Is Apple working on its own 'Netflix for games'?
What's the story
Amid rumors of declining iPhone sales, Apple appears to be pushing its services business. We already know the Cupertino giant is working on a content streaming platform, but now, Cheddar has reported it is also developing a service for video games. The platform might work like 'Netflix for games', letting you play titles of your choice in exchange for a fixed fee. Here's more.
Report
Partnerships with game developers
Speaking to sources familiar with Apple's plans, Cheddar learned that the company is in talks with game developers for its paid gaming service. The work started in the second half of 2018 but is still in the early stages, the sources emphasized on the condition of anonymity. They further noted Apple has also discussed acting as a publisher and marketer for select games.
Questions
However, many details still remain unclear
Having that said, it is important to note that there are no hard details about this gaming service. The sources didn't reveal which platforms it would work on, what games it could offer (mobile or PC too?), or what would be the cost of subscribing to a paid game package. Apple, on its part, has denied commenting on the report.
Competitors
Other game streaming services on the block
The shift from a one-time payment to a subscription-based model has already started in the mobile and PC gaming arena. Sony already offers PlayStation Now gaming service at $99.99/year, Google is working on Project Stream, while Microsoft, EA are also working on similar plans. Notably, Google was also reported to be working on 'Play Pass', a possible subscription-based service for paid apps and games.
Benefit
Either way, the move makes sense for Apple
By adding a gaming subscription service, Apple could open more sources of revenue for itself. The sale of iPhones has reportedly been slowing, while the mobile gaming industry is expected to touch $100bn by 2021. "The vast majority of revenue coming out of the App Store is games," BTIG analyst Brandon Ross said, noting that a subscription-based mobile gaming model could work for Apple.