In an interview with Keith Stuart, Alex Rofman, the senior director of Apple Arcade, shared his insights on the company’s gaming subscription service. Launched in 2019, Apple Arcade aimed to revolutionize the mobile gaming market by offering premium, ad-free games for a monthly subscription fee. Despite facing intense competition from free-to-play and ad-supported games, Apple Arcade has made significant strides, with 2023 being a “banner year” for the service.
Rofman emphasized Apple’s commitment to innovation and originality, stating that Arcade focuses on games that “wouldn’t have had an opportunity” otherwise. The service has seen success with titles like Hello Kitty Island Adventure and What the Car, which won mobile game of the year at the Dice awards. However, some developers have expressed frustration with the service, citing cancelled projects and falling royalty payments.
Rofman defended Apple’s record, explaining that bonus pool earnings are based on engagement and that not every game can expect to grow its player base month over month. He also disputed the idea that Apple is deprioritizing Arcade, stating that “games are more important to Apple now than they ever have been.” This is evident in the company’s investment in silicon, making Macs capable of running high-performance games, and the latest iPhones able to run immersive games.
Looking ahead, Apple Arcade will feature games made for the company’s Vision Pro, a spatial computing device that launched with 12 native games. Rofman believes that spatial gaming is the “biggest thing right now” and that Vision Pro opens up new possibilities for innovation. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry, and Apple Arcade is at the forefront of this change.
Despite facing challenges, Apple Arcade remains a vital part of the mobile gaming ecosystem. With its focus on family-friendly, challenging games in a safe and curated environment, it’s moving toward a model similar to the Nintendo Switch. As competition heats up, Apple Arcade’s ambitions will be put to the test in 2024. The service needs to continue supporting independent developers and showcasing a wider range of new, non-licensed titles to stay ahead in the market.
Apple Arcade is committed to innovation and originality, and its success is a testament to the company’s dedication to gaming. With the launch of Vision Pro and the continued support of independent developers, Apple Arcade is poised to remain a leader in the mobile gaming market.
