(Credit: Apple)
Apple is bringing a new “Games” app to iPhones. But don’t expect the company to try and rival Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft in terms of gaming experiences.
Apple introduced the new “Games” app at WWDC, its annual developers conference. However, the app is merely meant to centralize all the gaming-related features on iOS into one location, making it easier to access.
“It helps players jump back into titles they love, find their next favorite, and have even more fun with friends,” the company says. "They’ll find out what’s happening across all their games, including major events and updates, so they never miss a moment."
(Credit: Apple)The app will surface gaming-related updates and recommendations through the homepage. At the bottom, you can then switch between several sections, including Apple Arcade, the company’s subscription-based gaming service that costs $6.99 per month. The service now has over “200 award-winning and highly rated games for the whole family,” Cupertino notes.
Another section features “Play Together,” which lets you invite friends to your favorite iOS games. During the WWDC keynote, the company noted that users will be able to compete against each other through “challenges,” which might involve seeing how long a player can last in-game or who can achieve the highest score.
The fourth section, Library, compiles all the games you’ve played and downloaded. Users can expect the Games app to appear in the next version of iOS, now renamed iOS 26, which will be released this fall. Bloomberg also reports that the Games app will be headed to macOS, tvOS, and iPadOS.