Apple Vision Pro will have over 600 native apps on launch day

By William Gallagher

Following early doubts over how many developers were creating native apps for the Apple Vision Pro, Apple says it has triple the previous estimates.

Apple's visionOS menu system

Based on third-party estimates, it was previously reported that the Apple Vision Pro's App Store contained only between 150 and 200 apps that had been built specifically for the new device. Apple Vision Pro can also run iPad apps, so its App Store also contains over a million of those.

Now, however, Apple has announced that "more than 600 apps and games designed to take advantage of the unique and powerful capabilities of Apple Vision Pro will be available this Friday, February 2."

"Apple Vision Pro is unlocking the imaginations of our worldwide developer community," Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, said, "and we're inspired by the range of spatial experiences they've created for this exciting new platform."

"With more than 600 new spatial experiences to explore in the all-new App Store, alongside more than 1 million compatible apps across iOS and iPadOS," she continued, "users can discover a wide array of apps that expand the boundaries of what's possible."

"These incredible apps will change how we experience entertainment, music, and games; spark our imaginations with new ways to learn and explore; unlock productivity like never before; and so much more," said Prescott. "Developers are already capturing the promise of spatial computing, and we can't wait to see what they create next."

Productivity apps

The productivity apps highlighted by Apple include major titles, such as the previously-announced Microsoft 365, and also:

"Apple Vision Pro is a massive step change in technology, akin to iPhone and iPad," Aaron Levie, Box's cofounder and CEO, said. "This breakthrough technology introduces immersive experiences that fundamentally redefine the way we work by delivering visually stunning interactions without physical limitations."

Excel on the Apple Vision Pro | Image Credit: Microsoft

Games on Apple Vision Pro

Apple's count of over 600 apps and games appears to feature some 250 Apple Arcade titles. Those include hits such as NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition, TMNT Splintered Fate, and Halfbrick's Jetpack Joyride.

"Innovation is in our DNA," said Shainiel Deo, Halfbrick's CEO, " so we were super excited to dive into this new technology and take the core gameplay of Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja into new, immersive, and truly captivating experiences, leveraging the incredible technology of the Apple Vision Pro."

Outside of Apple Arcade, the company has also highlighted:

ForeFlight's Voyager on Apple Vision Pro

Strange new worlds

Apple says that a native version of The Archive will be available, and will take users "to a different place to explore immersive locations, artifacts, and spatial media from the beloved mythology of Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry and other legendary creators."

There will also be Voyager by ForeFlight, a spatial air-traffic control app. Plus CARROT Weather, which adds 3D weather maps but keeps its "hilariously twisted forecasts."

Educational apps

Apple Vision Pro will also launch with a slew of education apps available. They range from astronomy to medicine, and include:

Shopping and relaxation apps

Naturally, there are shopping apps but at least some appear to be making creative use of Apple Vision Pro's spatial computing. Zillow Immerse, for instance, lets users "get an up-close look inside select listings with virtual home tours and interactive 3D floor plans."

Then both J.Crew Virtual Closet and Mytheresa: Luxury Experience, set out to making finding and choosing clothing easier. Through them, users will be able to see clothes in 3D in their personal environment before buying.

In total, Apple has highlighted shopping apps that will be native to the Apple Vision Pro from launch:

If shopping is not relaxing for everyone, mindfulness apps should be. At launch, Apple Vision Pro will have Helium, the mindfulness app, to. help them with "stress-reducing memories of nature-based escapes."

There will also be Lungy: Spaces for interactive breathing exercises, and the welness app Odio.