Tag: Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade: Which Are The Top Games So Far?

The first quarter of 2019 was a substantial period for gaming, and there are still 9 months to go for any further launches and innovations. At GDC 2019, Google released Stadia, a (supposedly) amazing cloud gaming service, yet no release date or pricing for the same was unveiled at the event. Gamers were just getting over the “hardware-independent gaming” hype, when Apple announced its own subscription-based gaming service, known as the Apple Arcade at the Apple Show Time event on March 26, 2019. Additionally, the company also launched the Apple News+, Apple TV+ and the Apple Card.

https://youtu.be/67umVefSXnY

Apple Arcade is different from Google Stadia in a lot of aspects. For starters, where players need an active high-speed internet connection to play games using Stadia, games can simply be downloaded on the device with Apple Arcade and can be played without internet. Furthermore, it’s not clear whether Stadia will employ a subscription model or a pay-per-game model, but it’s clear as daylight that Apple will allow you to play multiple games on its Arcade store with just a simple “game pass”, which is similar to the payment model that Xbox users adhere to.

A lot of big game developers and publishers are already a part of Apple’s (game) plan. Sega, Konami, Annapurna and Platinum Games are just some of the companies that are backing Apple up on this. To gamers’ pleasant surprise, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the video designer who had a key role in the making of the acclaimed “Final Fantasy” series is also releasing a game called “Fantasian” on Apple’s new platform. The company also promises that new games will keep making their way into Arcade’s library, making sure that the subscribers are never devoid of fresh content.

https://youtu.be/95FuVib8mcY

Given below are some games that have been confirmed for Apple’s platform. However, note that users won’t be able to play any of these games on Arcade until Apple brings the service to the market. As per the company’s statement, Apple Arcade will go live later during Fall 2019.

Hot Lava

Hot Lava is an adaptation of the childhood game “The floor is lava”, where children have to keep jumping from one furniture piece to another, pretending that the floor is lava. Except in this game, the floor is literally lava. The game’s trailer depicts it as quite a fun game to play, with fluid parkour moves being used by the character to escape the onslaught of the lava. The game is designed by Klei Entertainment, and by the looks of it, a lot of gamers will have an amazing time with this game.

Click here to sign up for the game beta.

Team Sonic Racing

Although Team Sonic was first launched at E3 2018, it is making its way to the list of the very first games that Apple Arcade users will be able to play. One of the most lovable characters in the SEGA universe, Sonic will take on his opponents with the help of his friends. But no more “knuckle” violence, instead, players will be able to choose from a list of 15 playable characters to race on a track with a plethora of vehicle options. With a colourful environment and fast-paced gameplay, Team Sonic has already proven its worth on consoles, and will now charm its way out of Apple gamers.

Check out more about the game on its official website.

The Pathless

Indie games have been a key part in driving interests of gamers away from genres like Battle Royale and Competitive FPS games. Such a beautiful indie title is The Pathless, which, similarly to Team Sonic, was first revealed three months back for PS4 and PC (Epic games). However, the game has now also been confirmed to arrive on Apple Arcade. The game depicts the mysterious adventure of an archer who befriends an eagle and travels through a vast forest. Noteworthy, the game isn’t officially out yet, so players may have to wait to play it till the game actually releases in 2019.

Check out the game’s website here.

Sayonara Wild Hearts

Sayonara Wild Hearts looks like a game derived straight out of a music video. The game is tough to describe, but as per the developer, the game is an “euphoric music video dream about being awesome, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200 mph.”. The game was originally scheduled for Nintendo Switch, but it seems that now the game is coming to Apple Arcade as well. The developer also claims to have almost zero loading times.

LEGO Brawls

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With already a lot of fun-to-play games on different platforms, the LEGO Brawls gameplay trailer showcases a game that is built on a foundation unlike other LEGO games out there. As of now, the game is still under development, but the key point of the trailer is to exhibit how fun the game is. With huge robots, cute LEGO characters and LEGO weapons, the game puts a pretty good impression out there. Also, the game may also feature a battle royale mode for its fans.

March 29, 2019
Round Up Of The Apple Event Held On 25 March

Cupertino based tech titan, Apple held an event on the 25th of March where it announced four brand new subscription services. The list of newly announced services includes Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Card and Apple News Plus.

Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade is the company’s take on a gaming service which spans across the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac computers. The paid subscription will initially provide access to over 100 gaming titles which will sprout further over time. Noteworthy, it even allows the user to play games in offline mode. This is a significant aspect as its direct competitor, the newly launched Google Stadia lacks support for this notable feature. The service will roll out in autumn this year and its pricing details are yet to be revealed. Exceptionally, family members can also share the subscription across different devices without an additional cost.

Apple Card

Apple card is a virtual credit card service which is developed for iPhone users and is an extension of the Apple Pay and Wallet services. The service is intended towards lowering interest rates, removing unnecessary fees and simplifying the process of applications in obtaining a credit card. According to the company, the service will simplify the use of existing digital payment mediums to a great extent.

Notably, it is just a credit card service and not a banking service. Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and MasterCard that handle its financial end. As previously mentioned, the user can directly sign up for a card right from the iPhone which is generated in minutes, unlike conventional service which can take days. Reportedly, the service makes use of machine learning which can precisely reflect the spending patterns of the user and also offer rewards in cash. Distinctly, the service will not charge late fees from the however, its functioning is unclear as of now.

Apple News Plus

As the name suggests, it is a news service from Apple that again requires a paid subscription. It showcases the content in a user-friendly and elegant manner which is enriched with photographs, animations and typography optimised for Apple devices including iPhone, iPad and Mac. The news service incorporates content from over 300 established newspapers, magazines and digital publishers some of which include Vogue, WSJ, GQ, Traveller, Wired and The New Yorker. The service is currently limited to the US and Canada where the users can subscribe it at a monthly fee of $ 9.99 and $ 12.99 respectively. Admirably, six members of a family can share one Apple News Plus subscription.

Apple TV Plus

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Apple TV Plus is the company’s attempt at a video streaming service which will take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime. The service is set to launch in over 100 countries which will roll out in Q4 of 2019. According to the company, around 30 original projects are currently in the works which will be exclusive to the platform. Additionally, content from renowned channels including HBO, Showtime, CBS All Access will also be available on the streaming service. Like the Apple Arcade, its price is also currently unavailable.

In addition to the Apple Plus subscription service, the company has also released an all-new Apple TV application which has a completely redesigned interface. The new version of the application is designed to serve on-demand digital content, without advertisement with the option of offline downloads. The new Apple TV app is now available for the Apple TV and iOS devices. While its support for third-party smart TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung and Vizio will be available some.

March 26, 2019
Apple Launches Apple TV+ And Apple Arcade

Apple announced its newest subscription based services called Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade at an event on Monday at the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino, USA. The former is a video subscription service aimed at competing with rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and the latter is a game subscription service. The company also announced a new Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, smart TVs and various streaming devices. At the same event, the company also launched the Apple News+, a news and magazine subscription service and the Apple Card, an all-new payment service.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is the company’s venture into the streaming service market. It is a subscription-based video service that has a host of features to differentiate it from the competitors. Unlike Netflix and Prime Video, it has a host of channels available on TV which the users can subscribe on an individual basis. These channels include HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and MTV Hits. Apple has alleged that more channels from around the world will be added in the due course of time.

At the launch of Apple TV+ celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa made an appearance to announce their shows on the platform. The new Apple TV app, on the other hand, will be a host to all the new shows and channels by the company and will also offer suggestions for shows and movies from over 150 streaming applications, including Amazon Prime, Hulu, Canal+ and more. Apart from the aforementioned media, the app will also house the movies and TV shows available to purchase and/or rent from the Apple iTunes store.

The Apple TV+ video streaming service will be announced later in fall this year, which suggests a release in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company will also announce the pricing of the service at the same time. The new Apple TV app will be available to download on iOS devices, Apple TV and Mac starting this May. In a surprising move, Apple has also partnered with brands like Samsung, VIZIO, LG and Roku to bring the Apple TV app on their respective smart TV and streaming devices.

Apple Arcade

The Apple Arcade is the world’s first mobile, desktop and TV game subscription service. It will make use of over 3,00,000 games available on the App store to bring a streamlined gaming experience. The service aims at introducing a new way to give users access to exclusive games, handpicked by Apple on the platform. A new tab named ‘Arcade’ will exist inside the App store and will allow a subscription option which in turn enable the users to try out a game in the service. Notably, all the games available in the subscription will be free to play, with no additional purchases required.

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Another innovative feature Apple is introducing with the Arcade service is an option for offline playability and the game controller support for compatible games. As the subscription is extended to various Apple devices, users can leave a game on an iPhone and start where they left it off on another device like an iPad, Mac or an Apple TV. Over time, more new games will be available on the service. The service will launch in fall, like the Apple TV+ and the pricing of the service, will also be announced then. In the meanwhile, interested developers can apply to be a part of Apple Arcade by visiting the link here.

March 26, 2019