In a significant, albeit small-scale, move for its gaming ambitions, Apple has officially acquired RAC7, the two-person studio behind the popular Apple Arcade title, Sneaky Sasquatch. This marks the first time Apple has purchased a video game developer in its history.
RAC7 is known for indie games such as Dark Echo and Splitter Critters, but Sneaky Sasquatch has been a breakout hit for both the developer and the Apple Arcade service since its launch in 2019. The adventure game quickly became a favorite, particularly among young players, has received regular updates, and frequently ranks at the top of the Apple Arcade charts. Apple Arcade Senior Director Alex Rofman previously highlighted Sneaky Sasquatch as a major success story, noting its popularity even led to kids wanting birthday parties themed around the game.
While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Apple has confirmed the acquisition and stated that the two-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on Sneaky Sasquatch. The team will now operate as an internal studio within Apple.
Despite this milestone acquisition, Apple is characterizing the move as a "unique circumstance" rather than the beginning of a broader gaming acquisition spree or a shift towards entirely in-house development. An Apple spokesperson stated, "We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the 2-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us". They added that Apple "will continue to deliver a great experience for Apple Arcade players with hundreds of games from many of the best game developers in the world". Apple insists it will continue to work with third-party studios, both big and small, for both Apple Arcade and the App Store.
Nonetheless, the acquisition does signal that Apple remains committed to its Arcade service, which continues to release new games regularly. The sources note that while Apple possesses the resources to acquire much larger studios, purchasing a small team behind a highly successful Apple Arcade exclusive game sets a precedent. This move appears to be primarily aimed at ensuring the continued growth and development of a key title on the subscription service.
Beyond this acquisition, Apple's interest in gaming seems ongoing, with efforts to make its ecosystem more appealing to developers. Separately, it has been reported that Apple is planning a dedicated gaming app later this year, which could serve as a launcher and centralize features like achievements and leaderboards, potentially replacing the old Game Center. This rumored app, however, is distinct from the acquisition of RAC7.
The acquisition of RAC7, while unique in Apple's history, underscores the importance of standout titles like Sneaky Sasquatch to the Apple Arcade platform and Apple's strategy for nurturing its subscription services.
