Apple is doubling down on gaming with the introduction of its new preinstalled “Games” app, rolling out this fall with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and even tvOS 26.
The app isn’t just a UI refresh—it’s Apple’s most aggressive move yet to position itself as a serious gaming platform. Acting as a centralized hub, the new Apple Games app combines your App Store purchases, Apple Arcade titles, Game Center features, and friend activity into one sleek destination. Instead of jumping between apps or hunting through settings, you’ll be able to launch games, view leaderboards, track challenges, and stay connected with friends—all from a single place.
This marks a major upgrade from the legacy Game Center, which has sat largely ignored for over a decade. Apple has reimagined the experience to feel more like what you’d find on a modern console: curated storefronts, multiplayer discovery, and social features layered into the core experience.
The Home tab brings updates and events front and center, while Apple Arcade gets its own section. A dedicated Play Together tab helps highlight multiplayer games and makes inviting friends more intuitive. The Library tab also surfaces every game you’ve ever downloaded from the App Store, ready to launch without digging.
Alongside the app, Apple is launching a Game Overlay feature on Mac and iPad, giving players access to Game Center tools like voice chat, Bluetooth device pairing, battery indicators, and more—all without leaving the game. This mirrors what other platforms like Steam and Xbox have offered for years.
The timing isn’t random. Apple’s been quietly laying groundwork for this shift. Game Mode debuted with macOS Sonoma in 2023 and expanded to iOS with iOS 18. The company has also pushed hard on its hardware, emphasizing the ray-tracing capabilities of its latest iPhone and M-series chips.
It’s also investing in compatibility, offering tools similar to Valve’s Proton to bring Windows games to Mac. High-profile AAA games like Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage have made their way onto Apple platforms, with IO Interactive’s Hitman trilogy landing this summer.
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