Apple expands its Arcade subscription gaming service, which previously focused on exclusive titles, with a back catalog of classic App Store games

Apple has announced an expansion for its subscription gaming service Apple Arcade. In addition to exclusive game releases …

TechCrunch 2021-04-03 Romain Dillet

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple Arcade began as an ad-free subscription built around more than 100 paid, offline-playable games and commissioned exclusives. Apple later shifted its game-selection strategy toward titles with more engagement, after reports that it had committed hundreds of millions of dollars to secure new games.

Adding classic App Store titles broadens that original exclusive-first proposition. It matters because Apple is supplementing a service shaped by costly commissioned content with a catalog that can serve existing App Store game audiences.

First-order effects

Apple Arcade subscribers gain access to a back catalog alongside exclusive releases, expanding the service’s immediate game selection.
Apple changes Arcade’s content mix from one centered on exclusives to one that also incorporates established App Store games.

Second-order effects

The broader catalog gives Apple a less exclusive-content-dependent way to pursue the engagement it had sought in its earlier strategy reset.
Developers behind included classic App Store games receive subscription-service distribution, while commissioned-game partners operate within a less exclusively defined Arcade catalog.

Third-order effects

If Apple continues mixing exclusives with established titles, mobile game subscriptions may compete more on durable library depth and engagement than on funding games unavailable elsewhere.
The move highlights the original all-exclusive Arcade model’s trade-off: exclusive commissions can differentiate a service, but catalog additions can widen its appeal without making every release exclusive.

The trend: Apple Arcade is moving from an exclusive-content-led subscription toward a hybrid model that combines commissioned games with catalog depth.

Discussion

@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
The ‘+’ designation on the Apple Arcade games is a little confusing because they don't have new content, but they _are_ different: ads and tracking removed, Game Center support (eg in Chess+ you can't log in with a @chesscom account or Facebook account, just Game Center).
@reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x
“Apple Arcade... growing its award-winning catalog to more than 180 games “Exclusive new Apple Arcade Originals games are joined by two new categories, Timeless Classics and App Store Greats, all with no ads or in-app purchases” https://www.apple.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@dimillian Thomas Ricouard on x
Some really nice UI and transitions for Game Center in the new Apple Arcade games! https://twitter.com/...
@sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x
Apple ships Apple Arcade, an Xbox Game Pass clone with a spin: only new games. A month later, GameClub ships a Game Pass clone focused on old iOS games. Later, Apple adds old games to Arcade. Did they ship a Game Pass or GameClub clone? We call this paradox Shipping Theseus.
@johnvoorhees John Voorhees on x
Lots of new Arcade games today. I'm especially excited to see so many iOS classics added. Today has been a good day for game preservation on iOS. Apple Arcade Expands More Originals and iOS Classics https://www.macstories.net/... https://twitter.com/...
@migueldeicaza Miguel de Icaza on x
@nicklockwood @sandofsky How would AAA developers flock to Apple Arcade? They had a chance to set the tone and expectation with the early games that they showed, and those parameters continue to this day. For example, no IAP, no ads - developers probably got paid a lump sum.
@viticci Federico Viticci on x
It's too early to call Apple's strategy a success, but the format feels like the right one: - Curate the best titles from a deep catalog of older games - Work with developers to make them run well on current devices - Release them periodically as part of a $5/month service
@nicklockwood Nick Lockwood on x
So they've Sherlocked GameClub then, basically? https://twitter.com/...
@viticci Federico Viticci on x
With ‘Timeless Classics’ on Arcade, Apple has an opportunity to do game preservation better than Sony with PlayStation at this point. Which is not a sentence I expected to type in 2021. I wrote about preserving the App Store's history three years ago: https://www.macstories.net/…
@sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x
@nicklockwood By 2019, it couldn't be clear Apple wants to own distribution, so it's not like this is a surprise. Apple buying another company for basically an idea— which is a copy of Xbox Game Pass— would at best be a performative acquihire.
@sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x
@nicklockwood But what did GameClub prove? It's “Xbox Game Pass, but for iPhones,” and I could be wrong, but it doesn't look like it hit a lot of traction.
@stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x
@TJScalzo @janoleb @Iconfactory @helvetica I expect it's part of the Apple Arcade additions to App Store Connect; I noticed it for Iconfactory before on their app pages but now I imagine that was added when they signed up for Arcade. Adobe or Microsoft don't have one, for example
@hodapp @hodapp on x
I'm glad Apple is finally getting into “timeless classics,” this editorial I wrote back in 2019 after joining GameClub on losing the App Store's digital games history is still just as important today ...but getting Sherlocked is a wild thing to experience. https://www.gamesindust…
@chrismessina @chrismessina on x
So what's the under/over that @AppleArcade coming to the Mac will be a headline announcement at #WWDC21? https://www.apple.com/...
@janoleb Janole on x
@stroughtonsmith @Iconfactory Since when can developers have their own logo on App Store pages? Never seen it before. 😍
@hodapp @hodapp on x
An important differentiator between these “timeless classics” and what we've done with historical preservation via GameClub is these new games already needed to be running on modern devices and iOS 14. Keeping them updated and maintained is the responsibility of the original dev.
@sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x
@nicklockwood I mean, Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass have been recycling back-catalogues for forever. You'd think Apple had this long term strategy planned when they launched Arcade a month before GameClub.
@hodapp @hodapp on x
I'd love to see a company with infinite resources like Apple take a crack at preserving historically important iOS games that now only exist in videos I shot or articles I wrote about them as one of the only people covering the earliest days of the App Store... but this ain't it.
@ijustine @ijustine on x
Apple Arcade had a huge update today with all new original games, classics and some App Store Greats rolling into the subscription. Thought this would be a great time to test out playing a basketball game for the first time 😂🏀 https://twitter.com/...
@nicklockwood Nick Lockwood on x
@sandofsky I think Apple thought AAA developers would flock to Apple Arcade, bringing brand new games and console ports, and when that didn't happen they pivoted to recycling old games (after GameClub already proved the concept). But maybe I'm cynical.
@markbozon Mark Bozon on x
Today is the biggest day for @AppleArcade since launch, and I am absolutely blown away at how many fantastic devs have joined the party! Be sure to check out the full list of new games, and enjoy! https://www.apple.com/...
@officialjoelf Joel Franco on x
Apple added over 30 new games to @AppleArcade. Among those are NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition, The Oregon Trail and Cut the Rope Remastered. The service now boasts 180+ games. https://www.apple.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@ashervo Asher Vollmer on x
I'm happy to announce that Threes is now available on *Apple Arcade*! They did a huge game drop today of classic games and I am proud to have our little number slider sitting alongside these masterpieces :3 https://www.apple.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@tiedtiger Tadhg on x
Nice. Still think the core problem with Arcade is that it's a menu in the ass end of the @AppStore though. @Apple would see more success with it as a proper separate app, same as News, TV, Fitness, Stocks, etc. https://twitter.com/...
@stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x
Apple buying up a back-catalog for Apple Arcade? Now, do the same with Apple TV+ 😂 https://twitter.com/...
@stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x
Welcome to Apple Arcade, @Iconfactory https://twitter.com/...
@pschiller Philip Schiller on x
#Apple #Arcade expands to 180+ games https://www.apple.com/...
@pschiller Philip Schiller on x
#Fantasian is beautifully crafted by #FinalFantasy creator @auuo and @mistwalker on @AppleArcade https://apps.apple.com/...
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
It also looks a little weird in search as you now have near-duplicated listings for the same title. Maybe Apple can combine these together somehow in future. https://twitter.com/...
@jsnell Jason Snell on x
These games are so good. I know how to play Sudoku now, even. https://twitter.com/...
@helvetica Zach Gage on x
So extremely excited to bring Good Sudoku, Really Bad Chess, SpellTower, and Flipflop Solitaire to @AppleArcade today in their Timeless Classics category! https://www.apple.com/... Big big thanks to @games_by_jack for all the help with this launch! https://twitter.com/...
@sfbtom Tom Vian on x
Looks like @mistwalkerjp's new game Fantasian just dropped on Apple Arcade! If you haven't seen it before, the environments are hand-made scale models, with characters rendered over the top. Oh, and Mistwalker is headed by @auuo, Mr Final Fantasy himself! https://apps.apple.com/.…

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