Apple has just taken a bold step toward becoming a serious contender in the gaming industry. With the announcement of a new cross-platform gaming app and the acquisition of RAC7—the indie studio behind the beloved Sneaky Sasquatch—Apple is sending a clear signal: it’s not just playing around anymore. These strategic moves point to a broader vision of gaming integration, user engagement, and content control that echoes Apple’s past successes in music, TV, and fitness.
A New Era: Apple’s Dedicated Gaming App Is Coming
For years, Apple’s Game Center was largely dormant—more a legacy system than a destination. Now, that’s changing. At WWDC 2025 on June 9, Apple will unveil a fully dedicated gaming app, designed as a one-stop hub for players across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Launching alongside iOS 19 in the fall, this app replaces Game Center with something far more ambitious and modern.
What to Expect from the Apple Gaming App:
- Unified Launcher: A sleek, centralized UI to launch and manage all your games—from App Store titles to Apple Arcade and even third-party downloads (on Mac).
- Achievements & Leaderboards: Cross-platform stat tracking, with global and friend-based leaderboards, rewarding competitive and cooperative gameplay alike.
- Editorial Curation: Just like Apple News and TV+, the new app will feature curated stories, developer spotlights, and recommendations to help users find standout games.
- Social and Crossplay Integration: Deeper iMessage and FaceTime tie-ins may enable match invites, chat, and game-sharing. Think Xbox Live, but woven into the Apple ecosystem.
- Support for Non-App Store Games on Mac: A surprising and developer-friendly twist, the app will reportedly allow access to titles not downloaded through the Mac App Store—a rare loosening of Apple’s walled garden.
- Cloud Sync Across Devices: Seamless handoff between Apple devices ensures players can move from iPhone to Mac or Apple TV with their progress intact.
This app isn’t just a facelift—it’s a foundational shift in how Apple wants users to experience gaming on its platforms. It places Apple in direct competition with Microsoft’s Xbox ecosystem and Valve’s Steam, especially as Macs gain performance parity with gaming PCs.
Apple’s First Game Studio Buy: Welcome RAC7
In an unprecedented move, Apple has acquired a game studio—its very first. The lucky (and talented) team is RAC7, the Canadian two-person powerhouse behind Sneaky Sasquatch, one of Apple Arcade’s most enduring hits.
Released in 2019, Sneaky Sasquatch quickly became a fan-favorite for its charming visuals, quirky humor, and open-world stealth gameplay. It won the Apple Arcade Game of the Year in 2020 and has been regularly updated with new content ever since.
Apple’s official statement was simple but telling: “We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work with us.” The studio will retain operational independence but is now part of Apple’s in-house creative machine.
While Apple has emphasized that this is a “unique situation,” the move echoes its content acquisition strategy for Apple TV+, where targeted purchases have bolstered the company’s exclusive offerings. Expect more in this vein if RAC7’s next projects see similar success.
Strategic Context: Why Apple Is Making These Moves Now
Apple’s entry into gaming has always been a bit hesitant. Despite dominating mobile gaming revenue for over a decade, it never truly competed with platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. That’s starting to change.
Recent signs of Apple’s gaming pivot include:
- The Game Porting Toolkit (2023): A development framework that simplifies bringing Windows games to Mac, laying the foundation for more AAA support.
- AAA Games on iPhone & iPad: Titles like Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage now run natively on the A17 and M-series chips, signaling real hardware readiness.
- Apple Silicon Power: The M3 and upcoming M4 chips bring gaming-grade GPUs to MacBooks and iPads, making serious gaming technically feasible—and now finally prioritized.
By creating a gaming app and acquiring a studio, Apple is combining platform control, hardware optimization, and content creation—an approach that mirrors its success in other areas like Apple Music and Apple TV+. This unified strategy gives Apple a chance to reshape mobile and casual gaming, while also making inroads with the core gamer crowd.
Final Thought: Apple’s Opening Move in a Larger Game
Apple’s acquisition of RAC7 and its upcoming gaming app are more than just isolated headlines—they’re the first moves in a larger play to redefine what gaming looks like in the Apple ecosystem. With hardware, software, and now first-party content all under its control, Apple is poised to build something unique: a seamless, cross-device gaming experience that’s as polished and user-friendly as the rest of its offerings.
The only question now is whether gamers—and developers—are ready to embrace Apple not just as a platform, but as a true player in the gaming world. If these moves are any indication, Apple’s game is just getting started.
Backyard Baseball ’97 is now on iOS
Get ready to relive a childhood favorite! Backyard Baseball ’97, the beloved game that introduced players to Pablo Sanchez and other neighborhood kids, is now officially available on iOS and Android devices. The mobile release went live on March 27, 2025, bringing the classic baseball experience to smartphones and tablets for the first time.
This mobile revival arrives at the perfect time as nostalgia for ’90s gaming continues to surge. Developed by Mega Cat Studios and published by Playground Productions, the mobile version preserves the original gameplay while modernizing controls for today’s devices. Best of all, it’s completely ad-free—no pop-ups, no microtransactions, just pure Backyard fun.
Now that the game has launched, longtime fans and a new generation of players can enjoy the charm, strategy, and hilarious commentary that made the original a standout. Whether you’re swinging for the fences or fielding grounders, the mobile version delivers a smooth, portable version of the classic experience.
Key Takeaways
- Backyard Baseball ’97 is available now on iOS and Android devices (released March 27, 2025).
- The mobile version features ad-free gameplay and touchscreen-optimized controls.
- All the original characters, power-ups, and modes are faithfully preserved in this mobile edition.
History of Backyard Baseball
Backyard Baseball first launched on PC in 1997, developed by Humongous Entertainment. The game was built around accessible gameplay, kid-friendly characters, and a casual approach to America’s favorite pastime.
Its signature cartoon aesthetic, quirky voice lines, and iconic characters like Pablo Sanchez helped make it a breakout hit. The franchise eventually expanded to feature real professional athletes and appeared on multiple platforms throughout the early 2000s before fading into dormancy.
The Steam re-release in October 2023 sparked renewed interest, and the mobile version is the latest step in the franchise’s revival. With its release, fans everywhere can experience Backyard Baseball on the go.
Gameplay and Features
The mobile version of Backyard Baseball ’97 offers a faithful adaptation of the original PC classic. Players can tap, swipe, and drag their way through nine-inning games, full seasons, or random pick-up matches—all featuring the beloved cast of neighborhood kids.
New Mobile Features
Touchscreen controls are intuitive and responsive, with optional support for Bluetooth controllers. Enhanced graphics maintain the original’s cartoon style but scale beautifully on high-resolution mobile displays. The UI has also been redesigned for easier navigation on smaller screens.
Importantly, the game can be played offline, and players can enjoy the full experience without internet access. No ads, no microtransactions, and no subscriptions—just baseball.
What’s Included
- Classic Game Modes: Random Pick-Up, Single Game, and Full Season
- Original characters, voices, and fields from the 1997 edition
- Support for both landscape and portrait orientation
- Compatibility updates and bug fixes (latest version: 1.1.7 as of May 2025)
Fan Reception and Early Impressions
The release has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and minor critiques. Fans are celebrating the faithful return of Pablo Sanchez and crew, but some have noted that font sizes and control layouts could use improvement—especially on smaller phones. That said, the game shines on tablets and with controllers, offering a smoother play experience.
Communities on Reddit and Discord have already begun organizing virtual tournaments and sharing nostalgic moments. The ad-free approach and offline play features are particularly praised.
Where to Get It
Backyard Baseball ’97 is available for download now on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for $4.99. The developers have confirmed that more remasters from the Backyard Sports series, including Backyard Football and Basketball, are in development for future release.
