Apple announces mobile subscription video game service, Apple Arcade

Apple is making a big move into gaming. At a special event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, Apple unveiled a unique video game subscription service, Apple Arcade, for all iOS devices: iPhones, iPads, Macbook laptops. It will also be accessible via Apple TV.

"iOS has become the largest gaming platform in the world," said CEO Tim Cook, adding that the App Store is visited by half a billion people every week. “We want to make gaming even better." 

Subscribers to the service will be able to play over 100 exclusive games in an all inclusive package that doesn't feature ads or make you pay for extra add-ons. More importantly, you won't need an Internet connection to play the new games and can share them with your entire immediate family without paying more.

During two short teaser videos, it was shown that major talents and characters are being utilized to develop and star in these games. Sonic the Hedgehog was shown at one point, while the team for Beyond a Steel Sky said that Dave Gibbons (co-creator of Watchmen) helped work on the visual style.

“The App Store is the world’s biggest and most successful game platform. Now we are going to take games even further with Apple Arcade, the first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing in an official statement. “We are working with some of the most innovative game developers in the world to create over 100 new and exclusive games to play across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Apple Arcade games will be great for families, respect user privacy and will not have ads or require any additional purchases. We think players of all ages are going to love Apple Arcade.”

Apple Arcade will launch this fall in over 150 countries and regions all over the globe. However, no pricing details were made available. When it does go live, Apple Arcade will be constantly updated with new titles.

The keynote was also used to announce an updated subscription version of Apple News as well as well as a new credit card called (no surprises here) the "Apple Card."

The event's host, Apple CEO Tim Cook, assured the gathered audience that the keynote—which began with a colorful nod to Ridley Scott's iconic 1984-inspired ad and the company's many achievements over the years—would be all about the brand's "world classic services."