Apple reportedly cancels some Arcade contracts to focus on ‘compromise’

Earlier this year, Apple reportedly canceled several contracts for games that would launch on Arcade, the company’s gaming subscription service known for its library of high-quality titles that have no ads or in-app purchases. Supposedly canceled each of them for the same reason: Apple wants new games that will get players back to service.

A report from Bloomberg He notes that an Arcade executive told some developers who had a contract that Apple is looking for games that have a high level of “commitment,” as one of the publication’s sources expressed. For developers wondering where Apple’s engagement bar is currently, the report mentions that an Apple Arcade representative quoted Grindstone, The charming multilevel puzzle from Capybara Games, as a model example.

According to this report, Apple paid affected studios to meet development milestones, and told developers that it would work with them in the future if they met Apple’s commitment requirements. However, Bloomberg He mentions that some of these developers faced financial problems as a result of the canceled contracts. Presumably, these games can be launched on other platforms, such as Google’s similar Play Pass service for Android devices, although that may not be enough to recoup losses. According to my colleague Andrew Webster’s interview with independent developers who published games on the Apple Arcade, Play Pass pays developers based on user engagement metrics, while Apple negotiates deals with developers for their games.

The reason Apple may be changing its requirements almost certainly comes down to keeping subscribers. Arcade had a huge boost in late 2019, partially helped by a one-month free trial that came as an introductory offer with the service, which otherwise costs $ 4.99 each month or $ 49.99 per year. The other major component of that momentum, of course, came from the great games, most of which are exclusive to the platform.

The exact way Apple measures engagement in its upcoming games could change the types of games we’ll see coming to the service. It’s hard to see Apple go back without requiring ads or microtransactions, but it could mean shorter games like ustwo Assemble with careIt may not fit Apple’s new direction for engagement. It could also mean fewer games, but for Apple’s sake, hopefully there will be some good ones in the mix.