Apple Arcade prepares September puzzle expansion with Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna+

Apple Arcade is preparing a larger puzzle offering for September, with Block Blast!+ and Art of Fauna: Cozy Puzzles+ arriving on September 3. Block Blast!+ brings the extremely popular block-placement puzzle into Apple's subscription service without conventional advertising or separate in-app purchases. Art of Fauna takes a calmer approach, combining jigsaw-style puzzles with wildlife artwork and educational material related to animals and conservation.

The two releases demonstrate the range Apple is trying to maintain inside Arcade: one is based on an enormously familiar mainstream mobile game, while the other comes from a smaller premium puzzle tradition. Removing advertisements can substantially change the feel of games originally associated with free mobile distribution because users can move through sessions without monetisation interruptions.

Apple Arcade continues to compete less on exclusive blockbuster releases and more on offering curated, family-friendly versions of games across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. September's additions should strengthen one of the service's most established categories. For users who already subscribe through Apple One, the arrival of a recognisable hit such as Block Blast may provide another reason to use Arcade regularly rather than treating it as an occasional bonus.