Apple is developing a new gaming hub that looks to combine features from the App Store and Game Center into a single app, according to 9to5Mac.
Reliable sources familiar with the project say that the app will not replace Game Center but instead integrate with users’ Game Center profiles.
The new app is expected to have several tabs, including a “Play Now” section with editorial content, game recommendations, and challenges. Other sections will organize the user’s games and friends, while leaderboards and achievements will also be accessible. Games from both the App Store and Apple Arcade will be available within the new hub.
In addition to promoting gaming events and major updates, Apple is reportedly experimenting with integrating FaceTime and iMessage, potentially bringing in-game communication between players. The company is also looking into ways to allow developers to offer mini-games using App Clips.
The app’s functionality looks to mirror that of the Xbox app on iPhone, letting users to manage their game libraries, view friends’ activity, and discover new games. This looks like a way for Apple to centralize gaming across all devices leveraging iCloud. Gaming on Apple devices obviously is not as popular as playing on consoles, but it looks like the company wants to change this.
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The ORIGINAL Game Center was good. Ever since its been utterly and completely useless