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Apple Arcade is launching on September 19th for $4.99 a month

Apple Arcade is launching on September 19th for $4.99 a month

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Apple is offering a one-month free trial

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Image: Apple

Apple’s subscription gaming service is coming soon. Today, at its latest iPhone event, the company revealed that Apple Arcade will be launching in more than 150 countries on September 19th, for a monthly fee of $4.99 and with support for Apple’s Family Sharing feature. The company will launch with a one-month free trial, and it will arrive with more than 100 titles.

Apple Arcade was first revealed in March, though at the time, we knew little about the service aside from the fact that Apple had lured plenty of big-name mobile developers, including the likes of Monument Valley studio Ustwo and Alto’s Adventure creators Snowman. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and SimCity creator Will Wright were also touted at the time.

Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge

At today’s iPhone event, Apple also showed some demos of Arcade exclusives from legendary Japanese game studios, including a modern riff on the classic Frogger called Frogger in Toy Town from Konami and an all-new title called Shinsekai: Into The Depths from Capcom. A final demo, published by indie studio Annapurna Interactive, showed off the lush art style of rhythm game Sayonara Wild Hearts, developed by Swedish studio Simogo, which appears to be one of the rare nonexclusive Arcade titles, as it is also coming to Nintendo Switch.

The fall launch of Apple Arcade comes at a time when video game subscription services are becoming increasingly popular. Microsoft has seen some early success with its Xbox Game Pass, Google is exploring some form of subscription offer for Stadia, and publishers like Ubisoft have launched their own standalone service. Google is even testing its own mobile version for premium Android games.

Later in the day, Apple released some more information on new exclusive Arcade titles, including all-new entries in renown franchises like Rayman and Pac-Man and a new take on the iconic ChuChu Rocket, the Dreamcast puzzle game that first introduced Sega console players to online multiplayer:

Ballistic Baseball” from Gameloft, is an action-packed arcade baseball game that captures the intense battle between pitcher and batter in live head-to-head multiplayer matches.

“ChuChu Rocket! Universe” explodes as Sega launches the beloved ChuChus into a universe of strange and wonderful planets with over 100 mind-bending puzzles.

In “Exit the Gungeon” from Devolver, players must escape a collapsing hell dungeon as increasingly perilous obstacles and opponents stand in their way.

“Overland” from Finji, is a post-apocalyptic road trip adventure where players fight dangerous creatures, rescue stranded travelers and scavenge for supplies to survive.

“PAC-MAN PARTY ROYALE” from Bandai Namco, is a brand-new arcade experience featuring a four-player Battle Mode where the last PAC-MAN standing wins.

In “Projection: First Light” from Blowfish, players follow the adventures of Greta, a girl living in a mythological shadow puppet world as she embarks on a journey of self-enlightenment, helped by legendary heroes from ancient cultures along the way.

In “Rayman Mini” from Ubisoft, Rayman has been reduced to the size of an ant! Players use insects, mushrooms and plants to run through the world as quickly as possible or try over and over again to achieve the perfect score.

In “Shantae and the Seven Sirens” from WayForward, players explore a vast sunken city and battle the Seven Sirens in the Half-Genie’s most thrilling adventure yet.

“Skate City” from Snowman brings the heart and soul of street skating to life with multi-touch controls as city streets become the ultimate skater playground.

In “Sneaky Sasquatch” from RAC7, players live the life of a Sasquatch and do regular, everyday Sasquatch stuff like sneaking around in disguise, raiding coolers and picnic baskets, playing golf and more.

“Steven Universe: Unleash the Light,” is an original Cartoon Network game, co-written by Rebecca Sugar, where players pick their favorite characters, choose which Gems are in their party, unlock awesome new abilities and equip alternate costumes in the ultimate mobile role-playing game (RPG).

“Super Impossible Road” from Rogue Games, is a futuristic, high-speed racing game where players master hairpin turns on courses that twist and coil over beautiful galactic backdrops.

“The Bradwell Conspiracy” from Bossa, is a beautifully stylized conspiracy adventure thriller with a humorous twist.

In “The Enchanted World” from Noodlecake, players help a young fairy piece together a magical world torn apart by dark forces.

“Various Daylife” from Square Enix, is a brand-new RPG from the creators of “Bravely Default” and “Octopath Traveler.” In the year 211 of the Imperial Era, players explore a newly-discovered continent while living life to the fullest in the city of Erebia.