Apple has a long-standing reputation for its lackluster gaming capabilities. PC gamers have naturally gravitated towards Windows for many years, and gaming smartphones are usually Android devices. The company has been trying to change this for some time, and in late 2023, it introduced Game Mode for macOS. At WWDC 2024, it has also announced Game Mode for iPhone, a feature that will improve the gaming experience in iOS 18.

According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, this mode will enhance performance by maximizing frame rates and reducing background activity. This should free up some resources so that higher-end games can better utilize them. Game Mode should also improve the response time with AirPods and gaming controllers, reducing lag and giving you those milliseconds you need.

This should place Apple in a better position for gamers, as most iPhones are actually pretty capable devices that can play any high-end titles. It must be noted that, as usual, Apple is playing catch-up here, as gaming modes have been available for years, mostly coming from gaming-focused smartphones. Android 12 also introduced Game Mode APIs with Android 12, along with Game Dashboard.