Apple Arcade: A Mixed Bag for Mobile Game Developers
Apple Arcade, while offering a platform for mobile game developers, has faced significant criticism due to various operational issues. A recent Mobilegamer.biz report reveals widespread developer frustration stemming from delayed payments, inadequate technical support, and poor game discoverability.
The report highlights substantial delays in payment processing, with one indie developer reporting a six-month wait that nearly bankrupted their studio. Communication with Apple also proved problematic, with developers citing weeks or even months of unanswered emails and unhelpful responses to technical and commercial inquiries.
Discoverability challenges further exacerbate the situation. Several developers lamented their games' lack of visibility on the platform, feeling effectively ignored despite their exclusivity agreements. The rigorous quality assurance (QA) process, requiring the submission of thousands of screenshots for various devices and languages, was also cited as overly burdensome.
Despite the negative experiences, some developers acknowledged Apple Arcade's improved focus and the significant financial benefits of their partnerships. Several studios stated that Apple's funding was crucial to their survival and allowed them to fully fund their development budgets.
However, a prevailing sentiment among developers is that Apple lacks a clear strategy for Arcade and doesn't fully understand its gaming audience. The platform is perceived as an afterthought within the larger Apple ecosystem, with limited data shared with developers regarding player behavior and engagement. Some developers even expressed feeling treated as a "necessary evil," exploited for their work with minimal reciprocal support. The overall impression is one of a platform with significant potential, hampered by internal inconsistencies and a disconnect with the developer community.
