Apple Considers New Gaming App, As iOS 18.2 Beta Drops

Apple is said to be developing a new gaming app, but it is uncertain if this will be part of an upcoming iOS 18 update or if it will be postponed for iOS 19.

The new app is reported to function similarly to the App Store, specifically aimed at games. According to sources, this app will merge features from both the App Store and Game Center into one platform. Importantly, it is not intended to replace Game Center; instead, it will work in conjunction with users' existing Game Center profiles.

About Apple Game Center

Game Center serves as Apple’s social gaming network, aiding players in discovering games on Apple devices. It allows users to track scores on leaderboards, monitor achievement progress, invite friends to play, and initiate multiplayer games through automatching.

The new gaming app is expected to feature several tabs, such as a ‘Play Now’ section, alongside tabs dedicated to a user's games, friends, and more. In the ‘Play Now’ tab, users will find suggestions and editorial content related to various games. This app will highlight challenges, leaderboards, and achievements, showing games from both the App Store and Apple Arcade.

Gaming Events and Features

Additionally, it will promote special gaming events and provide information on significant updates. There are indications that Apple is looking into integrating functions with FaceTime and iMessage within this new gaming platform to facilitate player communication. Moreover, the development team is considering allowing developers to create mini-games using App Clips.

Apple Arcade, which is a subscription service that offers over 200 games accessible on Apple devices, has a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 in Australia.

New Features in iOS 18.2 Beta

In conjunction with these developments, Apple has released the first beta version of iOS 18.2. This new update includes innovative features under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence. One notable addition is the integration of ChatGPT. Users will be prompted to approve the use of ChatGPT when they ask Siri a question, allowing access to a broader range of responses.

Another feature is Visual Intelligence, which enables users to point their device's camera at objects to obtain related information quickly.

There will also be functionality to create custom emojis, referred to as Genmojis.

Apple, Gaming, iOS