Launched in 2019, Apple Arcade is going through difficult times. We learn that Apple's management of the service would be open to criticism… and that the platform would benefit from being “rebooted” to better compete with competing offers, notably from Netflix.
Five years after its launch, Apple Arcade would need a fresh start to avoid coming to a halt // Source: Apple
Bury Apple Arcade, or “reboot” it? This would currently be the question. 6 years after its launch, Apple's subscription gaming platform is in decline, attributable in particular to the poor relationships that Apple maintains with the developers of titles intended for its service.
The firm is notably described as being “notoriously vindictive” and “resentful” in its way of dealing with developers. Particularly towards those who have signed an agreement with Netflix… which also has a subscription gaming platform. According to the sources of the specialized site MobileGamer.biz within the development studios concerned, Apple has notably distinguished itself by a leveling down of payments, but also by the cancellation of certain projects.
Apple Arcade in difficulty, particularly against Netflix
The company's apathy towards its Arcade service is also becoming more and more palpable, we learn, and the direction taken by Apple is often opaque. We discovered, for example, that the firm had focused for a time on “Family-friendly” titles… but decided to clearly inform its partners of this.
A situation that pushes many studios and developers to be very cautious. “ [Apple Arcade] “has the smell of death”, a studio manager confided to MobileGamer.biz, adding that the leaders of the Apple platform behave “almost as if they were no longer sure of having a employment at the end of the day.”
Apple Arcade, when it launched in 2019 // Source: Apple
Between 2019 and the end of 2020, Apple Arcade was able to convince developers and studios, in particular through advance payments described as “very generous” by the specialist media's sources. The situation nevertheless deteriorated, first at the end of 2020, then in spring 2021. Quickly afterwards, the competition began to advance its pawns, with the arrival of Netflix in the field of mobile subscription games. Enough to make the situation worse.
That being said, not all developers surveyed by MobileGamer.biz are hostile to Apple Arcade. On the contrary, some remain positive towards the platform… despite its wanderings. “Despite its imperfections, we are very happy that Arcade exists. It made premium games viable on mobile,” comments one of the developers interviewed. It now remains to be seen whether Apple really knows where it is going with this service… which seems less important in the group's communication in recent years.