Apple to launch new app as gaming hub for iOS users

Thanks to games like Genshin Impact, The Elder Scrolls: Castles and Clash Royale, smartphones have become the primary gaming platform for many users. Apple seems poised to drive this trend even further on the iPhone. According to a report by Filipe Espósito on 9to5Mac, the company is developing a new app aimed at serving as a central hub for gamers on iOS devices.

As Espósito reports, the app will offer various functions. Users will have access to news and game recommendations through a "Play Now" tab, while also being able to see an overview of their own games and monitor friends' activities and achievements. Leaderboards, achievements, and challenges are also in the works to enhance social interaction among players.

Games will be accessible both from the App Store and from the subscription service Apple Arcade, which is available for $6.99 per month. Apple is also planning to introduce developer tools in iOS 18 and macOS 15, which could facilitate the porting of games. A recent example of a similar initiative is the Xbox App Store, where Microsoft aims to establish a centralized platform for mobile gaming.

Espósito's information comes from an unnamed yet reliable source. However, details about whether the app will be free or when it will launch remain unclear. As no official announcement has yet been made by Apple, the launch of the gaming app on iOS remains speculation for the time being.