Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia, who’s winning this battle?

It’s a showdown alright. Apple vs. Google, a long time tech battle that is ever expanding.

This time it’s all about games.

The gaming industry is booming, estimated to have reached $137.9 Billion in 2018 alone. Surprise, surprise that two of the world’s largest tech giants are running headfirst into the gaming market.

Google announced its cloud gaming platform Stadia and game studio, Stadia Games and Entertainment, at GDC 2019 and in less than 10 days after, Apple showed the world Apple Arcade, subscription-based gaming at your fingertips via the App Store.

Source: Reddit

What We Know

In terms of information, we know a lot more about Apple Arcade than we do Google Stadia.

During Google’s GDC keynote, Stadia was presented as a cloud gaming, bringing high quality, AAA console games to our mobile and desktop devices. It requires no console and also no controller unless you opt-in for the Stadia controller equipped with game share and Google Assistant buttons. We know Stadia is distributed through Youtube and its many macro gaming influencers. We were reassured by MatPat of The Game Theorists, that Stadia is sure to be awesome. Google released no price, no specific time of release and no other details on exactly how the platform would work. Though rest assured, Stadia is working with major games like Assassin's Creed and Doom.

Assassins on Stadia

Apple, on the other hand, gave us more. Apple Arcade is going to have its own tab in the App Store and is the world’s first subscription-based gaming platform. So for a single inclusive monthly or yearly price, we get all Apple Arcade games, ad-free. Apple claims also to be bringing the high quality of console games to mobile, desktop and living room. They’re already teasing us with a roundup of confirmed games. These include the puzzle game, “Where Cards Fall” by Snowman | The Game Band, the floor is lava game, “Hot Lava” by Klei Entertainment, the racing game, “Sonic Racing” by Sega, and many more. Apple Arcade games are all going to be exclusive to the platform. You won’t be able to play them anywhere else. But, you will be able to play them on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Smart TV both online and offline.

“Hot Lava” by Klei Entertainment, launching on Apple Arcade later this year.

“Sonic Racing” from SEGA, launching on Apple Arcade later this year.

As for development, Google and Apple have got some different ideas going.

Following the Google Play Store’s openness (no approval needed to publish an app), Google called on any and every developer to apply for access to the Stadia development kits. In addition, to outside game developers, Google is ready to release some of its own gaming hits with Stadia Games and Entertainment.

Apple, on the other hand, is focusing more on collaborating with legendary game innovators, keeping their content exclusive, curated and personalized as Tim so promised in the Apple March 2019 event. Tim proudly bragged about how every app that gets published in the Apple App Store is carefully reviewed by their experts, meaning all content Apple gives out is already tediously picked through and approved for quality. They’re doing the same for their game developers. They’ve got Hironubu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy), Ken Wong (Monument Valley) and Will Wright (The Sims) on their side and that’s definitely a hard lineup to beat.

What are your thoughts on Apple Arcade vs. Google Stadia? Leave a comment with who you think the winner of this battle is going to be.

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