App Store Classic 'Jetpack Joyride' Launches on Apple Arcade

The classic endless runner Jetpack Joyride from Halfbrick Studios is making a return today on the subscription-based Apple Arcade service.

jetpack joyride apple arcade screen
Over 750 million players have downloaded Jetpack Joyride across all gaming platforms, and Apple Arcade subscribers can now relive the fun with Jetpack Joyride+ for the iPhone and iPad.

"Get ready for bullet-powered jetpacks, giant mechanical dragons, and birds that shoot money," the game description reads. "It's time to join Barry Steakfries and equip the coolest jetpacks, suit up in stylish costumes, and ride crazy vehicles in this endless running quest to beat the scientists to the end of the lab."

Skate City is also receiving a major update on Apple Arcade today with a new Olympics-inspired Tokyo level. The game hails from Snowman, maker of the popular endless sandboarding games "Alto's Adventure" and "Alto's Odyssey."


Snowman says players will be able to skate through a diverse range of neighborhoods and famous skate spots to experience Tokyo's unique identity. Tokyo will include over 60 challenges in Free Skate and Challenge modes, along with new deck designs, updated clothes in the skate shop, and new original songs that expand on the popular soundtrack.

Priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, Apple Arcade provides access to a catalog of around 200 games without ads or in-app purchases across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with additional titles added periodically.

Top Rated Comments

tooloud10 Avatar
46 months ago

The last three comments seem to answer themselves.

Free version has in app purchases. Arcade version won't.
Exactly. I'm tired of being nickel-and-dimed on games, so Arcade is actually a really great service for my family. IAP has ruined most video games for me--you don't have to spend time getting good at a game any more if you're willing to open up your wallet. I hate that about non-Arcade games.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DevNull0 Avatar
46 months ago
10 year old piece of freemium scum-ware that's already been downloaded 750 million times. Way to show how cutting edge and relevant you are Apple. This really shows what Timmy and Co. think of games and gamers.

Microsoft must be running scared with their Gamepass Ultimate service.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexanderUK Avatar
46 months ago
Halfbrick Studios are a classic example of what went wrong with gaming on the app store.

When they first started on iOS they appeared with a whole slew of paid-for classics like Age of Zombies, Fruit Ninja, Monster Dash, Jetpack Joyride and Colossatron. It was during the age of classic paid-for gaming era like TrainYard, Flight Control, Plants VS Zombies (etc).

Then IAPs came along and creep entered development, we stopped getting updates (Colossatron), games got pulled or left to become incompatible (Age of Zombies), the ones that stayed got riddled with ads (despite us paying for them - I'm looking at you EA), or hundreds of IAPs loot boxed their way into extra cash (every other Halfbrick app).

So now we're left with either pay to play (if you want to win levels in many games), infested IAP cheats or annoying ads, or you have to pay Apple a monthly fee just to get what you would have only paid a single one-off fee 10 years ago to enjoy.

I've got no problem paying for games either, but I am annoyed that the majority of games (and apps) that exclaim that subscriptions and IAPs and ads are needed to ensure future development are the same people who quickly lose interest in their projects and fail to provide anything new other than a fresh coat of paint every now and again.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matt_and_187_like_this Avatar
46 months ago
It is free and it's ancient. This service is a bust.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mknelson Avatar
46 months ago
The last three comments seem to answer themselves.

Free version has in app purchases. Arcade version won't.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
46 months ago
I remember this game, it was good fun back in the day!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)