. It'd make sense for Apple to dive into this realm; hell, they made sure to note how their upgraded chips will handle gaming specifically, but this venture here? This is something different.
For anyone who has questions about what Apple Arcade actually means, we've got you covered. Here's everything you need to know before you eventually sign up.
It costs $4.99 a month
Fun for the whole family
There’s an awesome batch of games
These games also aren’t just quick time-wasters; Apple’s taken pride in curating deeper experiences, many of which you couldn’t find in mobile games, from both independent game developers and established companies like Capcom and Sega. It’s a win-win for gamers of all ages.
When we got to test-drive Apple Arcade, we fell in love with Skate City, which has gamers playing a skater traversing across multiple cities across the globe (many of which pull from specific skate spots in each city). Skate City was also awesomely easy to get into; I initially played it on an Apple TV paired with a PS4 controller, which felt similar to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games I played the hell out of as a kid. The experience was even doper on the iPhone, with the ease of diving in and out of different board movements and views ways super easy to master. Another dope title was Hot Lava, which flips the idea of the IRL children’s game on its head. The player is thrown into an intriguing world where the floor really is lava, and you must jump from obstacle to obstacle to progress through each level.
Apple has made sure to look for games that blend a level of artistry into the design, and have made sure to keep things diverse; Sayonara Wild Hearts will feature a dope blend of pop music in each level, lead by an intriguing woman as the lead character. That’s not to mention the Sonic games and underwater platformers that will be available at launch.
You can game anywhere
