Apple announced Monday that it is bringing a major gaming feature to the iPhone that was previously limited to the Mac. At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 held at Apple Park, the tech giant previewed iOS 18, the next operating system for the iPhone. While the keynote focused on improving the phone’s customization and introducing Apple Intelligence features, the iPhone maker also announced that it will introduce a gaming mode to the iPhone.
Game mode on iPhone
According to Apple, Game Mode in iOS 18 promises to improve the gaming experience by providing a constant frame rate. This could potentially come in handy during long gaming sessions. It’s a special gaming mode that minimizes background activity on the iPhone to make sure the CPU and GPU can deliver “high frame rates for hours of continuous gameplay,” Apple says.
Notably, Game Mode was introduced on Mac during WWDC 2023 last June, and now it’s available on iPhone. Apple says it also reduces audio latency with AirPods, while Bluetooth controllers from 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 both existing and new games. However, it’s not yet clear if it will do the same on the iPhone. Apple says that this feature is automatically turned on when you launch the game, rather than having to manually turn it on each time.
Apple also showed off the addition of personalized surround audio in game mode with iOS 18 for enhanced sound and demonstrated it while playing Need for Speed Mobile, although the feature is said to only work with AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
Ah, games for the iPhone
In addition to special gaming features, Apple has also published a list of AAA games coming to iPhone in the near future. Resident Evil 7 Biohazard will be the first game for iPhone, iPad and Mac on July 2. Additionally, Resident Evil 2 is also confirmed to be in development for Apple devices.
While iPhone availability is unknown, Apple has also announced that games such as Sniper Elite 4, Dead Island 2, Control: Ultimate Edition, Frostpunk 2, Valheim and Palword are also coming to Mac. It’s also partnered with Ubisoft to bring its upcoming action RPG Assassin’s Creed: Shadows to the iPad.
