Apple is about to launch a new gaming application, which will replace Game Center

As the Nintendo Switch 2 is about to debut, Apple has quietly launched a "counterattack" against the gaming market, attempting to assert its sovereignty in a field it has never truly dominated.

On May 28, media reports indicated that Apple will pre-install a dedicated gaming application on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV set-top boxes later this year. The software will serve as a game launcher and centrally manage in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications, and other activity features.

This new application will provide access to the App Store's gaming section and promote the company's $6.99 monthly Arcade subscription service. At the same time, it will replace the Game Center social network, which was launched in 2010 but never gained real market recognition. Notably, Apple also plans to launch a Mac version, which will allow the software to connect to games downloaded from outside the App Store.

On June 5, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be officially released at a price of $450. Then, on June 9, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company will officially launch the software. As of Tuesday, Apple's stock price rose by 2.53%.

Challenges in Market Perception Remain

Although the new application may make Apple products more user-friendly in gaming and highlight the gaming category, testers of the software indicated that it may not change the perceptions of players and high-end game developers.

Reports suggest that Apple is generally not viewed as a gaming giant, and many developers and players believe that Macs still have significant shortcomings compared to Windows computers. The application is one of several features planned for the next version of iOS, which will be released to users in September—around the same time as the next generation of iPhone products.

As one of the most widely used gaming devices globally, the iPhone has made the gaming category a core part of the App Store since 2008. In recent years, developers have added high-end games such as Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed.

Currently, about two-thirds of Apple's App Store revenue comes from games and in-app purchases, including tokens, levels, and other in-game upgrades. The Mac platform has also made progress in recent years, with faster chips bringing better graphics performance, and Apple has released tools that make it easier for developers to port existing games to Mac.

As part of its gaming strategy, Apple has acquired RAC7 Games—a two-person studio that developed the popular game Sneaky Sasquatch