Apple has announced the launch of a new Apple Games app that consolidates games from the App Store, Apple Arcade, and Game Center social features. Designed to enhance game discovery, this app will come pre-installed with upcoming software updates and aims to provide a curated gaming experience.
Apple has officially unveiled its new Apple Games app, designed as a comprehensive hub for all games on iPhones and iPads. This app aims to consolidate games from the App Store along with a special section for Apple Arcade and integrates social features from Game Center, such as leaderboards and challenges.
The introduction of the Games app highlights Apple’s intent to offer a more organized and curated space for what it describes as the most popular genre in its App Store—mobile games. By doing this, Apple aims to enhance game discovery, thereby allowing users to find new titles more easily.
Importantly, the app also serves as a new home for Game Center’s social functionalities that users often found hard to locate within the Settings menu. Among its features is a “Play Together” tab, which emphasizes multiplayer experiences, aiming to engage players seeking social gaming interactions.
The Apple Games app is set to come pre-installed on users’ home screens with the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. Apple hopes that this change will provide a more streamlined gaming experience for its users.
Additionally, it should be noted that the article references the use of income-earning auto affiliate links by its source, 9to5Mac. This disclaimer indicates a secondary revenue model tied to the promotion of the app and its features.
