Apple acquires RAC7, the two-person studio behind the popular Apple Arcade game Sneaky Sasquatch, marking its first acquisition of a video game studio

Exclusive: Apple has acquired the two-person studio behind Sneaky Sasquatch, one of Apple Arcade's most popular games. — Sneaky Sasquatch Trailer — Apple Arcade

Digital Trends 2025-05-28 Giovanni Colantonio

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple Arcade began with commissioned exclusives, then broadened with a back catalog and later sought games with stronger engagement after cancelling some projects in development. RAC7's game therefore sits within a service that has repeatedly adjusted how it secures and retains attention.

The acquisition arrives alongside reported plans for a dedicated games app across Apple's devices, suggesting Apple is pairing ownership of a proven Arcade developer with a more visible distribution surface. It is a more direct content commitment than the earlier commissioning of Arcade-only games.

First-order effects

RAC7 moves from an independent two-person studio into Apple, giving Apple direct control over the team behind one of its established Arcade titles.
Apple can coordinate the game's future development, merchandising and platform presence internally as it readies a broader games destination.

Second-order effects

For other Arcade developers, the deal makes Apple ownership a more concrete—though still exceptional—path beyond commissioning, while increasing the strategic value of games that demonstrate durable engagement.
A dedicated games app could give Apple-owned and third-party Arcade titles a common discovery channel, raising the importance of placement and curation for subscription games.

Third-order effects

If Apple repeats this approach selectively, Arcade could evolve from a primarily commissioned-content catalog toward a hybrid model combining outside partnerships with owned studios and franchises.
That would reinforce the wider subscription-content logic: platform holders may use ownership of a small number of recognizable games to reduce reliance on continually replacing licensed or contracted releases.

The trend: Platform operators are tightening control over standout subscription content while building more prominent cross-device discovery surfaces for it.

Discussion

@patbits @patbits on bluesky
how you KNOW they're going in on video games! so excited to play *checks notes* Sneak(ier) Sasquatch [embedded post]
@craiggrannell Craig Grannell on bluesky
Congrats to RAC7. And that game is great. But I can't help feeling Apple is where this mythical beast has gone to die. [embedded post]
@craiggrannell Craig Grannell on bluesky
I'm surprised. Apple is still culturally blind regarding games. I hope this marks a turning point. Or at least that this tiny indie cashed in.
@johnvoorhees.macstories.net John Voorhees on bluesky
I'm not surprised. I think this studio's games have been highlighted in nearly every keynote since Arcade launched. [embedded post]
@pokachee Ana Diaz on bluesky
This is smart. Sneaky Sasquatch is secretly a massively popular game. It is regularly at the top of the charts for Arcade (and I see it trend on Google as well). It seems like the go-to game for kids to play on an iPad (especially if a parent doesn't want their kid playing Rob…
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
5 Days ago, RAC7 delisted 2 games: Splitter Critters Dark Echo (which Apple dubbed “Most Innovative iPhone Game of 2015”
@neil_long_ Neil Long on x
Apple has effectively acqui-hired game studios before, it's just been very quiet about it. In 2022, the founders of Playdeo were bought out to work on what became Vision Pro: https://mobilegamer.biz/...
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
Well that's... interesting...
r/Games r on reddit
Apple acquires RAC7, its first-ever video game studio
Gameranx Ryan Parreno on x
Rumor: Apple Replacing Game Center With Xbox App-like Gaming App
@terrible.moe Chiaki Mitama on bluesky
I'll take any of this seriously when I hear a non smart-phone dev make an indie game for macosx [embedded post]
@knoebel @knoebel on bluesky
Apple is ready to launch (another) deticated app for gaming “seeking to sell gamers and developers on the idea that it's a leader in the market.” — They also acquired the two person studio RAC7 Games. — www.bloomberg.com/news/article... [image]
@marioprime Giovanni Colantonio on bluesky
Interesting timing here with what I reported earlier this afternoon with Apple acquiring RAC7. Have to imagine that Sneaky Sasquatch will be front and center in whatever this ends up being. www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/ apple... [embedded post]
@papapishu @papapishu on bluesky
It is 2010. I am reading in the newspaper that apple claims it is taking games seriously. — It is 2018. I am watching a video where apple claims it is taking games seriously. — It is 2025. I am reading an article that says apple is planning on taking games seriously. [emb…
@geminibros Adam Rosenberg on bluesky
I'll reserve judgment until the facts are clearer but this would be a tough case to make with Arcade having barely visible marketing and audience-unfriendly “features” like zero save portability (i.e. your Arcade saves don't work with non-Arcade versions of the exact same game). …
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Close enough. Welcome back Game Center [image]
@snazzylabs Quinn Nelson on x
Real problem, wrong solution! Option 1: work with Valve/CodeWeavers to bring Proton/D3DMetal support to the Mac and have Steam be the default store Option 2: buy studios and/or exclusives to offer AAA Mac games at loss-leader prices as part of Apple Arcade+ to build marketshare
@bdsams Brad Sams on x
I'm curious if this is a reaction to the regulatory changes and all the big players having ambitions to launch a games store “Dont buy from Xbox/Epic/Steam” and buy from Apple Games
@snazzylabs Quinn Nelson on x
Apple continues to believe that they can apply their mobile games strategy to the AAA/console market. They cannot. It doesn't matter how good your tech or storefront is. You will lose. As you have continued to for many years. Open your wallet, Tim, or shut up.
@deeketweak Derek Strickland on x
Now that Apple can't just passively make ~$15 billion from gaming thanks to recent antitrust rulings, the company has: - bought its first games studio - planned to release an all-in-one gaming app for all Apple devices Interesting times. Apple has to compete now.
@paultassi Paul Tassi on x
Can't defy a court order about the App Store if you make App Store 2
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
interesting news in concert with them acquiring a literal game studio today
@loudmouthjulia Julia Alexander on x
bahahahAHAHAHAA the GALL of this company [Collection of recent headlines about the App Store contempt ruling]
@tomaxwell Thomas Maxwell on x
@markgurman @ParkerOrtolani Apple is making itself a laughing stock
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
NEW: Apple is planning a dedicated app for video games on its devices, seeking to sell gamers and developers on the idea that it's a leader in the market. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
r/TwoBestFriendsPlay r on reddit
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r/apple r on reddit
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Apple to Debut Dedicated Gaming App Within Days of Switch 2's Arrival
r/SneakySasquatch r on reddit
Apple acquires RAC7, its first-ever video game studio

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