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

While Apple Arcade offers a platform for mobile game developers, a new report from Mobilegamer.biz reveals widespread frustration and disillusionment among developers. Read on to discover their experiences.

Apple Arcade: Developer Frustration with Platform Issues

Apple's Support: A Double-Edged Sword

Multiple studios reported excruciatingly long wait times for communication and payment from Apple. One indie developer described a six-month payment delay that nearly bankrupted their studio. They also criticized the opaque and ever-shifting goals of the platform, adding, "It’s a very difficult and long process to sign a deal with Apple these days. The lack of vision and clear focus of the platform is frustrating and if there is any goal, it keeps changing every year or so. Also, technical support is pretty miserable."

Another developer echoed these sentiments, highlighting the weeks-long radio silence from Apple and the frustratingly slow (or nonexistent) response times to crucial questions regarding product, technical, and commercial aspects. Confidentiality concerns and a perceived lack of knowledge further hampered effective communication.

Discoverability emerged as a major point of contention. One developer lamented their game's two-year absence from Apple's spotlight, feeling completely ignored despite exclusivity agreements. They stated, "It’s like we don’t exist. So as a developer you think, well, they’ve given us this money for exclusivity… I don’t want to give them the money back, but I do want people to play my game. It’s like we’re invisible." The rigorous quality assurance (QA) and localization process, requiring the submission of thousands of screenshots to cover all device aspects and languages, was also criticized as excessively burdensome.

Despite the overwhelmingly negative feedback, some developers acknowledged a shift towards clearer audience targeting within Apple Arcade over time. One developer commented, "I think Arcade knows who its audience is much more today than at the outset. If that doesn’t turn out to be high concept artful indie games, that’s not Apple’s fault," adding, "If they can build a business on family games, good for them and good for the devs who can chase that opportunity." Several also acknowledged the crucial financial lifeline Apple provided, stating that without Apple Arcade's funding, their studios wouldn't exist.

Apple's Disconnect with Gamers

The report concluded that Apple Arcade lacks a cohesive strategy and feels like an afterthought within the broader Apple ecosystem. One developer succinctly summarized the situation: "Arcade has no clear strategy and feels like a bolt-on to the Apple company ecosystem rather than like it is truly supported inside the company," further stating, "Apple 100% does not understand gamers – they have little to no info on who plays their games that they can share with developers, or how they interact with games on the platform already."

The prevailing sentiment among developers is that Apple treats them as a mere necessity, a disposable asset. One developer poignantly stated, "Given their status as a huge tech company, it feels as if they treat developers as a necessary evil, and that we will do everything we can to please them for little in return, in the hope that they grace us with another project – and a chance for them to screw us over again."