Apple is working on a new App Store just for games

Apple is gearing up to launch a dedicated gaming hub for iOS users, blending the functionality of the App Store and Game Center into a single app. This move comes as part of the company’s increasing efforts to make its ecosystem more appealing to gamers, from casual players to more serious fans of Apple Arcade and beyond.

A unified gaming experience with Game Center integration

The new gaming app will offer a centralized space for discovering, managing, and enjoying games, pulling in titles from both the App Store and Apple Arcade. Rather than replacing Game Center, it will be tightly integrated with it, showing a user’s profile, friends, leaderboards, and achievements in a seamless interface.

Tabs, editorial content, and communication features

Among its features are multiple tabs such as “Play Now,” “My Games,” and “Friends,” allowing users to switch easily between their game library and recommendations. The “Play Now” tab will feature curated content, challenges, and news, similar to editorial features already present in the App Store but with a gaming-specific focus.

Apple is also said to be experimenting with integration through FaceTime and iMessage, aiming to foster social interaction among players. This could position the app as an essential companion for multiplayer and social games, aligning it with platforms like the Xbox app for iPhone.

A step toward making iOS more gaming-friendly

While Apple Arcade already provides a subscription-based gaming service, the introduction of this gaming-focused app highlights Apple’s broader ambitions. By offering tools for porting Mac games to iOS and possibly supporting App Clip mini games, the company is working to attract more developers and gamers alike.