Apple to launch a new gaming app
It wants to unify the fragmented gaming experience across its ecosystem.
Apple has always flirted with gaming—never fully in, never fully out. But this year, it looks like it’s finally suiting up for something more serious. According to recent reports, Apple is working on a brand-new gaming app that could roll out across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs later this year. And unlike the forgettable Game Center of years past, this one might actually matter.
The new app is expected to coincide with iOS 19 and the next iPhone lineup this fall. Additionally, it will be preinstalled on Apple devices later this year, making it the go-to hub for all things gaming. Think of it as a centralised command centre: achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, social features, editorial picks, even support for third-party games installed outside the App Store—something Apple has historically avoided.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
It’s also going to give Apple Arcade some spotlight, integrating the $6.99/month subscription more naturally into the everyday gaming experience.
Internally, Apple reportedly sees the app as a way to unify the fragmented gaming experience across its ecosystem, and maybe even start convincing the industry that it’s serious about gaming.
Of course, Apple isn’t the only one dabbling here. Samsung already offers Game Hub on its Galaxy devices, but it’s more of a glorified launcher than a full-featured gaming platform. Meanwhile, the Google Play Games app has long struggled with syncing issues and fragmentation across Android and PC.
If Apple delivers something cleaner, more cohesive, and genuinely useful, it could force both rivals to rethink their approach to gaming as more than just a store.
Still, some early testers say the app, while polished, may not be enough to reposition Apple as a true gaming powerhouse. But it does show that Apple is at least starting to treat gaming like a native part of its ecosystem, rather than just a revenue stream tucked into the App Store.
