That's a really interesting question, but I don't think Apple's going to be the company to take gaming in that direction. Their cloud services are pretty lackluster. I have an ATV, and I only ever use it for Netflix streaming.
100% this: cloud gaming tech is solid but the business model is still in infancy. By the time Apple caught up in gaming I expect cloud gaming will have taken root.
Apple could. History suggests it won't. Gaming has never been an area where Apple has put its competitive energy. Gaming ecosystems require working closely with third party developers. Apple has been moving in the opposite direction for years.
Apple is horrific at the gaming business, and that isn't going to change any time soon. Why? Because it's not a priority, and isn't going to be any time soon.
The substantial infrastructure pieces that Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have built up in gaming - Apple has none of that, and it isn't going to magically appear. Apple would have to make gaming a top priority, and they will never do that.
Because gaming is one of the last remaining markets that apple can dominate in and profit. Microsoft spent a lot of money on Activision to claw back against apple
If your eyes hurt then switch to literally any other apple device, Apple TV, Mac, iPad, iPhone… they all have access to Apple Arcade. When cloud gaming streams asset objects and not raw video, then it’d be a contender. As of now, it’s too expensive and is losing to mobile games
I'm not sure that apple itself has nothing to offer.
I have a feeling it is only a matter of time before apple releases something that is of serious interest to gamers.
It may not be a games console as such but think something with a large screen , an app store and some new input method that lends itself well to gaming.
I wonder when apple will start taking the 'serious games' segment seriously. Like being able to play nintendo switch quality games on your iPad, AAA games on a laptop or some sort of apple TV++++ device and such.
Maybe MacOS isn't a good push for gaming for either developers or Apple. I definitely think iOS is. The Apple Arcade Subscription plan seems to be part of that for gaming. I've seen a lot of people on the subway and even at work sometimes playing mobile games on their iOS device, from Call of Duty Mobile to racing games to tower defense.
I imagine when Apple expands their desktop and laptop lineup to M1 chips, it's going to include many of the games that are available from their mobile catalog.
While you responded factually, it feels disingenuous to portray an Apple computer as a capable gaming device. It is not. Not for the newest, not for the best. Not for the classics, not for the indies. Streaming has failed to impress the market, and the Apple Arcade remains an unfulfilling curiosity for those who think of gamers as a bit stinky and unproductive.
The ANE is certainly impressive, and delivering considerable capabilities Apple is now giving phenomenal compute power for both gaming and non gaming applications.
However the new streaming type of gaming like Stadia and Luna seems to be more likely the future evolution of processors in hardware consoles. A Streaming type of gaming makes much more sense in the long run..
Apple One subscription only re-enforces this direction.
I think that apple is going to break into gaming in a big way in the next 5-10 years. A small target range of carefully-curated hardware is a HUGE advantage in game development.
Devs will be able to optimize for apple machines in much the same way that they currently optimize for consoles, and you'll be able to know exactly how a game will perform on your system before buying it.
I really hope that with Metal and the possibility of external GPUs with Thunderbolt 3, Apple makes a concentrated push for Mac gaming already.
Their ecosystem in a very strong position for killer cross-device multiplayer games too; for example an MMORPG that one can play on the Mac and then seamlessly continue on their iPad, iPhone or Apple TV via Handoff/Continuity, while getting messages and auction etc. alerts on their Apple Watch. Why hasn't this happened yet?
I think it's very possible that Apple could become the casual games industry. I don't think they will have as big of an impact on the hardcore gaming market though.
I play a ton of stuff on my M1 iPad. My desktop is still an Intel Mac Pro, but I’ve played tons of games on it over the years. I occasionally play a AAA game on it when there’s a port, but those don’t interest me too much. I have Steam on the Mac and Apple Arcade on my Mac, iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV. I tend to avoid Steam when possible because it’s a terrible application, but some games are only available there. Otherwise, I lean towards Apple Arcade because it avoids all the loot boxes, in-app purchases and other crap that makes games so toxic. I’d love for even more games to be available on Apple’s devices, as would others I know.
Apple is already in [casual] gaming, they have Apple Arcade and hundreds of high quality games on app store. They also have "console" called Apple TV. Evey Apple store sells Playstation controllers.
Apple still considers Macbooks as trucks: they are for developers and professionals, not gamers or everyday users. They want non-developers to buy iPad and that is why there is no sub-$1000 MacBook.
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