Apple's WWDC 2025 may garner significant attention, yet it's likely to fall short in delivering the much-anticipated feature I'm eagerly waiting for.

Prepare for WWDC 2025 and catch all the latest rumors on our WWDC liveblog. But before you dive in, I've got a last-minute prediction - or rather, an anti-prediction. It seems that Apple might be steering clear of the gaming sector yet again at this year's event.

Let's face it, the gaming industry pulls in more cash than the music and film industries combined. Are you listening, Apple? There's a goldmine here waiting to be tapped, but it appears that gaming isn't the company's main focus.

Don't get me wrong, the gaming industry is huge, and Apple's hardware is more than capable of handling it. The M4 chips, found in the latest 2025 MacBook Air, pack quite a punch. Even the older M2 chip displayed some impressive game performance in recent tests. So, what gives?

Perhaps the issue lies with the software? Admit it, Mac isn't the preferred choice for most non-console gamers. Windows dominates, with a whopping 95.45% of the user base in the latest Steam Hardware Survey. That leaves a measly 1.85% of the market share for Mac. And you can bet that developers stick to platforms where they'll reach the most players.

But it's not altogether Apple's fault - the company has made some efforts, like Apple Arcade and their new Metal 3 developer kit. But it still feels like an afterthought. And if you remember, there was that little debacle about trying to block one of the world's most popular games from running on their hardware.

The Strange Love Affair between Apple and Gaming

It's odd when you think about it. Apple products are everywhere, from iPhones to the best MacBooks and Macs. Heck, even the MacBook Air claims to be the 'world's best-selling laptop.' But despite the large overlap between Apple users and gamers, Apple seems disinterested in pushing gaming as a major feature.

So, what gives? Although Apple products are more than capable of handling gaming, the software and community aspects seem to be the missing pieces.

A New Approach

If Apple wants to make a name for itself in the gaming industry, it needs to start developing games itself. Tim Cook, you run one of the world's richest companies - time to put some of those iPhone billions behind an established dev studio, create a macOS game publishing division, and deliver the killer app that makes gamers want to buy a Mac.

We're not gonna see this commitment at WWDC 2025. Maybe Cyberpunk 2077 will finally make its way to Mac (after making its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2), but that's about it. But hey, it's never too late for Apple to start pouring resources into gaming. All it takes is a little innovativeness and someAndroid-like ambition.

History of Apple's Approach to Gaming

Apple's journey in gaming dates back to the Macintosh computer's early days. However, the company's approach has evolved over time.

The Launch of the App Store (2008): This marked the beginning of Apple's involvement in the mobile gaming industry, offering a platform for developers and the distribution of games on iOS devices.
Game Development Environment: Apple introduced tools like Xcode and Metal to help developers create games for iOS devices, gradually increasing the number of games available on the platform.

Recent Developments

Apple Arcade (2019): The subscription-based service provides exclusive games for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS, signaling a more serious commitment to gaming content and development.
Integration with Hardware: Apple continues to improve its hardware's gaming capabilities, such as processors and graphics processing units (GPUs), enhancing the gaming experience on its devices.

As of 2025, Apple is taking a more integrated approach to gaming, focusing on both game distribution and community interaction.

iOS 26 and the New Games App: The upcoming iOS 26 features a "Games" app designed to organize users' game libraries and provide a personalized home feed, aiming to create a more console-like experience on mobile devices[5].
Gaming Community and Social Interaction: The new Games app is part of a broader strategy to develop a gaming community, potentially rivaling platforms like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network on the mobile front[5].
Platform Updates: iOS 26 also includes significant updates like the Liquid Glass UI and powerful on-device AI, further enhancing the gaming experience[5].

Overall, Apple is shifting its stance on gaming by developing more comprehensive features and tools to support game developers and players, aiming to position itself as a major player in the gaming industry.

The future of gaming at WWDC 2025 might not include a significant push by Apple, as the text suggests, but the company's hardware, like the 2025 MacBook Air with powerful M4 chips, certainly has the capability to handle gaming. In a bid to establish a stronger presence in the gaming industry, Apple could consider focusing on developing games itself, fostering a Mac gaming community, and investing in a macOS game publishing division. With such moves, Apple could potentially rival popular gaming platforms like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, expanding its appeal to the massive gaming community.

Apple's WWDC 2025 may garner significant attention, yet it's likely to fall short in delivering the much-anticipated feature I'm eagerly waiting for.