Apple today announced that Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition will come to Apple Arcade on August 6, a new entry in the franchise designed specifically for the service with a structure based on current NFL seasons and rosters.
The game is a full Madden title, with no ads or in-app purchases, and it includes Franchise and Quick Play modes, with player ratings taken from real-life NFL performances. A weekly story engine runs Franchise mode, designating players as GM and tasking them with guiding a team through changing storylines, keeping fans tuned in, and progressing toward a title. Controller support is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
Retro Bowl College+ will also launch on August 6, putting players in charge of one of 250 college programs in this spin-off of the original pixel-art Retro Bowl.
On September 3, NFL Retro Bowl ’27 adds a new Gauntlet mode, in which players start with limited resources and attempt to string together 15 wins in a row for the top spot in the leaderboard, choosing between easier matchups or riskier matchups that reward real players and NFL perks. Progress continues between races, even after a loss, culminating in a final match against a rival team.
A handful of existing Arcade sports titles are also expected to receive updates. NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition now includes Tyrese Maxey as a new Paragon player and has added the 2016-2024 era to its Association Mode. PGA TOUR Pro Golf has added a new course, Bear’s Best Atlanta, and starting July 16, the NFL Retro Bowl ’26 features historic Super Bowl challenges built around some of the league’s most memorable title games.
Apple also highlighted a handful of arcade games that can now be sampled on the App Store without a subscription, including PowerWash Simulator, Mini Motorways, Cooking Mama: Cuisine! and Play-Doh World.
Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro. All games are free from ads and in-app purchases. In the United States, “Apple Arcade” costs $6.99 per month and is also bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans. Apple Arcade is accessible through the App Store and the Apple Games app.
