First Batch of Apple Arcade Games Removed as Developer Contracts End

Apple today removed 15 games from Apple Arcade, just over two weeks after it listed the first batch of titles set to leave the subscription service due to developer contract expirations.

apple arcade games leaving soon
On July 18, Apple added a section to the Arcade area of the App Store titled "Leaving Arcade Soon" and listed the games that would be removed, but it did not specify when they would be gone.

That section of the ‌App Store‌ has now been taken down, and the titles that were included in the first batch no longer show up in a casual search of the Store. Games that have gone from ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ include Spelldrifter, Projection: First Light, Lifeslide, EarthNight, Cardpocalypse, Dead End Job, and more.

Apple says in a support document that users who downloaded a game before it was removed from ‌Apple Arcade‌ can continue to play the game for "at least two weeks after," suggesting the titles will remain playable until at least August 16 and possibly beyond then.

After such a time, users who launch an ‌Apple Arcade‌ game that is no longer playable will receive a "No Longer Available" message.

Apple says that after a game has been removed from ‌Apple Arcade‌, the developer might choose to make their game available on the ‌App Store‌ for all users, although the game may differ from the version offered on ‌Apple Arcade‌.

If a developer chooses to allow users to load their saved progress in the ‌App Store‌ version of the game, users can continue playing right where they left off in the ‌Apple Arcade‌ version. Otherwise, users must start the game over again.

A source informed MacRumors that when ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ first launched, Apple signed three-year deals with a number of developers, and some of these contracts are apparently nearing expiry and not being renewed, which is why the games have been removed.

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive an All-New Perk

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:21 am PST by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. iCloud+ is the official name for Apple's paid iCloud storage plans, which range from 50GB for $0.99 per month to 12TB for $59.99 per month in the United States. iCloud+ plans already come with multiple perks for free, such as Hide My Email and HomeKit Secure Video, and now there is another one...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Thursday February 6, 2025 7:31 am PST by
Apple is internally testing iOS 18.3.1 for iPhones, according to our website's analytics logs, which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released within the next few weeks. iOS 18.3.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and...
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor

Friday February 7, 2025 2:37 am PST by
The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post. The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before...
disney

Disney+ Loses 700,000 Subscribers Following Price Increase

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:34 pm PST by
Disney+ lost 700,000 subscribers worldwide in recent months, according to Disney's earnings results for the first quarter of 2025. Disney said it now has 124.6 million Disney+ subscribers, a decrease of 0.7 million compared to its subscriber numbers in the fourth quarter of 2024. The drop in subscribers comes after Disney+ prices increased in the fall. Disney+ with Ads went from $7.99 to...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses to Expand to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday February 5, 2025 6:27 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states and territories offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in...

Top Rated Comments

benedetti Avatar
33 months ago
You'll own nothing and be happy...
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
33 months ago

So you’re 67% into a game, then wake up to find that you have to buy the game just to complete it…

TIM YOU’RE A GENIUS!
Similar to if you're 67% of the way through a series and Netflix removes the series. Now you have to go buy the DVD of it or a find a digital copy to buy somewhere.

This isn't new or weird for a subscription service.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marbles1 Avatar
33 months ago
Casual games, casually disappearing. Most subscribers won't notice.

A cheap service for throwaway entertainment.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
33 months ago
So you’re 67% into a game, then wake up to find that you have to buy the game just to complete it…

TIM YOU’RE A GENIUS!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ksec Avatar
33 months ago
But Macrumors comment's told me Apple is / was going to take over the Gaming world with Apple Arcade when they launch. Just like how Apple Music was suppose to annihilate Spotify, or Apple TV destroying Disney + and Netflix!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
exoticSpice Avatar
33 months ago

So you’re 67% into a game, then wake up to find that you have to buy the game just to complete it…

TIM YOU’RE A GENIUS!
No different to what xbox and PS does with their services
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)