Apple Arcade: A Mixed Bag for Mobile Game Developers
A recent Mobilegamer.biz report paints a complex picture of Apple Arcade, Apple's game subscription service. While some developers praise its financial support, many express significant frustration with the platform's operational aspects. The report reveals widespread concerns about delayed payments, insufficient technical support, and frustrating discoverability issues.
Several developers detailed lengthy wait times for payment, with one claiming a six-month delay that nearly jeopardized their studio's survival. The report also highlights difficulties in obtaining timely and helpful responses from Apple's support team, often encountering non-answers or unhelpful responses. Communication delays, averaging three weeks or more, were a recurring theme.
Discoverability proved another major hurdle. One developer described their game as languishing in obscurity for two years due to a lack of features from Apple, feeling effectively invisible despite the exclusivity agreement. The rigorous quality assurance (QA) process, requiring the submission of thousands of screenshots to cover all device aspects and languages, was also criticized as excessively burdensome.
Despite the negative feedback, the report acknowledges a shift in Apple Arcade's focus. Some developers believe the platform now better understands its target audience, even if that audience isn't solely comprised of indie game enthusiasts. Moreover, several developers emphasized the crucial financial lifeline provided by Apple Arcade, stating that their studios wouldn't exist without the platform's funding.
However, a pervasive feeling remains that Apple treats game developers as a necessary evil, lacking a clear strategy and genuine support within the broader Apple ecosystem. One developer bluntly stated that Apple doesn't understand gamers, lacking essential data on player demographics and in-game behavior to share with developers. This lack of understanding, combined with communication breakdowns and perceived indifference, leaves many developers feeling exploited and disillusioned, despite the financial benefits. The report concludes with a sense of uncertainty about the future of Apple Arcade and its relationship with the developers who contribute to its success.
