Apple’s September “It’s Glowtime” event may not have focused much on video games, but the company’s hardware announcements signal continued improvements in game performance, extending to non-Pro models.
The presentation unveiled a new game for iOS devices, Honor of Kings: World, set to arrive on iPhones in 2025. Additionally, the iPhone 16 boasts the capability to run AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and recent Resident Evil installments, previously exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models.
Hardware enhancements in the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, including improved thermal capabilities for 30% higher sustained performance, showcase Apple’s commitment to delivering advanced gaming experiences. The A18 chip in the regular iPhone 16 also enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing, offering up to two times faster performance than the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
This focus on realism extends to console-level gaming quality achievable on Apple’s phones, potentially rivaling Mac’s M3 chips’ capabilities. Notable games showcased at the event included Resident Evil 4 remake and Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, emphasizing Apple’s strides in gaming technology.
Despite some concerns about sales performance for these games, user experiences like smooth frame rates and graphical fidelity on devices like iPad Pro demonstrate the evolving landscape of mobile gaming.
