Apple’s Mac computers have long been the butt of a running joke that you can’t game on a Mac. But the iPhone and iPad on the other hand? That’s a different story. That’s why it was surprising when Apple launched an App Store event called Indie Games Week. The event highlighted a bunch of new games and PC ports that would be arriving for iOS devices. Now, in an interview with Polygon, Apple explains its push for premium games.
Apple talks about push for premium games
If you own an iOS device, you know you can easily find games on the App Store. This can be found in the normal App Store or if you’re a subscriber, you can download premium games via Apple Arcade. So, what’s with Apple push for premium games, and how does this impact Apple Arcade?
Speaking to Polygon, Carson Oliver, the new head of App Store Worldwide spoke about the company’s plans for games. “We’ve seen incredible growth of games coming to the App Store, in general, with more premium games releasing on the App Store this year than last. While many of those are indies, we’re also seeing more console and PC franchises coming to mobile, as it is a burgeoning audience for those games.”
Oliver also spoke on how for some of its younger users, their first experience gaming might have been on mobile, not on PC or console like the rest of us. “For an entire generation of players, their very first gaming device wasn’t a console or a PC, it was an iPhone with a touchscreen. These users embrace direct touch as their primary controller, making iPhone and iPad the ultimate canvas for indie innovation.”
So, where does this leave Apple Arcade?
That being said, given that these newly announced games are being sold directly on the App Store instead of Apple Arcade, where does that leave the service? For those unfamiliar, Apple Arcade is an Apple subscription that gives users access to games that are essentially free and do not contain microtransactions.
It’s perfect for gamers who don’t want to deal with ads or predatory-like behaviors where developers try to push in-app purchases onto them. So, according to Oliver, Apple’s decision comes from giving developers the option of either launching their games fully paid via the App Store, or going down the Apple Arcade route.
He points to games like Balatro as an example. “That means a breakthrough phenomenon like Balatro can thrive as a premium download, and it can also find a home as part of the Apple Arcade service. The important thing is that we give developers the flexibility to make the best choice for every game and players the freedom to play how they want.”
The post Here’s Why Apple Is Suddenly Courting Premium Games for the App Store appeared first on Android Headlines.
