Apple Arcade gains $49.99 annual subscription option

The Apple Arcade subscription is already a good value, but Apple has added an option for subscribers to pay annually instead of per-month, bringing the cost of the plan down to $49.99 per year.

The option lets subscribers change their Apple Arcade subscription from a monthly payment to an annual version. The change brings the subscription in the United States from $4.99 per month to $49.99 per annum, with similar offers provided in other markets.

As spotted by iFun, the cost difference between the monthly and annual Apple Arcade is substantial enough for many users to consider switching over, due to still being an accessible price. At $49.99 per year, this equates to $4.17 per month, while paying $4.99 per month normally would total $59.88 per year, $9.89 more than the annual version.

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Changes to the subscription can be made by accessing the App Store on an iOS device, entering the Profile section, selecting Subscriptions then Apple Arcade, and then selecting "Apple Arcade Annual (1 Year)." The change will be made on the next scheduled billing date, visible within the same menu.

Apple Arcade joins Apple TV+ in providing an annual payment option, with the video subscription service offering it since its first day of operation.

Launched in September, Apple Arcade provides access to over 100 games from over 35 gaming studios, including major names in the industry and smaller independents. Games can be played on all compatible platforms — iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and Mac — with support for up to six users on a single subscription via Family Sharing.

24 Comments

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

About 4 years ago

Off topic but I purchased a one year subscription to Apple TV+ for $49.99 because I was not intending to buy a qualifying Apple product in the immediate future. Then my wife up and buys me a new iPad7 128GB for Christmas. I started getting the “one year free” notifications. What would happen if I set it up already having a paid subscription? Turns out it automagically extended my subscription by another year so we’re good until Dec 2021. Very nice.

jd_in_sb 1599 comments · 14 Years

I would understand $49 pricing but $49.99? Seems like a gas station

hexclock 1310 comments · 10 Years

lkrupp said:

Off topic but I purchased a one year subscription to Apple TV+ for $49.99 because I was not intending to buy a qualifying Apple product in the immediate future. Then my wife up and buys me a new iPad7 128GB for Christmas. I started getting the “one year free” notifications. What would happen if I set it up already having a paid subscription? Turns out it automagically extended my subscription by another year so we’re good until Dec 2021. Very nice.

Very cool! I’m in the market for a new Apple TV, so maybe I will proceed as you have.

jd_in_sb said:

I would understand $49 pricing but $49.99? Seems like a gas station

It’s called human psychology and EVERYBODY does it because it works. If you put two items next to each other, price one $4.99 and the other $5.00, people will only see the 4 and the 5, not the .99, and think the $4.99 one is a dollar cheaper. Nonsense I know but it works subconsciously. If you really wanted to go full gas station you would price it $4.99 and 9 tenths which is even more strange these days but people still react as if 1 tenth of a cent makes a difference. Companies have entire divisions working on human psychology and pricing strategies. We consumers don’t even notice it when we react to it.