Apple Arcade, while offering a platform for mobile game developers, has reportedly caused significant frustration due to various operational issues, according to a Mobilegamer.biz report. This article delves into developer experiences and perspectives on the platform.
Apple Arcade: Developer Frustration and Platform Issues
Apple's Support: A Double-Edged Sword
Mobilegamer.biz's "Inside Apple Arcade" report reveals widespread dissatisfaction among developers. Key issues include delayed payments, inadequate technical support, and challenges with game discoverability.Many studios reported extensive delays in receiving payments, with one indie developer citing a six-month wait that nearly jeopardized their business. This developer also highlighted the difficulty in securing deals with Apple, citing a lack of clear platform direction and consistently shifting goals. Technical support was described as "miserable," with slow response times and unhelpful answers. Another developer echoed these sentiments, noting weeks-long periods without communication and an average three-week response time for emails, if they received a response at all. Requests for product, technical, and commercial information often went unanswered or received vague, unhelpful replies due to knowledge gaps or confidentiality restrictions.
Discoverability proved another major hurdle. One developer described their game as being "in a morgue for the last two years" due to a lack of featuring by Apple, leading to feelings of invisibility and wasted exclusivity. The rigorous quality assurance (QA) process also drew criticism, with one developer describing the submission requirements as excessively burdensome.
Despite these criticisms, some developers acknowledged positive aspects. Several noted that Apple Arcade has become more focused on its target audience over time and that Apple's financial backing has been crucial to their studios' survival, providing funding that covered entire development budgets.
A Disconnect with Gamers
The report suggests a lack of strategic direction within Apple Arcade, portraying it as a loosely integrated component of the broader Apple ecosystem rather than a fully supported initiative. Developers expressed a belief that Apple lacks a deep understanding of its gamer base, citing a lack of data sharing on player behavior and engagement.
A prevailing sentiment among developers is that they are treated as a "necessary evil," with developers feeling exploited and undervalued despite their efforts to meet Apple's demands. The hope for future projects is often cited as the primary motivator for enduring these perceived shortcomings.
