Apple’s App Store chief outlines gaming plans and Arcade’s role
Carson Oliver said premium releases are growing and described Apple Arcade as another business-model option for game developers.
Apple wants developers to have a choice between selling games as premium downloads and offering them through Apple Arcade, Carson Oliver, its new head of App Store Worldwide, told Polygon in an email interview.
Oliver reported growth in premium game releases on the App Store, with independent titles joined by more franchises originating on consoles and PCs. He said mobile audiences represent a growing market for those games.
Apple announced Indie Games Week, featuring seven new and upcoming titles for iPhone and iPad. The selection includes Sifu, No Man’s Sky and Little Kitty, Big City. Oliver described the selection as an indication of the direction of gaming on those devices.
Explaining Arcade’s place alongside paid downloads, Oliver cited Balatro as a game available through both models. He said Apple aims to let developers choose what suits each game while giving players options. Oliver also said a generation whose first gaming device was an iPhone favors touch controls.
