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A hot potato: Apple may be one of the richest and smartest companies in the world. However, game developers working with Apple Arcade and Vision Pro describe a deeply troubled relationship with Cupertino, characterized by delayed payments, declining compensation, poor communication, lack of transparency, and inadequate technical support. The situation is particularly dire for indie developers, who are expected to create content for new platforms like Vision Pro without financial incentives or promotional guarantees. Can Apple change its ways? So far, there has been little indication of that.
A series of interviews with game developers by Mobilegamer.biz reveal a strained relationship with Apple, with one source describing it as "abusive," hoping for change that doesn't come. Their frustration primarily stems from issues related to Apple Arcade and Vision Pro.
A significant portion of their complaints centers around compensation. Some studios are experiencing payment delays of up to six months, which has caused financial difficulties for certain indie developers. Apple has also been decreasing upfront payments and per-play "bonus pool" for developers.
The bonus pool payments, which are based on game performance, have been declining since around October 2020. These payments are calculated using a metric called "qualifying sessions," though the exact definition is unclear to developers. One dev expressed concern that these payments will continue to decrease "until it's pennies."
The lack of transparency around how payments are calculated has left many developers uncertain about how to improve their games' performance or question Apple about the declining numbers.
Communication issues further exacerbate the situation. The Apple Arcade team is accused of often failing to respond to routine emails for weeks or months, and meetings are frequently unproductive due to unprepared or absent Apple team members. Developers describe the QA and update submission process as painful and time-consuming.
Additionally, Apple has been known to cancel projects with little notice. This situation peaked in 2021 when Apple canceled an unknown number of projects to shift focus towards family-friendly titles based on existing IPs, leaving some developers blindsided after receiving positive feedback.
Tech support is another area of concern, with developers describing it as "miserable" and "the worst I have seen anywhere." Complaints have intensified around Vision Pro development, as the device struggles with complex games and Apple engineers are unable to provide insights into its hardware or software functionality. "Developing for Vision Pro is like going back in time 10 years because despite the advertised power – and the cost – it is not a machine built for gaming," one developer said.
Worse, Apple is not offering financial incentives for Vision Pro game development, unlike competitors like Meta. Instead, Apple expects indie developers to create games for the Vision Pro without compensation or promises of promotion.
Some developers feel their games are invisible on the platform, describing it as being "in a morgue." Developers perceive Apple Arcade as lacking a clear direction or focus, with goals seemingly changing annually. They speak wistfully of when Arcade launched and Apple paid well. "Things have changed since the early times, it's a very difficult and long process to sign a deal with Apple these days," one said.
These issues have left many developers frustrated and uncertain about their future with Apple, casting a shadow over the future success of Apple Arcade and Vision Pro.