Apple growing its gaming presence with a possible iPhone Games App

A recent report indicates that Apple may commit to gaming with the release of a dedicated AppStore-like Games app. It's no secret that Apple has been trying to grow its presence in the gaming industry over the past few years. In 2023, the company announced that AAA games like Resident Evil Village, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding will be coming to iPhones and other Apple devices. They have never been this serious about gaming until now.

This article explores the recent report about a potential new Games app for iOS and what it could mean for the future of gaming on iPhone and other Apple devices.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions. Also, this is an ongoing subject that is subject to change.

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Apple is creating an AppStore-like Games app

The Game Center app (Image via Apple)

It all started in 2023, when Apple announced a whole bunch of console-level AAA games, including Resident Evil Village, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding, for the iPhone 15 series. However, this was only the beginning, and the company started bringing them to iPads and ARM-based Macs as well.

Due to a unified ARM architecture, Apple was able to do this rather quickly. Now, it seems serious about gaming since a recent report says the company is working to create an AppStore-like Games app for iPhones and other Apple devices. It should act like a single gaming hub where you can buy and download all your favorite games.

This will be the central location for downloading all your favorite games, so both the AppStore and Apple Arcade games will appear in the event of a new app. However, it is unclear when this new potential app will launch, as there's no official confirmation yet.

We expect it to launch next year with the release of iOS 19. Initially, it may only be available on iPhones and iPads but could be released for other Apple devices.

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Will the new Games app replace the existing Game Center?

The Game Center widget (Image via Apple)

Apple plans to offer a single space for all gaming-related activities, so it is only logical to replace the existing Game Center by porting all of its features to the new app. Essentially, it could be similar to the Xbox app for iPhone. Therefore, an entire profile is expected for users, and they should be able to see their challenges, leaderboards, and achievements in the app.

There could also be a friend list, which will be integrated with iMessage or FaceTime for an instant communications system, something that is becoming increasingly common in multiplayer games.