Apple Inc. plans to launch a unified app for video games for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac at its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, Bloomberg reports. The app will allow users to launch games installed on their devices and act as a hub for achievements and leaderboards. Here is everything you should know about Apple’s New Game Center.
Apple’s New Game Center
Apple is expected to introduce its gaming application along with the next version of iOS in September. It will ultimately replace Apple’s Game Center, featuring editorial content and allowing users to access games on the App Store. A report published last year explained that Apple’s New Game Center would work similarly to the Xbox app for iPhone.
The Mac version of the new application allows users to access games installed outside of the App Store. Presently, two-thirds of Apple’s App Store revenue comes from games and in-app purchases of game updates. Reports from March revealed that Apple plans to bring the most important update to the Mac operating system since 2020.
Apple aims to simplify the navigation of the devices’ operating systems while maintaining consistency across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
When Will Apple’s New Game Center Launch?
Apple’s New Game Center is expected to be launched later this year as part of iOS 19 and macOS 16. Apple will revamp its style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons to make navigation and control more straightforward than ever. It also introduced innovative features on VisionOS, the operating system for its mixed-reality headset.
Acquisition of RAC7
Bloomberg’s report also reveals that Apple bought its first gaming studio for Apple’s New Game Center. The organisation confessed to Digital Trends that it acquired RAC7, the two-person studio behind Sneaky Sasquatch. This was probably the first game launched on Apple’s Arcade games subscription service. As Digital Trends found, RAC7 will not include other teams at the company but will continue to function as a game studio.
Upcoming Launches
On 22 May, reports say Apple plans to launch AI-enhanced smart glasses that would rival Meta’s Ray-Bans. The tech giant looks to manufacture many prototypes by the end of this year and then release the smart glasses by the end of 2026.
Recently, it was reported that Apple is looking to launch tools allowing third-party developers to develop software using large language models that support AI. The initiative starts with small AI models that run on devices.
Apple aims to promote the development of Apple’s New Game Center, which will increase the use of AI and make devices smart with AI. This is expected to happen through the expansion of AI technology to developers.
Features of Apple’s New Game Center
Apple’s New Game Center is expected to improve the experience on Apple devices at a time when gamers have ample alternatives like cloud services and consoles.
The new Apple’s New Game Center will feature editorial content from Apple regarding new titles, offer access to the game section of the Apple Store, and endorse Arcade. It will replace Apple’s Game Center, which has a monthly subscription of $6.99. However, Apple’s New Game Center is a social network devoted to this category that debuted in 2020 but never gained serious attention.
Regarding market share, the iPhone remains the most used device in the world for the gaming segment, which has been equally crucial for the App Store since 2008. Recently, developers have included high-end games such as Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed.
The Mac platform has caught serious attention in recent years. Speedier chips have permitted better graphics, and the tech giant launched tools that make it easy for developers to port existing games to the Mac.
However, Apple is not generally perceived as a gaming giant, but several developers and players argue that Macs do not have many features compared to Windows computers. The new application will make Apple products easier to choose for gaming and highlight the segment more. The software developers state that it may not change the opinions of players and developers of high-end titles.
Apple’s New Game Center has multiple features planned for the next version of iOS that will be released this September for users. Other features apart from Apple’s New Game Center that are expected to come with the new update include AI-powered battery management and health capabilities, a new Translate app, and real-time translation of conversations through AirPods and Siri voice assistant. Apple also expects to announce a novel bidirectional Arabic and English keyboard, a novel system for syncing hotel Wi-fi login details across devices, and a virtual calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil. The Vision Pro is also enabling a novel eye-scrolling feature.
Summary
Apple’s New Game Center, or the unified application, is significantly changing Apple’s gaming category, which also contributes largely to Apple’s revenue. Hence, the tech giant has decided to make significant changes in the existing features and products to improve users’ experiences in the future. Apple has made a considerable effort to establish its first gaming studio. To get more updates regarding this, keep reading our latest articles.
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