Apple Arcade is available. We have the information on initial reviews, games, and the cancellation of the service. You will also find out if you can use controllers and when Apple TV will be supported.
What is Apple Arcade? Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription integrated into Apple’s App Store. For €4.99 per month, you get access to around 100 games. Some games are said to be exclusively available on Apple Arcade. We want to show you the following:
- what Apple Arcade costs and what it includes
- which platforms and devices are supported
- which games are available
- what the first reviews say about Apple Arcade
- and whether you can use your own controller
Which platforms/devices are supported?
So far, only a few devices work with Apple Arcade, but more will follow soon:
- Since the launch on September 19, 2019, Apple Arcade supports the iPhone and iPod Touch with iOS 13.
- From September 30, iPad and Apple TV are also expected to be supported.
- Starting in October, Apple Arcade will launch on Macintosh computers with the release of macOS 10.15 (Catalina).
Does Apple Arcade also work with Android phones? Apple Arcade only supports its own hardware. Android devices or consoles are not supported.
What does Apple Arcade cost and what features are there??
This is what Apple Arcade costs: In Germany, Apple Arcade costs €4.99 per month. If you install the upgrade to iOS 13, you can try a free 30-day subscription. The trial subscription can be canceled at any time.
This is what Apple Arcade promises. If you have an Apple Arcade subscription, all titles in Arcade are free for you. There are neither purchasable titles nor free-to-play games with in-game purchases. Additionally, there is no annoying advertising.
Is Apple Arcade suitable for families/children?
Family sharing: Apple Arcade works with a family subscription, meaning you can access Apple Arcade with six different devices. With six people, that’s just one euro per person per month.
Child protection: Apple’s parental controls also work, so you can limit the screen time of children to a healthy level.
Data protection and downloads?
According to Apple, you get to decide who you share your data with. Since advertising in Apple Arcade is not intended, there are also no ad trackers that can track you.
Can I use Apple Arcade offline? Apple Arcade also allows you to download games directly to your device and play them offline. If you have a long train ride ahead, you can download the appropriate games in advance.
Also convenient: All game saves are synchronized.
Can I cancel my Apple Arcade subscription?
Can I cancel the subscription? If you are using the free subscription, you must cancel it within the time frame; otherwise, it will automatically renew after expiration until you cancel it.
How can I cancel my subscription? If you want to cancel your Apple Arcade subscription during the trial phase, you can do so in the iPhone settings. However, be aware that you will immediately lose access to all the subscription games. Therefore, you cannot cancel the trial subscription in advance.
What games are available for Apple Arcade (as of September 24, 2019)
These games are available: The following games have been officially confirmed by Apple and are currently available for Apple Arcade. Currently, new arrivals are not separately listed in the Apple Arcade overview in the shop.
- Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree
- Beyond a Steel Sky
- Cardpokalypse
- Down in Bermuda
- Enter the Construct
- Frogger in Toy Town
- Hitch Hiker
- Hot Lava
- King of the Castle
- Lego Brawls
- Lego Arthouse
- Lifelike
- No Way Home
- Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
- Overland
- Protection: First Light
- Repair
- Sayonara Wild Hearts
- Shinsekai: Into the Depths
- Sneaky Sasquatch
- Spidersaurs
- Sonic Racing
- The Bradwell Conspiracy
- The Pathless
- UFO on Tape: First Contact
- Where Cards Fall
- Winding Worlds
- Yaga
Are you more interested in games on Android? Then check out our article on the best mobile MMOs. Here we have summarized the best MMOs, MMORPGs, and online games for the year 2019 and mention the strengths and weaknesses of each game:
This is what the first reviews say about Apple Arcade
Computerbild sees no great advantages in Apple Arcade. For those who have mainly played free-to-play titles like Doodle Jump or Angry Birds, Apple Arcade will not be worth it.
Additionally, the exclusive titles offer no more than those that can be purchased anyway. For those who download a new game every day, Apple Arcade could prove to be an alternative.
A somewhat different view comes from Techradar. Here the testers see the biggest advantage for families and gamers who want to avoid in-game purchases and advertising – either for the protection of children or due to intrusive ads. However, so far, the Apple Arcade library mainly consists of unknown or simple games.
The testers from TomsGuide criticize Apple Arcade for only allowing game subscriptions, with no purchasing option. For the testers, the price of €4.99 for about 100 games is more than fair; they describe the price as “absolute steal for a few bucks a month.”
Otherwise, Apple Arcade works like any other subscription system: new games come in, and some may disappear as well.
MeinMMO author Robert says: Apple Arcade could be the salvation for all troubled gamers who cannot and do not want to deal with freemium games, ads, and in-app purchases. Due to the absence of advertising and the non-necessity of presenting expensive in-app purchases, the creators of the games can focus on what really matters: the game itself. The selection of games at launch is still a bit thin and includes only a few true hits, but Apple will likely improve this over time.
Can I use a controller with Apple Arcade?
Both PS4 and Xbox One controllers can be connected to an Apple TV and used for selected Arcade games. But keep in mind that Apple TV will only be supported from September 30. If you want to play on an Apple TV with your controller, you should wait until you have a subscription until after September 30.
Are there other gaming services?
Google’s alternative: Google plans a similar subscription model with the Google Play Pass as Apple with Apple Arcade. The Google Play Pass will launch in September but only in the USA. Whether the Play Pass will come to Germany is not yet known.
If you are interested in streaming: If you are still looking for the right game streaming service, check out our Google Stadia article, which we regularly update for you:
