Apple Arcade Misses Gamers, Developers Unimpressed

Apple Arcade: A Mixed Bag for Mobile Game Developers

Apple Arcade, while offering a platform for mobile game developers, has garnered significant frustration among its creators, according to a Mobilegamer.biz report. This article delves into developer experiences and perspectives on the platform.

Developer Concerns on Apple Arcade

The "Inside Apple Arcade" report reveals widespread dissatisfaction among developers. Key issues cited include delayed payments, inadequate technical support, and significant discoverability problems.

Multiple studios reported extensive delays in receiving payments, with one indie developer experiencing a six-month wait, nearly jeopardizing their studio's survival. Communication with Apple was also a major hurdle, with developers reporting weeks or even months of silence before receiving responses, often lacking substance or helpfulness.

Discoverability proved another major challenge. One developer described their game as being "in a morgue" due to a lack of Apple's promotional support, rendering their game virtually invisible to potential players despite the exclusivity agreement. The rigorous quality assurance (QA) process, requiring the submission of thousands of screenshots to cover all device aspects and languages, was also criticized as overly burdensome.

A More Nuanced Perspective

Despite the overwhelmingly negative feedback, some developers acknowledged a shift towards a more focused approach from Apple Arcade over time and recognized the positive financial impact of Apple's support. Several studios noted that Apple's funding was crucial to their survival and allowed them to complete their projects. One developer even suggested that Apple's current focus on family-friendly games might be a viable business model.

Apple's Lack of Understanding of Gamers

The report suggests a fundamental disconnect between Apple and the gaming community. One developer stated that Apple Arcade lacks a clear strategy and feels like an afterthought within the broader Apple ecosystem. A significant criticism was Apple's apparent lack of understanding of its player base, hindering effective communication and collaboration with developers.

The prevailing sentiment among many developers is that Apple treats them as a "necessary evil," offering minimal support in return for exclusivity and potentially repeating negative experiences.