Games

Apple debuts new Apple Games app

Ken Metral

09 Jun 2025 — 2 min read

Credit: Apple, Inc.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, Apple introduced a brand-new Games app, a centralized hub aimed at streamlining the gaming experience across its ecosystem of devices. The move marks a significant push into the gaming space, blending user-focused features with developer-friendly tools, all under one roof.

A Unified Gaming Experience

The new Games app is designed as a launchpad for gaming on Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Acting as both a game launcher and a social hub, it allows users to easily access their games, track achievements, and browse leaderboards—all in one place.

At launch, the app will include five core tabs:

Home: Showcasing featured games, news, and personalized recommendations.
Arcade: Highlighting Apple Arcade, the company’s $6.99/month subscription service.
Play Together: A social tab that shows what friends are playing, lets users compare scores, and enables direct game invites.
Library: A collection of all games owned or downloaded by the user.
Search: A tool for quickly finding new games or old favorites.

Apple is placing a big emphasis on social and competitive gameplay with this release. The new “Play Together” section encourages interaction between friends by showing active games, leaderboard comparisons, and multiplayer opportunities.

A standout feature is “Challenges”, a system that allows players to engage in score-based showdowns with friends—even in traditionally single-player games. Challenges are built atop Apple’s existing Game Center leaderboards, turning casual solo gaming into a competitive experience.

Support for Developers

For developers, the introduction of Challenges opens up new ways to engage players without reworking core gameplay. By building on Game Center infrastructure, Apple makes it easy for developers to integrate competitive elements into their games, potentially boosting user retention and social engagement.

Rollout and Availability

The new Games app is set to be preinstalled on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV later this year. Its integration with the App Store will make it easier for users to discover new titles, while Apple Arcade remains a key part of the offering.

With this move, Apple appears to be doubling down on gaming as a core part of its ecosystem, offering a seamless and socially connected experience that spans across all its platforms. As gaming continues to grow in popularity, the Games app positions Apple as a more serious player in the space—one that’s ready to compete not just in hardware, but in how people play and connect.

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