In a rare move, Apple has officially acquired RAC7, the indie game studio behind the Apple Arcade hit Sneaky Sasquatch.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Apple has acquired indie game studio RAC7, creators of Sneaky Sasquatch.
- This is Apple’s first-ever videogame studio acquisition.
- The move is described as a “unique circumstance,” not part of a wider gaming strategy shift.
- RAC7 will continue to develop Sneaky Sasquatch under Apple’s ownership.
- The acquisition shows Apple’s increased investment in exclusive Apple Arcade content.
Apple Buys Its First Game Studio to Boost Apple Arcade
This marks Apple’s first-ever acquisition of a game development studio and signals a growing commitment to original, exclusive content for its gaming subscription service.
The Canadian two-person studio, RAC7, made waves when Sneaky Sasquatch launched on Apple Arcade back in 2019. The quirky open-world adventure game went on to win Apple Arcade’s Game of the Year, and it’s remained one of the service’s standout titles ever since.
Now, the entire RAC7 team has officially joined Apple. In a statement to Digital Trends, Apple said:
We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the 2-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us.
What’s particularly interesting is that this acquisition isn’t about starting a larger gaming division or pivoting Apple toward first-party titles in general. According to Digital Trends journalist Giovanni Colantonio, Apple emphasized this is a “unique circumstance,” aimed specifically at continuing and expanding Sneaky Sasquatch within the Arcade ecosystem.
That said, it’s hard not to wonder if this move sets a new precedent. While Apple insists this isn’t part of a broader gaming strategy shift, indie studios with breakout Apple Arcade hits might now see a potential pathway to being acquired, especially if their games align well with Apple’s content goals.
What This Means for Apple Arcade and Indie Devs
This acquisition shows Apple is willing to get more hands-on to maintain high-quality, exclusive content for Apple Arcade, a service that’s currently $6.99/month or bundled with Apple One. With over 200 ad-free, in-app-purchase-free games, Arcade has been a quiet but consistent part of Apple’s ecosystem.
As someone who’s followed Arcade from day one, this move gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, it’s exciting to see Apple invest directly in the talent behind its platform’s best games. On the other, it raises the bar, and maybe the stakes for other small studios hoping to thrive independently.
Either way, it’s a milestone moment for Apple and a major win for the creators of Sneaky Sasquatch.
