Apple arcade offerings Janujary 2025
)Source: Apple Arcade.)
  • Apple (NDAQ:AAPL) is kicking off 2025 with a bang on its arcade service, introducing 10 new games to its ever-expanding catalogue and rolling out updates to some of its most popular titles
  • Among the new additions are some highly anticipated titles, including Final Fantasy+, Skate City: New York, and Trials of Mana+
  • In February, Apple Arcade will make history by adding its first officially licensed PGA TOUR game, PGA TOUR Pro Golf
  • Apple stock (NASDAQ:AAPL) last traded at US$238.26

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is kicking off 2025 with a bang on its arcade service, introducing 10 new games to its ever-expanding catalogue and rolling out updates to some of its most popular titles. This move is set to keep mobile gamers thoroughly entertained throughout the first half of the year.

Among the new additions are some highly anticipated titles, including Final Fantasy+Skate City: New York, and Trials of Mana+. These games are already available for subscribers to dive into. Other new releases include Gears & GooThree Kingdoms HEROESRodeo Stampede+, and It’s Literally Just Mowing+, all of which are now live on the platform.

In February, Apple Arcade will make history by adding its first officially licensed PGA TOUR game, PGA TOUR Pro Golf, set to launch on February 6th. On the same day, fans can also look forward to Doodle Jump 2+ and My Dear Farm+ joining the lineup.

But wait, there’s more—Apple Arcade is also enhancing the existing gaming experience for its users by updating existing favourites. Titles such as What The Car?Hello Kitty Island AdventureNBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, and Outlanders 2: Second Nature will receive significant updates, ensuring that players have fresh content to enjoy.

Apple Arcade offers a range of games without any microtransactions or ads. This isn’t the first time Apple has tried to bring gaming to the masses in their homes.

Why, it was 30 years ago this month that word first got out about its attempt at creating a home console. I found this news in a copy of “Game Players” magazine published January 1995:

(Source: “Game Players” magazine – January 1995.)

Apple’s Pippin, what was it?

In the mid-1990s, Apple ventured into the gaming industry with the Pippin (stylized as PiPP!N), a multimedia platform designed to combine gaming, multimedia, and internet capabilities. The Pippin was developed in collaboration with Bandai, a Japanese toy and video game company (about a decade before the Bandai Namco (OTC:NCBDF) merger).

Origins and development

The idea for the Pippin originated in the early 1990s when Apple sought to expand its market beyond personal computers. The company envisioned a device that could serve as a hybrid between a game console and a personal computer. In 1994, Bandai approached Apple with the concept, and the two companies formed a partnership. Apple designed the Pippin’s motherboard and core hardware, while Bandai handled the casing, assembly, and marketing.

Apple Pippen console
(Source: Complex.com)

Launch and features

The Pippin was officially released in 1996, with Bandai marketing it as the “Bandai Pippin @WORLD” in the United States and simply the “Bandai Pippin” in Japan. The console was priced at around US$599, which was significantly higher than its competitors. Games released in North America included Power Rangers Zeo Versus the Machine Empire and Mr. Potato Head Saves Veggie Valley.

The Pippin was based on the Macintosh platform and ran a custom version of Mac OS. It featured a PowerPC 603 processor running at 66 MHz, 8 MB of RAM, and a 4x CD-ROM drive. The console also supported a resolution of 640×480 and 16-bit color.

Challenges and decline

Despite its innovative design and multimedia capabilities, the Pippin faced several challenges. Its high price point, lack of compelling exclusive games, and limited marketing efforts contributed to its poor reception. On top of this, the gaming market was already highly competitive, with established players like Sony’s (NYSE:SONY) PlayStation and Nintendo’s (OTC:NTDOY) N64 dominating the scene. As a result, the Pippin sold only around 42,000 units before being discontinued in 1997.

Legacy?

Although the Pippin was a commercial failure, it remains a fascinating chapter in Apple’s history. The console’s ambition to merge gaming and multimedia foreshadowed the convergence of technology that we see in modern devices. Today, the Pippin is a collector’s item and a reminder of Apple’s willingness to explore new markets and innovate, even if it doesn’t always lead to success. Hey, they can’t all be iPhones and Apple Watches.

The story of the Pippin serves as a testament to the challenges and risks involved in the gaming industry, and it highlights the importance of timing, pricing, and market positioning in the success of a product.

Apple stock (NASDAQ:AAPL) has come a long way and has grown more than 119,000 per cent since 1997, last trading at US$238.26.

Join the discussion: Find out what everybody’s saying about this stock on the Apple Inc. Bullboard investor discussion forum, and check out the rest of Stockhouse’s stock forums and message boards.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

(Top photo via Apple Arcade.)


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