Apple officially announced the launch date, price point, and (some of) the initial lineup for its latest subscription service, Apple Arcade, during its live event today.
The Apple Arcade will be available starting September 19 as part of the iOS 13 update, and it will cost $4.99 per month. Apple is also providing a free, one-month trial for users to test the service out.
The subscription price includes access for up to six family members if they’re on the same Family Sharing account, and games can be played offline on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac, and Apple TV devices, such as the just-announced iPhone 11 Pro
The big question is what games are actually on offer, and Apple provided a short list of some of Apple Arcade’s highlights, including follow-ups to popular indie titles and new iterations of famous franchises.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Ballistic Baseball
- ChuChu Rocket! Universe
- Exit the Gungeon
- Overland
- Pac-Man Party Royale
- Projection: First Light
- Rayman Mini
- Shantae and the Seven Sirens
- Skate City
- Sneaky Sasquatch
- Steven Universe: Unleash the Light
- Super Impossible Road
- The Bradwell Conspiracy
- The Enchanted World
- Various Daylife
Various Daylife, an RPG-meets-life-sim, comes from the development team behind Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, so that title alone is likely to pique some interests.
More titles beyond the initial 100 will be released in the weeks after Apple Arcade launches as well.
Note that while Apple says these games are exclusive to Apple Arcade, the key is in the phrasing. For example, Shantae and the Seven Sirens will be available on other platforms as well — but, as Apple says, not on other subscription services or mobile platforms.
In other words, when Google’s Play Pass launches, don’t expect to see these games on Android.
