‘Monument Valley 3’ Will Be a Netflix Game — Perhaps a Dead Canary in the Apple Arcade Coal Mine

Netflix is expanding its catalog of games tied to a Netflix login, including titles like Lucky Luna and Laya's Horizon. In contrast, Apple Arcade has struggled to maintain focus and attract developers due to its demanding partnership and uncertain financial returns. Many game developers prefer subscription services as a healthy monetization path, but Apple's botched efforts have led to disappointment. Apple Arcade, despite its promising concept, has failed to deliver for developers, who view it as a hard-driving but potentially unprofitable partnership. Netflix, on the other hand, seems to be doing what Apple claimed to do with Apple Arcade, providing a platform for developers who want to avoid casino-style pay-to-win monetization. Developers are attracted to Netflix's model because it offers an upfront and healthy path for all players. Apple's exclusivity requirement has also been a turn-off for some developers. Overall, Netflix appears to be successfully executing its gaming initiative, while Apple Arcade has fallen short of expectations.