Apple could embrace iPhone gaming with dedicated game store

Apple has been heavily promoting gaming on its consumer devices in recent years. The company has developed porting tools to help developers bring their titles from Windows to macOS and from macOS to iOS. It also often boasts about its chipsets’ graphics rendering and processing capabilities when running demanding games during media events. To lure gamers further, Apple appears to be working on a dedicated game store, which could debut through a future iOS 18 or iOS 19 update.

According to information obtained by 9to5Mac, Apple is working on a game store for iOS. The rumored app will reportedly feature Game Center profiles, achievements, challenges, events, leaderboards, and suggestions, turning it into a comprehensive gaming hub.

The game store will likely have multiple tabs, similar to the existing App Store and other first-party apps. The main Play Now tab will supposedly highlight titles from Apple Arcade and the App Store. This could make it easier for iPhone gamers to find new games.

Otherwise, the Apple game store is rumored to offer FaceTime and iMessage integrations, which could simplify communication between players during gaming sessions. The company could also utilize its App Clips feature to promote mini-games that don’t consume a lot of local storage.

The iPhone 16 packs a longer battery life, faster charging, an improved cooling system, and a mighty chip. By better presenting iOS games and introducing more engaging gaming features, Apple could push users to fully utilize the premium hardware they pay for. Some may argue, however, that the problem with iPhone gaming isn’t how or in what app titles are presented but rather the scarcity of AAA games.