Welcome everyone. My name is Mischa. I'm on the App Store product team at Starling said.And I'm so excited to share a lot more about the brand new Apple Games app with all of you today. Start with an overview of all the ways that your games can be discovered across the Apple Games app. Then we'll share how you can boost your discoverability in the games app by initializing Game Center. And lastly, I'll cover how you can get the most reach and engagement by adding new and existing Game Center features to you ...

My name is Mike Escudero and I'm on the App Store business development team looking after games in particular. So I'm going to spend a little time today talking about the App Store in general, and then drill down and talk about premium games on our platform. Free to play games, as we all know, are predominant on mobile and the App Store, but we see other game types and business models also find success.As I'll show you in the next couple of slides, the App Store is a huge platform reaching hundreds of milli ...

Apple's Unified Gaming Platform - Apple's unified gaming platform enables developers to target Mac, iPad, and iPhone from a single code base, supporting graphically demanding games across various hardware and platforms [3] - The unified architecture also serves as the foundation for building games for spatial computing on Apple Vision Pro [3] Game Engine Support - Unity and Unreal Engine offer deep support for Apple platforms, leveraging Metal for direct GPU access, simplifying the process of targeting Apple devices [7] - Apple provides Unity plug-ins that bridge native APIs, allowing developers to integrate features like Game Center, Game Controller support (MFI compliant controllers, Sony, Microsoft), accessibility features (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type), and Core Haptics [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] - Apple's Game Center plugin facilitates integration of Leaderboards, Achievements, Challenges, and matchmaking [11] Game Porting Toolkit - Apple offers a Game Porting Toolkit for bringing Windows or console games to Apple platforms, enabling developers to leverage existing PC workflows and tools [21] - The toolkit includes an evaluation environment to run existing x86 Windows binaries on Mac, Metal developer tools for Windows, and Mac remote developer tools for Windows [22][23][26][28] - The Metal Shader Converter automatically converts DirectX Intermediate Language (DXIL) into a Metal library [29] - Metal-cpp, a header-only C++ wrapper for the Metal API, allows developers to use Metal in a familiar language [31] - The Game Porting Toolkit includes Human Interface guidelines for games, offering advice on platform conventions, on-screen controls, and input handling [31][32] - The game porting sample code serves as a tutorial for porting and a standalone example of a native game built for Mac, iPad, and iPhone [33][34]

Core Insights - Vivid Seats has launched a new program called the Lowest Price Guarantee, reinforcing its commitment to providing value and trust for live event fans [3][6] - The program ensures that if a fan finds a lower price for the same ticket on a qualifying competitor's site, Vivid Seats will match it and provide 115% of the price difference in site credit [4][5] Company Overview - Vivid Seats Inc. is a leading online ticket marketplace that connects millions of buyers with thousands of ticket sellers across hundreds of thousands of events annually [3] - The company aims to be the most rewarding and value-driven app for live event fans, emphasizing transparency and customer satisfaction [6][8] Marketing Campaign - As the official ticketing partner of ESPN, Vivid Seats is launching a national integrated marketing campaign to promote the Lowest Price Guarantee program [6] - The campaign features user-generated content showcasing real fans and their experiences, and it will be prominently displayed on Disney streaming platforms and ESPN's sports front pages [6][7] Customer Engagement Features - The Lowest Price Guarantee is part of a broader suite of fan-first features, including Vivid Seats Rewards, which allows fans to earn on every purchase and unlock exclusive perks [7] - The company also offers Game Center, a free-to-play hub within the app where users can win credits and free tickets [7] Technology and Service Recognition - Vivid Seats utilizes proprietary software and technology to enhance the ticketing experience and has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best Companies for Customer Service in ticketing [8]

Core Viewpoint - Apple has launched a new gaming platform called "Apple Games" during the WWDC, aiming to integrate its gaming business across devices like iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, providing a unified gaming experience [1][3][4]. Group 1: Historical Context - Apple's history in the gaming industry dates back to the mid-1990s with the launch of the Pippin gaming console, which failed due to high pricing and lack of content [5][7]. - Over the years, Apple has been perceived as lacking a strong gaming focus, despite significant revenue from gaming applications on the App Store [3][4]. - The introduction of the App Store in 2008 marked a turning point, making Apple a major player in mobile gaming distribution, yet it did not invest heavily in game development [9][10]. Group 2: Previous Attempts and Challenges - Apple's previous ventures, such as Game Center and Apple Arcade, did not achieve expected success, often due to insufficient support and a lack of focus on core gaming content [11][12][15]. - The company has faced challenges in establishing a strong gaming community and ecosystem, often prioritizing other business areas over gaming [16][18]. Group 3: Recent Developments - The introduction of Apple Silicon chips has improved the performance of Apple devices, potentially enhancing gaming experiences [22]. - Apple is investing in VR and AR technologies, with the Vision Pro headset being a significant step towards integrating gaming into these platforms [23][26]. - The acquisition of the independent game studio RAC7 signals Apple's intent to develop exclusive content and strengthen its gaming ecosystem [26][28]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The launch of Apple Games is seen as a strategic move to enhance user experience and engagement in gaming, leveraging Apple's vast user base and resources [21][30]. - The company is expected to face challenges in changing its approach to gaming, including respecting developer feedback and potentially lowering its revenue share from games [33]. - Overall, Apple has the potential to significantly impact the gaming industry if it successfully integrates its gaming strategy with its existing ecosystem [31][34].

Summary of Vivid Seats Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Vivid Seats - **Industry**: Online marketplace for secondary ticket sales, primarily in North America with international expansion efforts underway [2][3] Core Points and Arguments - **Market Position**: Vivid Seats is a data-driven online marketplace for live events, focusing on the secondary ticket market. The company is experiencing long-term favorable trends as consumers prioritize spending on live events [3][4] - **Expansion Strategy**: The company has begun international expansion, acquiring WaveDash in Japan and launching operations in the UK, with plans to expand further into Europe [4][26][27] - **Inventory and Sales**: Vivid Seats has sold over 175 million cumulative tickets across more than 375,000 unique events, showcasing a broad inventory across concerts, sports, and theater [4][5] - **Technology and Services**: The company offers a leading ERP system, Skybox, which serves about 60% of professional sellers in North America, facilitating inventory management and pricing [5][39] - **Loyalty and Engagement**: Vivid Seats has a unique rewards program and gamification features to enhance customer engagement and retention [6][10] Financial Performance - **Recent Trends**: The company has faced increased competitive intensity, particularly from StubHub, leading to a decline in growth metrics such as Gross Order Value (GOV) and EBITDA [11][12] - **Cash Flow Dynamics**: The cash conversion model has been negatively impacted due to organic declines, reversing the previously favorable cash flow dynamics [12][13] - **Customer Acquisition**: Approximately 40% of GOV comes from new customers, indicating room for improvement in customer retention and loyalty [16] Industry Insights - **Market Dynamics**: The live events industry has seen fluctuating growth, with concert revenues declining while sports events have performed well. The overall demand remains stable despite economic pressures [18][19] - **Competitive Landscape**: The ticketing industry is dominated by a few players, with StubHub and Ticketmaster holding significant market shares. Vivid Seats aims to differentiate itself through its asset-light model and focus on unit economics [50][51] International Growth - **Market Entry**: The international market presents opportunities due to less competition compared to North America. Vivid Seats is focusing on building supply and demand in new markets [26][27][30] - **Brand Strategy**: The marketing strategy emphasizes rewards, pricing, and customer service to attract users in international markets [31][32] Future Outlook - **Long-term Growth**: The company remains optimistic about the long-term growth potential in the live events space, despite current competitive challenges [51][52] - **Adaptability**: Vivid Seats positions itself as nimble and asset-light, ready to adapt to changes in consumer behavior and market dynamics [52] Additional Important Points - **Consumer Behavior**: There is a noted shift in consumer spending patterns, with discretionary items like live events being prioritized over other expenses during economic downturns [19][20] - **Technological Advancements**: The company continues to invest in technology to enhance its platform and improve seller and buyer experiences [41][45] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the Vivid Seats conference call, highlighting the company's current position, challenges, and future opportunities in the ticketing industry.

Group 1 - Apple is set to unveil a new comprehensive gaming application at WWDC 2025, which will replace the outdated Game Center and integrate various gaming features such as achievements, global leaderboards, and social interactions [1][2] - The Mac version of this application is expected to allow users to play games downloaded from outside the App Store, indicating a significant shift in Apple's approach to gaming on its platforms [1][4] - Despite previous legal challenges regarding third-party payments, Apple continues to emphasize user safety and ecosystem integrity while adapting its services to market pressures [1][5] Group 2 - The new gaming application will include features like personalized game recommendations, a dedicated section for App Store games and Apple Arcade content, and enhanced communication tools through FaceTime and iMessage [2][3] - The introduction of this application is seen as a strategic move to strengthen Apple's channel advantages and retain developers within its payment ecosystem [5][8] - The gaming industry is experiencing a shift towards cross-platform products, with significant revenue being generated on PC platforms, which poses a challenge to Apple's traditional revenue model [6][7] Group 3 - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with major players like Google and Tencent expanding their cross-platform capabilities, prompting Apple to reconsider its strategies in the PC gaming market [11][12] - Apple's recent acquisition of a Canadian independent game studio signals its commitment to enhancing its gaming ecosystem and adapting to changing market dynamics [11][12] - The overall market pressure is driving Apple to evolve its gaming services, indicating that external competition is a key factor in its strategic decisions [11][12]

Core Insights - Apple is focusing on the mobile gaming opportunity ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) [1] - The company has acquired its first game studio, RAC7, which developed the popular Apple Arcade game Sneaky Sasquatch [2] - Apple is developing a dedicated gaming app for iOS that will replace the Game Center app and integrate with Apple Arcade [4] Company Developments - Apple already offers a subscription-based Arcade product for iOS, providing access to various mobile games, including indie titles like Stardew Valley [2] - The acquisition of RAC7 marks a significant step in Apple's investment strategy in the gaming sector [2] - The new gaming app will feature leaderboards, recommendations, challenges, and social features, potentially integrating with iMessage or FaceTime for multiplayer gaming [4] Industry Trends - The rise of cloud gaming is influencing Apple's strategy, as users increasingly prefer streaming games without large downloads [5] - Other companies, such as Netflix, are also investing in mobile gaming, indicating a broader trend in the entertainment industry [3]

Group 1 - Apple plans to launch a new gaming application at the upcoming WWDC 2025, aimed at enhancing the gaming experience on its devices [1] - The application will serve as a game launcher and will include features such as integrated achievements, global leaderboards, and management of game friends, similar to Microsoft's Xbox program [5] - Approximately two-thirds of Apple's App Store revenue comes from games and in-app purchases, indicating the significance of gaming in Apple's business model [5] Group 2 - Despite Apple's efforts in the gaming sector, it is not perceived as a major player in the gaming industry, with many developers and gamers still favoring Windows for high-end gaming experiences [6] - Apple has recently acquired Canadian independent game studio RAC7, marking its first foray into game content creation, which may enhance its gaming portfolio [6][8] - RAC7 is known for its creative puzzle games and has developed popular titles for Apple Arcade, indicating a strategic move by Apple to strengthen its gaming content offerings [8]

Core Viewpoint - Apple is launching a dedicated gaming application for its devices, aiming to strengthen its presence in the gaming market as Nintendo prepares to release the Switch 2 [1][4]. Group 1: New Gaming Application - Apple plans to pre-install a new gaming application on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, which will serve as a game launcher and manage in-game achievements, leaderboards, and other activities [1]. - The new app will provide access to the App Store's gaming section and promote Apple's monthly subscription service, Arcade, priced at $6.99 [1]. - This application will replace the Game Center social network, which was launched in 2010 but never gained significant market traction [1]. Group 2: Market Context and Challenges - Despite the new application potentially enhancing usability for Apple products in gaming, there are challenges in changing the perception of players and high-end game developers regarding Apple's gaming capabilities [4]. - Apple is not typically viewed as a gaming giant, with many developers and players believing that Mac still lags behind Windows computers [4]. - The application is set to launch with the next version of iOS in September, coinciding with the release of the next generation of iPhone [4]. Group 3: Financial Insights - Approximately two-thirds of Apple's App Store revenue comes from games and in-app purchases, including tokens, levels, and other game upgrades [5]. - The Mac platform has made progress in recent years, with faster chips improving graphics performance, and Apple has released tools to facilitate the porting of existing games to Mac [5]. - As part of its gaming strategy, Apple has acquired RAC7 Games, a small studio known for the popular game Sneaky Sasquatch [5].