Pips and Pixels is a new column from James Bentley, iMore's resident gaming expert, discussing all things gaming in the Apple ecosystem. Pips and Pixels explores the latest news, accessories, and titles you might have missed out on, and brings you commentary from the leading developers in the app market. As recent advancements in the Apple Silicon M processors and the brand new A17 Bionic chip show, Apple is becoming more serious about gaming. James looks to the rest of the games industry to see what could be next for Apple gamers.
The next iPad Pro is expected to be unveiled on May 7 at Apple’s “Let Loose” event and rumors suggest a very impressive upgrade compared to the 2022 model. Originally rumored to have an Apple M3 chip, recent reports suggest it could be even more powerful than that, skipping the chip entirely and moving straight up to M4. Though this will make it an excellent device for productivity apps and could set it up nicely for Apple AI, this is not the main reason I’m excited about a new iPad Pro. I think Apple’s next-generation tablet could be an absolute gaming powerhouse but not just because of the M4 chip.
This week we also learned that the incredibly popular Delta Game Emulator is coming to iPad, which could make Apple’s tablet the best way to play retro-style games.
Finally, this week, we got official confirmation that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, originally shown off on iPhone 15 Pro Max, the best iPhone right now, would be coming to iPad too.
Read on for the rundown.
This week's Apple gaming news
It was revealed earlier this week that iPads would have to comply with the Digital Markets Act and allow third-party app stores and marketplaces. This gives room for Epic to launch its game store on the device, which it has confirmed it will do.
I think the new iPad Pro will be the absolute best way to play the game on Apple devices, and this is mostly because of the huge display upgrade we’re expecting to see next week. The next iPad Pro is reported to have an OLED display, which allows for deeper blacks, sharper image quality, and the panel itself can be thinner and lighter. Fortnite is a game that benefits from a great display far more than an excellent processor. It’s bright and fun — something iPads are particularly good for. Take the recent Steam Deck OLED refresh as an example, this device is an absolute beauty that multiple members of the iMore team praise at pretty much any chance they can. It’s a fantastic improvement on a device that is already excellent — just what the next iPad Pro needs.
There are tons of free legal games to play on Delta Game Emulator and these work excellently on iPhone. However, I can’t help but wonder what the superior size and screen of the iPad could do for retro gaming.
Not only is this an exciting prospect but even wider support for retro consoles means that more developers are incentivized to develop new games for it. I mentioned GoodBoy Galaxy in my last column, a retro-styled indie game that is fully playable on GameBoy, but this is only one of many examples. itch.io, a database and store for indie titles, Game Jams, and various other projects have tabs filled with games that are playable on GameBoy. I can’t wait to start testing out all these games on my iPad when Delta arrives.
After a long wait, and just barely hitting the ‘first half of 2024’ expectation, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is finally launching on June 6 for Apple devices. Though this is great news, what I’m most looking forward to is playing this huge stealth action game on my iPad. It can work on any iPad with the M1 chip or later but the upcoming OLED screen of the iPad Pro will be able to really show off how impressive Ubisoft’s worldbuilding is.
Our friends over at GamesRadar gave the original release of Assassin’s Creed Mirage four out of five stars, saying it is a “compact, stealth-focused adventure that punishes anyone trying to go in loud, and it does so in a world that's always a delight to explore.”
Gaming news from our friends
Roll7, the developer behind the OlliOlli series, Rollerdrome, and Lethal League is being closed by its parent company despite its commercial success. Rollerdrome, the developer’s latest game even won a much coveted BAFTA award. Intercept Games, the team working on Kerbal Space Progam 2, is also being shut down. I’ve played almost everything Roll7 has worked on, and knowing not only how commercially successful but how fun its games are, I can’t help but feel disappointed. This news is worrying for so many indie studios bought by huge publishers and I’m concerned about what the future holds.
As eloquently put by Michael Douse, the director of publishing for Larian Studios, the dev behind Baldur’s Gate 3, “The large corporate cycle is just gushing about people, culture, the human element, teamwork & pride. And then when operational failures lead the mass layoffs, the human element is so deliberately thrown away. The mask peeled off. Corporations do not care about you.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 lead went from “joy to anxiety” in seconds after hearing Larian’s next game would be a follow-up to the beloved RPG series from GamesRadar
Farhang Namdar, world-building director for Baldur’s Gate 3 spoke to PLAY Magazine, recalling going from “joy to anxiety” when they realized the big task that is taking on such a beloved property and revamping it for a modern audience.
Despite this anxiety, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an excellent game that is easily one of the best Mac games right now.
Calendar: April's Big Game Releases
- I've been playing Abiotic Factor over the last week and having a lot of fun. A survival crafting game set in a research facility, and modeled after Half-Life, it is both nostalgic yet refreshing — and an absolute blast with friends. It's only in early access and there are no concrete plans for a Mac launch but this is worth keeping an eye on as it evolves.
- Indika is a very different kind of game to Abiotic Factor. It's a third-person, narrative-driven game where you play a nun who is set on a path of self-discovery with the influence of the devil themself. It's out now, though not natively supported on Mac.
Level Up — Gaming accessories on our radar
A great gaming chair can do a lot when it comes to upgrading your gaming experiences. Just being comfortable and secure as you play can be incredibly important and a big Razer sale means you can get one of the best gaming chairs for $50 off right now.
Hitting the Arcade — What to play on Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is filled with tons of exclusive experiences and fantastic games. However, with so many out there, it can be hard to decide what to play. Here are a few choices I've been testing out this week:
Mini Metro+ is a game I’m not sure I fully understand but I like nonetheless. A strategy game all about building a subway, you have to connect different color lines to different stops. The point of this is to efficiently move from one station to another, which unlocks new colors, lines, and tunnels to get across to new areas. You have to build enough lines to get people off central points before it overcrowds. You’ll get the best experience with an Apple Pencil as you can select lines and move subways quickly without getting your fingers in the way. It’s puzzling yet also super satisfying.
Dicey Dungeons+ has finally launched on Apple Arcade. I talked about this in a column a few weeks back when it was announced and I’m happy to report it’s still that game I loved back in 2019. It’s a roguelike card battler where you play a dice caught in a twisted game show. Though you can stack your equipment to take down enemies quickly, it’s all in the luck of the dice if you succeed. It’s super fun and a great pick for anyone who likes Slay the Spire or Balatro.
Have you played any great games this week or seen some interesting Apple gaming news we've missed? Let us know in the comments!
