APPLE ARCADE

New for Games in iOS 15

New widgets and more.

In iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, your favorite games are more immersive than ever. Here’s a look at the coolest new capabilities.

Instant replays

Now it’s easier than ever to share videos of your moments of triumph: In games that support an Xbox, PlayStation, or other Bluetooth controller, you can record a rolling 15-second video of the action and have it save automatically to the Photos app. To activate this feature, connect your game controller and go to Settings > General > Game Controller > Custom Controls in your device’s Settings menu. Then select an option under Share Gestures, and set it to Capture Highlight. Try it out with these great games:

Focus for gamers

With the new Focus feature, you can allow notifications from only the apps you want, when you want them. That means you won’t be distracted by sports news when you’re dunking in NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition or lining up that perfect slingshot arc in Angry Birds Reloaded, but messages from your friends will still come through. To try it out, swipe down from the top right of your screen to open Control Center and pick a Focus.

Great new widgets

With the new Game Center widgets, jump back into games you played recently with a tap and see what your friends are playing. It’s a great way to discover a new favorite—or kick off some good-natured competition. Get started with these games:

Virtual controls

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 introduce an incredibly responsive onscreen virtual controller. In many games, you’ll get a familiar D-pad on the left and action buttons on the right. Prefer physical controllers? Connect a compatible gamepad—like the latest from Microsoft and Sony—and start ruling the leaderboards.

Gorgeous graphics

Ray tracing has introduced one of the most significant technological leaps in videogame graphics in years. Now, thanks to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15’s Metal-rendering technology, visual effects—like lighting, shading, and reflections—look more realistic than ever. On newer iPhones and iPads, you can see the tech in action with these cutting-edge games.