Apple announces huge investment in ‘Netflix of gaming’
The company's on-demand gaming service is set to make them R63 billion a year by 2024.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil plans for a new streaming video service and possibly a subscription news application at a March 25 event. GETTY/AFP/File/KEVORK DJANSEZIAN
Apple’s “Netflix for games” service Arcade has received a massive boost with the announcement that the company aims to spend over $500 million in order to attract the best game titles for the forthcoming service.
Arcade is set to let subscribers play exclusive games ad-free on mobile, desktop, and Apple TV across all their devices, meaning you can stop playing on one, and pick up where you left off on another.
The manufacturer has announced the money will be spent securing exclusive launches for Apple devices in which players on other platforms will only be able to play the games months, or even years later.
The company has previously stated it would be spending $1 billion (R14 billion) on original content for the platform, which it hoped would seal its future at the pinnacle of video gaming.
Analysts are predicting that the service could have as many as 29 million users by 2024 and suggest the service will cost in the region of $13 a month (R180) to use, netting the company roughly $4.5 billion (R63.2 billion) in annual revenue.
The release of Apple Arcade comes as Google unveiled Stadia, a service that lets users “play, watch, and build” games on any device.
Additionally, Microsoft debuted its own competitor, called Project xCloud, that lets users play high-quality games on their phone without the need for an Xbox.
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