Subscription gaming services come to Apple, Android

Despite its popularity, mobile games suffer from obnoxious ads and micro-transactions, but it’s all about to change.

The mobile gaming industry is worth billions of dollars, so you can hardly blame Apple and Google for chasing a bigger slice of the action.

Both companies have recently launched new subscription-based “Netflix for gaming” style services, giving gamers access to a variety of addictive new games, straight from their smartphones.

While gaming on the go used to mean clunky Gameboys with a collection of cartridges, smartphone gaming has been rising in popularity as phones become more powerful, with massive libraries of games available to download at the touch of a button.

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But mobile gaming is not without its detractors.

Many have complained that excessive advertising and microtransactions ruin the experience.

Apple and Google are aiming to solve this with their new gaming platforms by delivering a fun, easy and enjoyable way for gamers to dive in and start playing.

Apple Arcade features a variety of games available to download and play offline, with no ads or microtransactions for $7.99 a month after a free month trial.

Arcade is slated to feature more than 100 games by the end of the year, including exclusive titles you can’t get anywhere else.

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The company has worked with developers to ensure the games run smoothly and look great too.

The games on Arcade, as you might expect, feel consistent across the platform, with similar aesthetic style and a variety of controls.

Most games play a cutscene on first launch that gives players some context and helps set the tone for what’s to come, but the point of Arcade is casual fun, so there’s not too much densely woven story that you need to try hard to keep up with, we’re not talking about Metal Gear or Mass Effect here.

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You can get Apple Arcade now if you have an eligible iPhone or iPad running iOS 13, and an update earlier this week also added the functionality to Apple TV.

While many of the games are able to be controlled using the touch screen on your device or TV remote, gamers can also connect controllers from Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox consoles to control games that support them.

Apple Arcade is designed to work across the "Apple ecosystem".

Apple will also add Arcade to its Mac computers later this year, allowing those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem to game on different devices, with game progress syncing across.

It means you can start playing on the train home and pick up where you left off when you get there for a seamless and immersive gaming experience.

GOOGLE PLAY PASS

Google’s competing Play Pass platform is a little different.

As well as games, Play Pass offers a curated catalogue of apps too.

Unlike Apple’s Arcade, Google aren’t funding the development of new games, but they’re also not demanding they be exclusive to Play Pass.

This means subscribers can get free access to already popular games like the award-winning platformer Limbo or adventure strategy game This Is The Police.

But unfortunately Aussies will have to wait a while longer before they can sign up.

Google Play Pass is currently only available in the US but it’s expected to be available around the world eventually, with Google saying other countries coming “soon”.

FIVE GAMES TO CHECK OUT ON APPLE ARCADE

Apple Arcade is now available on select iPad, iOS and Apple TV devices

SKATE CITY

For fans of the old EA Skate franchise comes this side-scrolling skate sim. Dreamy and meditative, it’s easy to burn hours on this game as you try to hit the perfect line and beat your personal best.

AGENT INTERCEPT

A screenshot of Apple Arcade game Agent Intercept from New Zealand developer PikPok

This game from New Zealand developer PikPok is a speed freak sprint of a driving game that combines drifts, rockets, and barrel rolls for a frantic and exciting outrun style experience. There’s also the ability for your car to transform seamlessly into a boat when the road runs out.

HOT LAVA

A childhood favourite for many, the IRL (“in real life”) version of Hot Lava has been terrorising hotel rooms and parents for decades. This version retains some of the real world fun with innovative controls that uses your physical orientation to dictate your movement in the game.

OPERATOR 41

Operator 41 was designed by British teenager Spruce Campbell

A must play for fans of the iconic Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell franchise. Operator 41 is a stealth based puzzle game. While it won’t provide the same heart-in-mouth action and split second decision making of the Sam Fisher style, it remains a challenging sneak fest with plenty of ways to approach the puzzle. All the more impressive: it was made by 14-year-old BAFTA-award winning British game designer Spruce Campbell.

SAYONARA WILD HEARTS

Sayonara Wild Hearts blends multiple genres and playstyles with a synthy pop soundtrack

Sayonara Wild Hearts is as tough to define as it is to put down. It’s described as a “pop album video game”; a pulsing arcade game about riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at breakneck speeds, all to the tune of a killer soundtrack. All you really need to know is it’s an absolute joy to play.

Have you checked out the new Apple Arcade? Let us know what you think in the comments below.