Apple is set to debut a new gaming app around the Switch 2’s launch, as the company looks to push further into the gaming space.
While Apple is a key player in the games industry in terms of market share, through its Apple Arcade subscription service and App Store profits, it isn’t exactly considered a major player when compared to Sony or Microsoft.
This is most likely because Apple, who was just hit by a massive data leak,doesn’t actually make or publish games, but it seems the company now wants to change this perception – both through a new acquisition and a revamped app.
According to reports, Apple is planning to release a dedicated app for video games which will serve as a launcher for titles and unify other features, including leaderboards, social features, editorial content from Apple, and in-game achievements.
As reported by Bloomberg, the new app is designed to replace Apple’s Game Center, a social hub which launched in 2010 and has been largely unsupported over recent years.
It’s claimed the app will be shown during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, 2025, which is just four days after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s said the app will be released in September as part of Apple’s next iOS version, and will come preinstalled across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV set-top boxes later this year.
Apple buys its first ever game studio
Apple is making other moves in the gaming space too. As reported by Digital Trends, the company has acquired its first ever game studio in RAC7 Games, the two-person team behind the Apple Arcade hit Sneaky Sasquatch.
It’s unclear if this acquisition is a sign of things to come from Apple, but the report describes the move as a product of ‘unique circumstance’, as the company looks to help the team grow Sneaky Sasquatch further on Apple Arcade.
‘We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the two-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us,’ an Apple spokesperson told the outlet. ‘We will continue to deliver a great experience for Apple Arcade players with hundreds of games from many of the best game developers in the world.’
It remains to be seen if this revamped app and acquisition will lead to a bigger shift in Apple’s gaming plans down the line, but it’s certainly an interesting push. In recent years, iOS ports of Resident Evil 4 Remake, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding have been released, although none of them have sold well on the platform.
Beyond Apple’s plans and the Switch 2 launch, next month looks set to be a stacked month for gaming at large, with Summer Game Fest, an Xbox showcase, and a potential State Of Play, all on the horizon.
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