Apple is gearing up to make a big move in its gaming strategy, with plans to replace the decade-old Game Center with a brand-new, comprehensive gaming app across its major platforms—iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this new app is expected to debut at WWDC 2025 on June 9 and will be pre-installed later this year alongside iOS 18 and the next macOS release.
This fresh gaming hub will act as a launcher for all installed games, consolidating achievements, leaderboards, communication features, and editorial content into one streamlined experience. It aims to make discovering and engaging with games much easier for users, prominently featuring both App Store titles and Apple Arcade games (Apple’s subscription-based gaming service priced at $6.99/month).
A key highlight is the Mac version’s planned support for games downloaded from outside the App Store—a notable shift in Apple’s traditionally closed ecosystem. This move signals Apple’s intent to make the Mac a more serious competitor in gaming, an area where Windows PCs currently dominate.
In tandem with this strategy, Apple recently acquired RAC7 Games, known for the popular Apple Arcade title Sneaky Sasquatch, underscoring Apple’s push to invest in original gaming content.
Earlier reports hinted that the new app might include features similar to Microsoft’s Xbox app on iPhone, such as a “Play Now” tab for curated game recommendations, a friends list, achievements, challenges, and in-game communication possibly using FaceTime or iMessage.
Interestingly, rather than completely discarding Game Center, Apple might integrate existing Game Center profiles into the new app. There’s also talk of supporting mini-games via App Clips, which would allow quick, lightweight gaming experiences without full installs.
Overall, Apple’s upcoming gaming app looks to be a significant overhaul designed to unify and enrich gaming across its ecosystem, positioning the company for a stronger presence in the gaming world.
