Apple Debuts Apple Arcade Gaming Subscription Service

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg News

CUPERTINO, CA - MARCH 25: Ann Thai, senior product marketing manager of the App Store at Apple Inc., speaks during a company product launch event at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park on March 25, 2019 in Cupertino, California. Apple announced the launch of it's new video streaming service, unveiled a premium subscription tier to its News app, and announced it would release its own credit card, called Apple Card. (Photo by Michael Short/Getty Images) , Photographer: Michael Short/Getty Images

(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. added gaming to its suite of new video, news, and credit card services, introducing the subscription program just days after Google unveiled a cloud-based gaming plan.

The service, called Apple Arcade, will be integrated into the App Store and will include more than 100 games exclusive to the service and Apple’s platform. The games will synchronize across iPhones, iPads, Mac computers and Apple TVs, and will work offline, the company said Monday during a presentation at its Cupertino headquarters. The service won’t launch until the fall and the company said it will disclose pricing at a later date.

Stocks of gaming companies including Activision Blizzard Inc. dropped on the announcement of Apple’s entry into the $180 billion industry. The iPhone maker said it will back development costs of some games and “would work closely with creators.” The service will have no advertising, Apple said.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google last week announced its Stadia game-streaming service to let players access the action through the web instead of having to buy expensive consoles or personal computers.

--With assistance from Morwenna Coniam.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Alistair Barr