Apple revamps Game Center, controller support in iOS 14, tvOS 14, macOS Big Sur

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2020
Apple has revamped its Game Center platform with a new dashboard and other features alongside other game-related improvements across its 2020 software updates.

Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple


Game Center, which first debuted in 2010, has long been one of Apple's lesser-known features. In 2016, Apple even killed off the Game Center app in iOS 10, leaving the platform as a behind-the-scenes framework for connecting multiplayer gamers.

But iOS 14, macOS Big Sur and tvOS 14 introduce a slew of new features and capabilities to the platform. Apple detailed many of those changes in a WWDC video session, and shared others in its human interface guidelines.

For example, there's a new Game Center dashboard that developers on iOS, macOS and tvOS can add to their platforms. That dashboard lets users easily see leaderboards, achievements and profiles within game apps and the new Game Center pane in Settings.

The new Game Center dashboard that app developers can add to their individual gaming apps. Credit: Apple
The new Game Center dashboard that app developers can add to their individual gaming apps. Credit: Apple


There are deeper social components to the updated feature, including an option for users to see which Apple Arcade titles their friends are playing and a new leaderboard with recurring game rankings.

Apple has also added support for new game controllers, including the Xbox Elite 2 and Adaptive, and new features like custom button mapping and rumble feedback for existing controllers.

Apple has introduced new features for controllers across its platforms, as well support for the Xbox Elite 2 and Adaptive controllers. Credit: Apple
Apple has introduced new features for controllers across its platforms, as well support for the Xbox Elite 2 and Adaptive controllers. Credit: Apple


Although the spotlight of attention hasn't been on Game Center in a while, Apple appears to be steadily pushing toward bolstering its mobile gaming ecosystem. During WWDC 2020, for example, it's held no less than seven sessions about games and game development.

The rise of mobile gaming over the past few years have pushed Apple to one of the largest gaming companies globally. This all comes as iPhones and iPads become much more capable gaming devices in their own rights.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    Japheyjaphey Posts: 1,773member
    All of the pieces are in place. The next Apple TV is going to be a beast. They aren’t just “bolstering it’s mobile gaming ecosystem”, they are methodically setting the Apple TV up to directly take on the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, both of which drop this year. That’s the real reason it wasn’t released last year. Of course, this is just my opinion, but it seems so obvious that I can’t believe no one else has picked up on it. We’ll find out soon enough. 
    fastasleepchasmwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 8
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,487member
    I was confused, why no DualShock 4 support if iOS and Mac have it?
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 8
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    fastasleep said:
    I was confused, why no DualShock 4 support if iOS and Mac have it?
    I'm pretty sure iPadOS already supports Dualshock 4.

    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 4 of 8
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,487member
    crowley said:
    I was confused, why no DualShock 4 support if iOS and Mac have it?
    I'm pretty sure iPadOS already supports Dualshock 4.

    Yes, it does, and I should've included that but I meant that when I said iOS. I'm asking about AppleTV which specifically has only mentioned Xbox controllers.

    EDIT: I think these are just additions to the supported controllers, so DS4 would be supported.

    https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10614/
    edited June 2020
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 5 of 8
    foregoneconclusionforegoneconclusion Posts: 3,044member
    fastasleep said: EDIT: I think these are just additions to the supported controllers, so DS4 would be supported.
    DS4 is definitely supported. I've used it with ATV games in the past. The only drawback is the relatively poor battery life compared to Xbox or Nimbus. Hopefully Sony will up their game with the PS5 and have more robust battery life for those controllers.
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 6 of 8
    rossb2rossb2 Posts: 89member
    Japhey said:
    All of the pieces are in place. The next Apple TV is going to be a beast. They aren’t just “bolstering it’s mobile gaming ecosystem”, they are methodically setting the Apple TV up to directly take on the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, both of which drop this year. That’s the real reason it wasn’t released last year. Of course, this is just my opinion, but it seems so obvious that I can’t believe no one else has picked up on it. We’ll find out soon enough. 
    Apple TV cannot compete with these consoles at the usual Apple TV price point. Prices are not announced, but next gen is expected to be at least $500. A $500 TV streaming box would be ridiculous.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 8
    Japheyjaphey Posts: 1,773member
    rossb2 said:
    Japhey said:
    All of the pieces are in place. The next Apple TV is going to be a beast. They aren’t just “bolstering it’s mobile gaming ecosystem”, they are methodically setting the Apple TV up to directly take on the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, both of which drop this year. That’s the real reason it wasn’t released last year. Of course, this is just my opinion, but it seems so obvious that I can’t believe no one else has picked up on it. We’ll find out soon enough. 
    Apple TV cannot compete with these consoles at the usual Apple TV price point. Prices are not announced, but next gen is expected to be at least $500. A $500 TV streaming box would be ridiculous.
    Who said the Apple TV would be $500? Not me.

    Assuming my theory is right, and the next Apple TV is positioned to deliver console quality gaming (while staying at the same price),  you don’t think a $199 “streaming box” with equal or superior specs wouldn't be able to compete with something that cost 2.5 times more?  Interesting. 
    fastasleepwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 8
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,778member
    Japhey said:
    All of the pieces are in place. The next Apple TV is going to be a beast. They aren’t just “bolstering it’s mobile gaming ecosystem”, they are methodically setting the Apple TV up to directly take on the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, both of which drop this year. That’s the real reason it wasn’t released last year. Of course, this is just my opinion, but it seems so obvious that I can’t believe no one else has picked up on it. We’ll find out soon enough. 
    You're not alone on picking up on this: it's the answer to the question of why Apple would even bother to update the Apple TV since it runs on the current standard  for television (4K) perfectly well from a hardware perspective, and it will be a considerable number of years before 8K is really common, at least in North America. I absolutely agree that the next Apple TV will emphasise gaming and other console-esque functions in a big way.
    Japheywatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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