Apple to Launch New Gaming App Across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV This Year

Apple is making a major push into gaming with a dedicated gaming app set to launch later this year across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The app is expected to be officially announced at WWDC 2025, which kicks off on June 9, and will come preinstalled on Apple devices.

This marks Apple’s most significant move in gaming since the introduction of Apple Arcade in 2019.

A New Home for Games in the Apple Ecosystem

Sources familiar with the project say the upcoming app will act as a central hub for games, offering users:

• A library of installed and cloud-connected titles

• Achievements and leaderboards

• Social features and player communication tools

• Editorial content from Apple about new and trending games

• Direct access to Apple Arcade and the App Store’s gaming section

This new app will replace the aging Game Center, a social gaming platform launched in 2010 that never gained mainstream popularity. The new experience is expected to feel more cohesive and modern, aligning with Apple’s larger software refresh codenamed “Solarium”.

Mac Gaming Takes a Small Step Forward

Perhaps the most notable change is on the Mac, where the app will reportedly support titles downloaded outside the Mac App Store—a major shift for Apple, which has traditionally preferred sandboxed software via its own platforms.

This could make it easier for players to manage third-party games from platforms like Steam, while still benefiting from Apple’s ecosystem-level features like leaderboards and achievements.

Although Apple has improved gaming support on Macs in recent years—thanks to Apple Silicon and Game Porting Toolkit tools—macOS remains a second-class citizen in the gaming world compared to Windows. Sources say internal testers of the new app see it as a welcome quality-of-life improvement, but not necessarily a game-changer for triple-A developers.

Boosting Apple Arcade and App Store Revenue

The new gaming app is expected to be tightly integrated with Apple Arcade, the $6.99/month gaming subscription service. Apple is likely hoping the unified interface will help:

• Drive greater visibility for Arcade titles

• Increase subscription retention

• Highlight premium games already popular on the App Store

Games are already a huge business for Apple. They account for around two-thirds of App Store revenue, and recent acquisitions like RAC7 Games, the creators of Sneaky Sasquatch, suggest Apple is still investing in exclusive content.

Why Now?

Apple’s gaming push comes at a time when competitors are also moving quickly. Nintendo’s Switch 2 is expected to launch around the same time as WWDC. Meanwhile, Microsoft is doubling down on cross-platform cloud gaming, and Google continues to explore AI-powered gaming tools.

By strengthening its gaming experience across hardware and software, Apple is positioning itself to retain casual gamers, grow Apple Arcade, and possibly attract more developers to bring high-quality titles to its ecosystem.

Part of a Bigger Update Cycle

The gaming app is just one piece of Apple’s upcoming software wave. At WWDC, Apple is expected to unveil:

• iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 with the new “Solarium” UI

• An AI-powered battery management feature

• An AI health coach

• Live translation support for AirPods

• Captive Wi-Fi login syncing

• And a new eye-scrolling feature for Vision Pro

The gaming app will launch as part of these major updates, which are expected to roll out to the public this September.

Final Thoughts

While it may not immediately turn Apple into a gaming powerhouse, this new app signals a more serious and organized approach to gaming across Apple’s platforms. With a cleaner interface, better integration, and support for external titles, Apple is giving gamers and developers more reasons to stay within its ecosystem—and maybe even play a little more.