Apple Arcade will launch next week 

Apple has revealed more details about its upcoming premium game service, Apple Arcade, including confirmation the subscription will launch on September 19, 2019, for £5/$5 a month.

First announced back in March 2019, Apple stated the subscription service for iOS was “unlike any other” service and would feature “over 100 groundbreaking new games where storytelling and design are pushed further than ever before”. One subscription will unlock the entire catalogue across 150 counties, and all games will be available – without ads or in-app purchases – to download to your device. Up to six family members are able to share a single subscription.

At the time, Apple said it “will be partnering with a variety of high-profile studios and publishers” including Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Konami, Lego, Mistwalker, and Ustwo Games, and reported it would be “contributing development costs” to some of the games on its new service.

Three titles were showcased at Apple’s event yesterday, including Capcom’s Shinsekai Into the Depths, Sayonara Wild Hearts by Annapurna Interactive, and Frogger in Toy Town by Konami. Other titles shared on Apple’s subsequent press release include games by Gameloft, Sega, Devolver, Finji, Bandai Namco, Blowfish, Ubisoft, WayForward, Snowman, RAC7, Rogue Games, Noodlecake, and Square Enix.

“With the App Store, Apple ignited a worldwide app phenomenon that has revolutionised the way people work, connect, learn and play,” Apple said by way of a press release. “The App Store drives the app economy and has earned $120 billion for developers worldwide. Today, the App Store is the world’s safest and most vibrant app marketplace, with over half a billion people visiting each week. 

“Privacy, security, quality and curation are fundamental to the App Store. Every app must meet and maintain Apple’s strict guidelines to launch and remain on the App Store. For enhanced discoverability, experts create rich editorial content and curated collections of the best apps every day.”

“We are so excited to launch Apple Arcade on the App Store. A curated selection of over 100 new and exclusive games from many of the most innovative game developers in the world is the perfect complement to the App Store’s existing massive catalogue of games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. 

“We think customers of all ages are going to be delighted that a single subscription gives the whole family unlimited access to the full catalogue of amazing Apple Arcade games, all without any ads or additional purchases, while knowing every game must meet Apple’s high privacy standards.”