Apple announced on Monday that it will bring a major gaming-specific feature to the iPhone, which was previously limited to Macs. At the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Apple Park, the tech giant previewed iOS 18, the next operating system for the iPhone. While the keynote focused on improvements to phone customization and the introduction of Apple Intelligence features, the iPhone maker also announced that it will be launching a gaming mode on iPhone.
Game Mode on iPhone
According to Apple, Game Mode on iOS 18 is expected to improve the gaming experience and deliver consistent frame rates. This can be useful during long gaming sessions. Apple claims this is a dedicated gaming mode that minimizes background activity on the iPhone to ensure the CPU and GPU can deliver “high frame rates for hours of continuous play.”
It is worth noting that the game mode was launched on Mac during WWDC 2023 in June last year, and will now also come to iPhone. Apple says it also reduces audio latency on AirPods, and Bluetooth controllers like PlayStation and Xbox also benefit from reduced input lag, making them more responsive. According to Apple, “This means consistent performance with no lag or slowdowns no matter how long you play.”
On Mac, Game Mode works with existing and new games. However, it’s unclear whether the same situation will occur on iPhone. Apple says the feature will be turned on automatically when the game starts, rather than having to be manually switched every time.
Apple also showed off personalized spatial audio added to iOS 18 Game Mode to improve the audio experience, and demonstrated it while playing Need for Speed Mobile, although the feature is said to only be available on AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
AAA games on iPhone
In addition to dedicated game features, Apple also announced a list of AAA games that will be available on iPhone in the near future. “Resident Evil 7” will be the first game to land on iPhone, iPad and Mac on July 2. Additionally, Resident Evil 2 has also been confirmed to be in development for Apple devices.
While availability on iPhone is unclear, Apple also announced that games like Sniper Elite 4, Dead Island 2, Control: Ultimate Edition, Frostpunk 2, Valhalla, and Palword will also be coming to Mac. It’s also working with Ubisoft to port upcoming action role-playing game Assassin’s Creed Shadows to the iPad.