Two things are happening: first, subscription services are becoming more popular. Second, people are playing more on their phones than on consoles and PC. So it was a matter of time before someone would put 2 and 2 together. Well, the time is now, my fellow gamers. Google and Apple are both getting ready to launch their respective game subscription services, Google Play Pass and Apple Arcade.
At its core, both services are similar. However, they do have some differences, other than the platform they’re on. If you’re like me, and you have both Android and iOS devices, you’re probably wondering which one is more advantageous. Well, wonder no more, as we dive into Apple Arcade versus Google Play Pass. We’ll cover each subscription service and determine which one is better suited for you.

Apple Arcade

  • Release date: September 19th, 2019
  • Platforms: iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, and Apple TV
  • Price: $4.99/month, after a free one-month trial
Apple Arcade is Apple’s bet on mobile gaming. If you subscribe, every game will be ad-free, and you won’t suffer from in-game purchases either. It’s going to be a cross-platform subscription, meaning that you can jump from your iPhone to your Mac or even your Apple TV and you’ll keep your progress.
Besides, you can share your subscription with up to 5 family members and you can download the games to play them offline.
Apple promises over 100 games available on Apple Arcade. However, the people at MacRumors showed that we won’t have all one hundred games when the service launches. Instead, we have over 50 games at launch, with new games coming every week. According to MacRumors, these are the games available:
  • Assemble With Care (usTwo)
  • Shantae and the Seven Sirens (WayForward Technologies)
  • Grindstone (Capybara Games)
  • WHAT THE GOLF? (The Label)
  • Card of Darkness (Zach Gage)
  • LEGO Brawls (LEGO)
  • Patterned (Borderleap)
  • Stellar Commanders (Blindflug Studios)
  • Where Cards Fall (Snowman)
  • Overland (Finji)
  • Exit the Gungeon (Devolver Digital)
  • Rayman Mini (Ubisoft)
  • Spaceland (Tortuga Team)
  • Agent Intercept (PikPok)
  • Punch Planet (Block Zero Games)
  • Sneaky Sasquatch (Rac7 Games)
  • Operator 41 (Shifty Eye Games)
  • Frogger in Toy Town (Konami)
  • Red Reign (Ninja Kiwi)
  • Various Daylife (Square Enix)
  • Mini Motorways (Dinosaur Polo Club)
  • Don’t Bug Me! (Frosty Pop)
  • Oceanhorn 2 (Cornfox & Bros)
  • King’s League II (Kurechii)
  • Explottens (Werplay Priv.)
  • Spelldrifter (Free Range Games)
  • The Get Out Kids (Frosty Pop)
  • Spek. (Rac7 Games)
  • Way of the Turtle (Illusion Labs)
  • Lifeslide (Block Zero Games)
  • Neo Cab (Surprise Attack Games)
  • Skate City (Snowman)
  • Tint. (Lykke Studios)
  • The Enchanted World (Noodlecake Studios)
  • Over the Alps (Stave Studios)
  • Hot Lava (Klei Entertainment)
  • The Pinball Wizard (Frosty Pop)
  • Shinsekai Into the Depths (Capcom)
  • Word Laces (Minimega)
  • Dear Reader (Local No. 12)
  • Projection: First Light (Blowfish Studios)
  • ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree (Wildboy Studios)
  • Big Time Sports (Frosty Pop)
  • Tangle Tower (SFB Games)
  • Dread Nautical (Zen Studios)
  • Mutazione (Die Gute Fabrik)
  • Bleak Sword (Devolver Digital)
  • Sayonara Wild Hearts (Annapurna)
  • Dead End Job (Headup)
  • Cat Quest II (The Gentlebros)
  • Dodo Peak (Moving Pieces)
  • Cricket Through the Ages (Devolver Digital)
  • Speed Demons (Radiangames)
Also, keep in mind that with iOS 13 drops, you’re able to pair your Apple devices with your PS4 and Xbox One controller via Bluetooth.

Google Play Pass

  • Release date: This week
  • Platforms: Android mobile devices
  • Price: $4.99/month, after a 10-day trial
We’ve known about Google Play Pass for a while now. Android Police was the first one to get some screenshots that gave us information about this paid service. But it was until yesterday that Google gave us more official details. Just like Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass will have a list of games available, without any in-game purchases or ads.
The main difference is that Google Play Pass will also have premium apps. These apps go from music to fitness trackers, but we don’t know yet all the applications that will be available. We don’t know all the games that’ll be available either. But with the new information, we know these apps and games are coming to Google Play Pass:
Confirmed Apps:
  • Photo Studio Pro
  • ISS HD Live: View Earth Live
  • AccuWeather
  • CamToPlan
  • Slow Motion Video FX
Confirmed Games:
  • Monument Valley 2
  • Stardew Valley
  • Old Man’s Journey
  • Toca Nature
  • Limbo
  • Terraria
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  • Reigns: Game of Thrones
  • Titan Quest
  • Bridge Constructor Portal
  • Wayward Souls
  • The Bug Butcher
  • Lumino City
  • Thomas and Friends: Race On!
  • Sago Mini Pet Cafe
  • Evoland
  • Chameleon Run
  • Suzy Cube
  • Risk
  • Lichtspeer
  • Mini Metro
Google also promises games like This War of Mine and Cytus will be available soon.
Google Play Pass is coming this week. It’ll cost $4.99 a month, and for a limited time, you can get Play Pass for $1.99 a month for the first 12 months. This service will be available for mobile Android devices, like smartphones or tablets. Meaning it will not be available for Android TV. And just like Apple Arcade, you can share Google Play Pass with up to 5 family members.

Which one is better for you?

Both services are very similar, but they are targeting different audiences. To determine which service if better for you, you need to look at your personal preferences.
If you’re a hardcore gamer who wants to try new games, some of which are not going to be on other platforms, then Apple Arcade will be right for you. Exclusivity is the reason we choose companies like Apple or Nintendo. Plus, these games’ performance and gameplay were made for Apple devices.
On the other hand, Google Play Pass offers a library of great games, some of which you might have never played before. This can be the service for you if you want to experience high-rated games that have been out for a while. You also get premium apps, and a discount for 12 months, which is a nice bonus.
Personally, I’m choosing Apple Arcade right now. But all the newly announced games for Google Play Pass made me think twice about it. Still, I’m more interested in the exclusive new games than in the great old ones. My decision can still change, though. If Google Play Pass has apps like Spotify available, then I’m most likely going to change subscriptions. It’s highly unlikely, but a man can dream.
Which one are you getting? Will you subscribe to Apple Arcade, or will you wait until Google Play Pass gets here?