Apple Arcade Just \"Does Not Understand Gamers\" and Frustrates Game Devs

Apple Arcade: A Double-Edged Sword for Game Developers

While Apple Arcade offers a platform for mobile game developers, a new report from Mobilegamer.biz reveals widespread frustration and disillusionment among those creating games for the service. The report paints a picture of a platform riddled with issues impacting developer satisfaction and financial stability.

Challenges Faced by Apple Arcade Developers

The Mobilegamer.biz report highlights significant problems, including:

• Delayed Payments: Some developers experienced payment delays of up to six months, threatening the survival of their studios.
• Insufficient Technical Support: Developers report lengthy response times (weeks, or no response at all) to technical and commercial inquiries, citing unhelpful responses and a lack of knowledge from Apple's support team.
• Poor Game Discoverability: Many developers feel their games are buried within the platform, receiving little to no visibility despite exclusivity agreements. One developer described their game as being "in a morgue for the last two years."
• Cumbersome QA Process: The quality assurance (QA) and localization processes are deemed excessively burdensome, requiring the submission of thousands of screenshots to cover all device aspect ratios and languages.

A Mixed Bag: Positive Aspects and Underlying Issues

Despite the considerable negativity, the report acknowledges some positive aspects of the platform. Several developers highlighted Apple's financial support as crucial to their studios' existence, stating that Apple's funding was essential to their survival. There's also a suggestion that Apple Arcade's target audience has become clearer over time, shifting toward family-friendly games.

However, a prevailing sentiment is that Apple lacks a clear strategy for Arcade and doesn't fully understand its gaming audience. One developer stated that Apple "100% does not understand gamers," highlighting a lack of data sharing regarding player behavior and engagement. The feeling among many is that developers are treated as a "necessary evil," with limited return for their efforts.

The report concludes that Apple Arcade's future remains uncertain, with its current structure potentially unsustainable for many independent developers. The platform's lack of direction and support from the wider Apple ecosystem casts doubt on its long-term viability and its ability to foster a thriving developer community.