Apple to launch dedicated gaming app across all devices this year
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Apple is reportedly developing a dedicated video games app for its devices as it aims to beef up its offerings for developers and consumers.
As reported by Bloomberg, the tech giant plans to preinstall its gaming app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV later this year. It will be unveiled on June 9th at WWDC.
The new Apple gaming app will include editorial content on new titles, direct access to the App Store’s games section, and promotion of Apple Arcade, the $6.99 monthly subscription service. It will also replace the Game Center, which launched in 2010.
The app will act as a central hub for launching games, tracking achievements, leaderboards, and managing in-game communications.
Rising competition
The iPhone maker aims to improve the gaming experience of users across its devices amid rising competition from consoles and cloud services.
The app’s unveiling on June 9th comes shortly after Nintendo’s anticipated Switch 2 launch on June 5th. A Mac version of the app is also in the works, with support for games downloaded outside the App Store.
Apple recently acquired RAC7, the two-person studio behind Sneaky Sasquatch, marking its first game studio acquisition.
This week’s news comes as Apple continues its legal battle with Epic Games. A recent ruling saw the company forced to open up the US App Store to linkouts to alternative payment systems and pull back on anti-steering measures and scare screens.
Fortnite has since returned to the marketplace nearly five years after it was first removed from the store.
