Apple Arcade, Apple's new game service, could change the way you play on your phone

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Ann Thai reveals Apple Arcade’s launch on September 19, featuring over 100 new and exclusive games. Image: Apple
Ann Thai reveals Apple Arcade’s launch on September 19, featuring over 100 new and exclusive games. Image: Apple

On Sept. 19, Apple (AAPL) will officially launch Apple Arcade, the company's new game subscription service. Available for $4.99 a month, with a 1-month free trial, Apple Arcade gives users access to more than 100 games across their iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and Apple TV devices.

It's a first-of-its-kind service for mobile games, giving users the ability to download as many games from the Arcade as they want, without having to pay any of those in-game microtransactions like you otherwise would with titles like "Candy Crush."

I spent time playing some of the launch titles for Apple Arcade, and Apple has managed to put together a compelling list of offerings that are sure to please gamers looking for more from mobile games than having to pay $0.99 to play each level. As for game developers, Arcade could give them the means to reach an audience they may never have been able to before.

Games on the go

Apple Arcade will live as a new tab in the App Store. When you're subscribed, you'll be able to browse games, and download the ones you want to try. Importantly, every game in Apple Arcade has to be playable offline. That means you'll be able to download your games and play them on the subway or on a flight without having to worry about an internet connection.

Konami brand manager Benjamin Kinney demos “Frogger in Toy Town,” a reimagining of the classic game available only on Apple Arcade. Image: Apple
Konami brand manager Benjamin Kinney demos “Frogger in Toy Town,” a reimagining of the classic game available only on Apple Arcade. Image: Apple

That's a big benefit right out of the gate, because many games force you to stay online to play, or they simply won't work.

Games available for Apple Arcade exist across a spectrum of exclusivity for the service. There are games that are exclusively available on mobile via Apple Arcade, but still available on consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Sony's PlayStation 4, or Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox One, on one end of the spectrum. And then there are those that are only available on Apple Arcade full-stop.

The vast majority of Apple Arcade games can also be played across devices, and are tied to your Apple ID. So if you start a game on your iPhone, you can pick up on your iPad, Apple TV, or Mac, right where you left off. What's more, if you play on your Apple TV or iPad, you can use your existing PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller rather than shelling out cash for a new third-party controller.

What it's like to play

I got to demo a number of games that will be available at launch for Apple Arcade, and found them incredibly diverse from a gameplay perspective, as well as in artistic direction and narrative styles. The first game I tried was "Skate City" from developer Snowman.

Capcom producer Peter Fabiano introduces the Apple Arcade exclusive, “Shinsekai: Into the Depths,” an undersea platformer.
Capcom producer Peter Fabiano introduces the Apple Arcade exclusive, “Shinsekai: Into the Depths,” an undersea platformer.

A side-scrolling, 2-D skate game, Skate City enables you to travel through each level performing tricks by flicking your left or right joystick in a particular direction. If you're using an iPhone or iPad, you flick your fingers in a direction on the right or left side of the screen to do tricks.