- Reports suggest Apple Arcade struggles to stay profitable without the Apple One bundle.
Apple Arcade is one of the go-to gaming subscription service for iOS users, offering a solid selection of games. But while it seems like a great deal on the surface, things might not be as perfect as they appear. Reports indicate Apple Arcade is having a hard time as a standalone offering and might not work without a bundle.
Apple Arcade seemingly relies heavily on Apple One to maintain both user numbers and revenue
According to the report by The Information, Apple’s gaming subscription service might not make enough money on its own. The thoughts are that it depends a lot on the Apple One bundle to keep users and earnings steady. Without this bundle, Apple Arcade might have a hard time covering its costs.
Relating to my introduction, where I said things might not be perfect, you can see Apple Arcade offering solid options every month, like Piano Tiles 2 recently, and an even stronger April lineup with Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE and puffies. to name a couple, it still doesn’t seem to be enough.
The numbers pointed out are also a bit concerning, as despite the above-mentioned efforts, the service reportedly has low engagement. In its first year, it had around two million users, but a quarter of them were on free trials.
At $6.99 per month as a standalone subscription, many users seem to prefer Apple One, which starts at $19.95 per month and includes additional services like Apple TV+, Apple Music, and iCloud+.
Developers had previously raised concerns about delayed payments, poor communication, and a lack of support
If you remember, not less than a year ago, developers working with Apple Arcade began voicing concerns over delayed payments, poor communication, and a lack of technical support. Many reported that Apple often ignored emails for weeks, while meetings were unproductive and disorganized.
Some even described working with Apple as an “abusive relationship,” highlighting the struggles of both Apple Arcade and Vision Pro developers. With such underlying issues, it might be difficult for Apple Arcade to push better products, amidst not found its footing in audience numbers.
The report also points out problems with other Apple services, saying that Apple TV+ is losing up to $1 billion a year. While Apple Arcade keeps adding new games and features, its future as a service on its own is still unclear. Hopefully, things change for the better.
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