Apple and video games are a very complicated story of love, hate, and sacrifice. The launch of Apple Arcade in 2019 raised hopes of renewed interest from the manufacturer in the sector, which desperately needs funding to survive. With the manufacturer having very deep pockets, many saw the subscription service as the promise of a brighter future.
Apple Arcade's results are unfortunately mixed, with the Apple company having significantly backed away from its original ambition to focus on family and mainstream games likely to generate engagement.
Despite everything, Apple Arcade has a few gems, starting with Sneaky Sasquatch. This game, in which you play as a pilfering creature who climbs the human ladder, has been in the catalog since the beginning and, on its scale, it's a real success. Developed by the Canadians at RAC7, Sasquatch has become a sort of mascot for the service.
And this mascot job is likely to get bigger: Apple has indeed dipped its hand into its pocket to buy RAC7! It can't have cost much, considering that the studio has a total of 2 people. The acquisition will allow the team to expand, which in turn ensures additional content for Sneaky Sasquatch for many years to come, and possibly other games.
"We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are thrilled that the two-person team at RAC7 has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us," said an Apple spokesperson. Should we see this as the beginnings of a new strategy for the manufacturer to become a heavyweight in video game publishing? It appears to be a one-off to support the evolution of gaming, not a new strategy toward in-house game development. But it is still the first time Apple has acquired a studio.
Source: Digital Trends
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