Apple To Offer Gaming Subscriptions For $4.99/Month

The Apple watch site, 9to5Mac. has reported that the tech giant is set to charge $4.99 per month for its Apple Arcade service, which is expected to launch this fall.

Apple announced Apple Arcade in March at a celebrity-filled event that included Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. The event was focused on showing off its TV+ platform. The aim is to drive more recurring revenue from online services.

The outlet has already received early access to the program, which was offered to the tech giant’s employees for a one-month free trial, followed by just 49 cents per month until the end of early access.

The pricing information regarding Apple Arcade was discovered in one of the APIs used by the App Store app, revealing that the program will cost users $4.99 per month, including a one-month free trial. 9to5Mac points out that since there has not been a formal announcement, the pricing could change.

Apple’s Arcade will reportedly include LEGO, Annapurna Interactive, Cartoon Network, Sega and exclusive titles. While some Wall Street watchers think the company can become a serious contender in the gaming market, it has to spend considerably to get there. In fact, sources have said that Apple is spending several million dollars on each of the more than 100 games it will feature in Arcade.

And the company isn’t the only tech giant entering this market. Earlier this month it was revealed that Google is in the testing stage for a monthly subscription that would give Android users something similar. The service, called Play Pass, would offer users access to premium apps and games for a monthly fee of $4.99. The apps would be free of ads and in-app purchases.

In contrast with Apple Arcade, Play Pass will also offer non-entertainment software free of ads and in-app purchases. It’s not known if Google’s service will be available on Android TV.