Apple's annual developers conference is less than two weeks away, and more details have emerged about what will be shown during the June 9 keynote. While most iPhone users eagerly anticipate the rumored iOS 19 redesign (codenamed Solarium), Apple has more in store, particularly on the gaming side.
Mark Gurman published a new report about Apple reportedly preparing a new gaming app for its operating systems in an attempt "to sell gamers and developers on the idea that it's a leader in the market." The new app is rumored to replace Gaming Center, the current gaming app on iOS and macOS, which, despite being a decade and a half old, has hardly gotten any traction.
The new gaming app is said to be available on iPhone, iPad, macOS, and tvOS. It will work as a single game launcher and a social hub for gaming with leaderboards, achievements, user activity, and more. Apple also wants to use the app to promote various content, including the Apple Arcade subscription, similarly to how the App Store features editorial content with recommendations, tips, lists, etc.
On Mac, the upcoming app will seemingly also host games installed outside the App Store. With the latest Apple Silicon advancements, Macs have become much more capable when it comes to raw horsepower and the ability to run demanding AAA titles, but overall, gaming on Macs remains rather unappealing to the masses, especially to developers.
While Apple might attract more attention to gaming with the new app, Gurman adds in his report that testers are skeptical about the project's ability to "change the perception among players and makers of high-end titles." Another sign that Apple wants to get more serious about gaming is the acquisition of RAC7 Games, the maker of Sneaky Sasquatch, a popular Apple Arcade exclusive.
The report comes at an interesting time when regulators force Apple to slacken its rules and lower the garden walls. Apple lost the case against Epic Games and was forced to implement changes in the App Store, including links to third-party payment systems and alternative app stores. New gaming features for iPhones and Macs could incentivize users to stick to the App Store and remain within Apple's ecosystem.
iOS 19 and other software announcements, including the recently announced accessibility improvements, are expected on June 9, with public rollout somewhere in September or October 2025 alongside the upcoming iPhone 17 series.
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