{
  "id": 15664011,
  "title": "New App Store chief discusses Apple’s gaming strategy, future of Apple Arcade, more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/new-app-store-chief-discusses-apples-gaming-strategy-future-of-apple",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-19T22:14:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/19/new-app-store-chief-discusses-apples-gaming-strategy-future-of-apple-arcade-more/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an interview with Polygon, Apple's new head of App Store Worldwide, Carson Oliver, discussed the company's expanding gaming ambitions, the increasing number of premium iPhone games, and the role of Apple Arcade in its strategy. Apple has long sought to establish itself as a significant player in the gaming industry, with periodic efforts to attract major developers and encourage players to engage in gaming on its devices. The company's efforts are evident in the introduction of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, substantial improvements to its Metal graphics framework, and tools to facilitate the porting of PC and console games to its platforms. At the beginning of last week, shortly after Carson Oliver's promotion to vice president of the App Store, Apple announced Indie Games Week, highlighting seven new and upcoming games for iPhone and iPad, including:\n\nPolygon conducted an email interview with Oliver, who shared insights into the state of gaming on the App Store and Apple's plans for the future. Oliver noted that there has been remarkable growth in games released on the App Store, with more premium games launching this year than the previous one. While many of these games are independent titles, there are also more console and PC franchises making their way to mobile as a burgeoning audience for these games emerges. Among the seven games featured in Indie Games Week, Oliver emphasized the diversity and creativity of gaming on iPhone and iPad, with no compromises on quality.\n\nOliver also delved into the technical advancements Apple has achieved over the years, some of which were previously mentioned. Furthermore, he discussed the impact of younger generations of players who have grown up with an iPhone as their first gaming device, as opposed to traditional consoles or PCs. According to Oliver, these users utilize direct touch as their primary controller, rendering iPhone and iPad the ideal platform for indie innovation. As for Apple Arcade, Oliver's perspective on its role within Apple's broader gaming strategy is centered around providing game developers with flexibility. He explained that the company aims to serve as a trusted platform for developers to reach users worldwide, support them throughout their journey, and assist them in building successful businesses. To achieve this, Apple offers developers various business model options, enabling a wide range of games to thrive. For instance, a groundbreaking game like Balatro can prosper as a premium download, while a different title may find its place within the Apple Arcade service. The crucial aspect is that Apple provides developers the flexibility to choose the best option for each individual game, while granting players the freedom to engage with games in the manner they prefer. To read Oliver's complete interview with Polygon, which also covers App Store discoverability and the types of games finding success on Apple's platforms, follow this link.",
  "summary": "In an interview with Polygon , Apple’s new head of App Store Worldwide, Carson Oliver, discussed the company’s broader gaming ambitions, the growing number of premium iPhone games, and where Apple Arcade fits into its strategy. Here’s what he said. more…",
  "key_points": [
    "Apple's new App Store head, Carson Oliver, discusses gaming strategy and Apple Arcade.",
    "Apple Arcade offers developers flexibility to reach global users and build successful businesses."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}