Apple's vision for its $3,500 vision pro headset is an ambitious attempt to bring a virtual arcade experience into the comfort of your own home. With a stunning 4K micro OLED display and spatial audio, it seems like the perfect tool to finally determine if a virtual arcade can ever match the raw energy of a real one.
However, in practice, Retrocade, the new Apple Arcade app that promises to deliver a full suite of classic games, falls short in its pursuit of authenticity. The games themselves are engaging, but they lack the communal experience that made arcades great. Built as a social phenomenon, arcade games were always meant to be played with friends and family gathered around the screen.
In contrast, Apple's vision pro headset is designed for solo play, and while it delivers an immersive experience, it can't replicate the tactile sensations of classic arcade machines – like the satisfying click of buttons or the rumble of a joystick. The only way to get these effects, according to Resolution Games' co-founder Tommy Palm, is with a dedicated fight stick that's compatible with the headset.
Unfortunately, not all third-party controllers will work, and even those that do may require some extra setup and tweaking. For now, users are stuck using a controller, which can be jarring after playing with classic arcade sticks for years.
The game itself feels like a simulation of what it might have been like to play in an arcade – you unlock cabinets one at a time, completing daily challenges or achieving high scores to earn rewards and currency. But as charming as this experience is, it's ultimately missing the social aspect that made arcades so great.
In its current form, Retrocade feels more like a novelty than a full-fledged gaming experience. With a paltry 10 classic arcade games available at launch, and no multiplayer option to speak of, it's hard to see how this could ever replace the thrill of owning a home arcade.
For $7 a month, Retrocade is an interesting experiment in bringing classic arcade experiences into the modern era – but for now, it feels like just that: an experiment. Whether Apple will continue to support and expand on this vision remains to be seen, but one thing's certain: its vision pro headset is a solid foundation, if not yet the final product itself.
However, in practice, Retrocade, the new Apple Arcade app that promises to deliver a full suite of classic games, falls short in its pursuit of authenticity. The games themselves are engaging, but they lack the communal experience that made arcades great. Built as a social phenomenon, arcade games were always meant to be played with friends and family gathered around the screen.
In contrast, Apple's vision pro headset is designed for solo play, and while it delivers an immersive experience, it can't replicate the tactile sensations of classic arcade machines – like the satisfying click of buttons or the rumble of a joystick. The only way to get these effects, according to Resolution Games' co-founder Tommy Palm, is with a dedicated fight stick that's compatible with the headset.
Unfortunately, not all third-party controllers will work, and even those that do may require some extra setup and tweaking. For now, users are stuck using a controller, which can be jarring after playing with classic arcade sticks for years.
The game itself feels like a simulation of what it might have been like to play in an arcade – you unlock cabinets one at a time, completing daily challenges or achieving high scores to earn rewards and currency. But as charming as this experience is, it's ultimately missing the social aspect that made arcades so great.
In its current form, Retrocade feels more like a novelty than a full-fledged gaming experience. With a paltry 10 classic arcade games available at launch, and no multiplayer option to speak of, it's hard to see how this could ever replace the thrill of owning a home arcade.
For $7 a month, Retrocade is an interesting experiment in bringing classic arcade experiences into the modern era – but for now, it feels like just that: an experiment. Whether Apple will continue to support and expand on this vision remains to be seen, but one thing's certain: its vision pro headset is a solid foundation, if not yet the final product itself.
, I mean... 
it's like trying to recreate a beach day 
in a room without sunlight 
. Apple's vision pro headset is cool and all 
, but Retrocade just feels off 
. Where's the community? 
with solo play only 
.
is whack 
, can't get used to it after years of stick gaming 
. And 10 games at launch? 
That's a total party pooper 
. Need more variety and multiplayer 
.
! 
Vision pro headset is solid foundation 
, so maybe they'll improve Retrocade later 
? Fingers crossed 
.
I love how innovative Apple is with their new tech, it's crazy to think we're already getting super immersive experiences at home 
But, Retrocade feels kinda lacking in social aspect 
Guess we'll have to wait and see if they revamp it in the future 
! The 4K micro OLED display and spatial audio are insane, I can already imagine the immersive experience of playing classic arcade games in the comfort of my own home 
. But I gotta agree with the article, Retrocade feels like just an experiment right now 
& now wut bout multiplayer lol? they gotta step up their game (pun intended) 
. They're makin' it all seem so nostalgic and fun, but really, they're just manipulatin' our emotions to sell us more stuff 
. I mean, think about it, $3,500 for a headset? That's just ridiculous 
. And don't even get me started on the controller situation... it's like they're tryin' to nickel-and-dime us out of our hard-earned cash 
. And what's with the lack of multiplayer options? That's just a way to keep us isolated and dependent on Apple's services 
.
?! Apple's vision pro headset is definitely cool and all, but can't they just give us some classic arcade games to play with our friends and family already?! It feels like they're missing the point of what made arcades so awesome in the first place 
. And $7 a month for Retrocade? That's like, a whole bunch of free games on Steam 
And what's up with the games not feelin' like "real" arcade experiences? I mean, it's just a simulation of what it was like back in the day... where's the nostalgia, Apple?! 
. I mean, I love a good fight stick as much as the next guy 
. I'm still waiting to see if Apple can figure out how to make it feel more like the arcade experience we all know and love 
And btw, $7 a month for classic arcade games on your own? That's not just an experiment, that's a steal! I'd pay double for that. The whole point of arcades was to escape reality, right? So if it feels like a simulation, that's kinda the point. And yeah, no multiplayer option at launch, but who needs that when you've got your own private arcade at home? The headset itself is pretty cool too, I mean what's not to love about 4K micro OLED display and spatial audio? 
. But I guess if they wanna make it work solo then that's up to them 
. Don't get me wrong, the $3,500 vision pro headset looks insane with its 4K micro OLED display and spatial audio, but for the price, I expect a full-fledged gaming experience not just some watered-down simulation.
.
. Can't we just have a simple controller that works out of the box? I've been playing classic arcade games with my friends for years, and now I'm stuck using this weird, janky thing... it's just not the same.