Posts tagged with "apple tv"

Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in February 2026

Apple has some great entertainment lined up for February on Apple TV and Apple Arcade subscribers. There’s a highly anticipated monster-sized series return, one of the most beloved PC gaming franchises of all time making its way to Apple’s gaming service, and more. Here’s everything coming your way this month.

Apple Arcade Games (February 5)

On Thursday, February 5th, Apple Arcade is getting a major addition with the arrival of the legendary strategy franchise Civilization, along with three other new games:

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition:

Sid Meier’s legendary strategy series makes the jump to Apple Arcade, letting you build empires on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Play as historic figures like Cleopatra or Genghis Khan as your civilization evolves across eras, where you need to balance diplomacy, warfare, and wonder-building.

I played the beta of this game on the iPhone using the MCON controller for the iPhone that we’ve talked about at length on NPC: Next Portable Console, and it’s been a fantastic experience.

Retrocade:

This is another title that I can’t wait to try. I love idea of playing classic video arcade games, especially using the Vision Pro. Resolution Games has built a virtual arcade, complete with classic cabinets, running Asteroids, Bubble Bobble, Centipede, Galaga, and more. It’s a nostalgia trip that recreates the look and feel of an ’80s arcade for the Vision Pro, iPhone, and iPad.

Felicity’s Door: Area 35’s rhythm game follows twins Tom and Felicity, plus their bear companion Mi-chan, through dreamlike landscapes, all set to music.

I Love Hue Too+: This zen puzzle game from Zut Games, already popular on the App Store, asks you to sort jumbled color gradients back into smooth spectrums. It’s simple in concept but surprisingly meditative and challenging, with hundreds of levels to solve.

Visit Apple Arcade to add them to your queue for Thursday’s release.

Eternity (February 13)

Elizabeth Olsen plays the lead in this romantic fantasy set in an afterlife waiting room of sorts, where the departed have seven days to choose their eternal companion. Olsen’s character Joan must decide between her late husband (Miles Teller) and her college sweetheart (Callum Turner), who died years earlier. John Early and Da’Vine Joy Randolph round out the cast in David Freyne’s story of love and regret just in time for Valentine’s Day.

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The Last Thing He Told Me, Season 2 (February 20)

Jennifer Garner and Angourie Rice return as Hannah and Bailey for season two of this thriller. Five years have passed since Hannah’s husband Owen vanished, and just when they’ve started to settle back into a normal life, he returns, and they try to rebuild their lives in the shadow of Owen’s past.

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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Season 2 (February 27)

The Monsterverse returns to Apple TV with Kong and Godzilla facing off against Titan X. This 10-episode season brings back fan-favorite characters for a globe-trotting adventure that moves from Skull Island to a remote coastal town hiding a mysterious ancient secret.

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That’s everything coming in February. For more media picks from Apple TV, Arcade, and everywhere else be sure to listen to MacStories Unwind, give it a try. I’m sure you’ll hear more about many of these shows and games from me and Federico in the coming weeks as they become available.

Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in January 2026

To ring in the new year, Apple has a great lineup of returning Apple TV shows and brand-new Apple Arcade games on the way, with everything kicking off later this week. Here are the highlights.

Apple Arcade Games (January 8)

On January 8th, Apple will release four new games:

  • True Skate+: a skateboarding simulator with realistic physics that’s set in more than 20 real-world locations. The game has been available on the App Store for years, but now Arcade subscribers can play on their iPhone and iPad, or even stream a game via AirPlay to an Apple TV without the In-App Purchases.
  • Sago Mini Jinja’s Garden: a family game that lets preschool-aged kids explore gardens, cook, and harvest ingredients in three distinct 3D areas.

  • Cozy Caravan: another family-friendly game where kids can create and play as an animal character, make meals, and enjoy activities like fishing and games, all while preparing for the Whizz Bang Fair.

  • Potion Punch 2+: a restaurant management simulator where you manage a variety of shops like the Potion Café or Enchantment Shop. The app features a fantasy theme filled with magic and monsters with an amusing storyline.

Then starting this Friday, a host of new Apple TV shows will begin to appear:

Tehran, Season 3 (January 9)

The International Emmy Award-winning Israeli spy thriller returns for its third season with Hugh Laurie, who joins the cast as a South African nuclear inspector. Created by Moshe Zonder, Dana Eden, and Maor Kohn, the series follows Mossad agent Tamar Rabinyan (Niv Sultan) as she takes on dangerous missions deep inside Iran. After going rogue at the end of season two, Tamar fights to win back the Mossad’s support and survive, with the eight-episode season directed by Daniel Syrkin.

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Hijack, Season 2 (January 14)

I loved season one of this series starring Idris Elba, who returns as corporate negotiator Sam Nelson in this real-time thriller. After saving a hijacked flight last season, Sam finds himself at the center of a new crisis on a Berlin underground train. The eight-episode season includes new cast members Toby Jones, Lisa Vicari, and Clare-Hope Ashitey, with returning stars Christine Adams, Max Beesley, and Archie Panjabi.

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Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025

This month is a relatively quiet one for Apple TV, but there are a few gems coming soon, and Apple Arcade has a bunch of new games that are out tomorrow, so let’s dig into the highlights of both.

Apple Arcade Games (December 4)

SpongeBob Patty Pursuit 2

SpongeBob Patty Pursuit 2

Apple Arcade is kicking things off this month with four new games:

SpongeBob Patty Pursuit 2

This sequel to the popular platformer SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit is filled with the same colorful mayhem as its predecessor.

PowerWash Simulator

I was pretty excited to see PowerWash Simulator coming to Apple Arcade. I know a lot of people find these types of simulator games relaxing, but I’ve never tried one, so I think I’ll dip into PowerWash over the holidays.

Cult of the Lamb Arcade Edition

Cult of the Lamb is a great roguelite from Massive Monster that was originally published by Devolver Digital in 2022 and is coming to Apple Arcade. According to Apple’s press release:

This version includes exclusive content, including new follower forms, decorations, and outfits, along with all existing content updates and paid packs.

If you haven’t played it yet, be sure to check out Cult of the Lamb. It’s a game I have returned to several times since its initial release, and I expect it will do well on Apple platforms.

Subway Surfers+

Subway Surfers is an App Store classic that remains popular more than a decade after its original release. With the plus version on Arcade, subscribers can enjoy the game uninterrupted by ads or in-app purchases.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM+

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM+ originally debuted on the Sony PS3 and was later ported to other platforms including mobile phones. On iOS, the 3D arena fighting game that’s based on a manga and anime series was available as a paid upfront game. With the plus version, there’s no upfront cost beyond a subscription to Apple Arcade, and the game adds new characters and a new stage.

The First Snow of Fraggle Rock (December 5)

The holiday season is upon us, and Apple TV is kicking things off on Friday with The First Snow of Fraggle Rock, featuring the characters from the Apple TV series.

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F1: The Movie (December 12)

The biggest event of December for Apple TV is the streaming debut of F1: The Movie. The film has been available to buy or rent for a while after playing in theaters last summer, and now it will be available to stream as part of an Apple TV subscription, too. I haven’t seen F1 since WWDC in June, so I’m looking forward to rewatching it with my family over the holidays.

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Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV in November

There is a variety of new content coming to Apple TV+ this month, and this is your handy guide to all of it, including trailers and calendar links you can use to be sure you don’t miss their premieres.

Pluribus (November 7)

Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is back with a highly anticipated series set in the future. The nine-episode premiere season stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, an author who seems to be immune to a virus that causes everyone else to be endlessly optimistic.

Two episodes will drop on day one, with the remaining seven coming weekly on Thursdays. By all appearances, Apple seems confident that the show will be a success because it has already ordered as second season.

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Palm Royale, Season 2 (November 12)

Emmy award-winning comedy Palm Royale returns for a second season set in 1969 Palm Beach. Kristen Wiig stars as Maxine Dellacorte who strives to climb the social ladder of the local country club after a fall from grace. Along the way, Maxine discovers secrets, lies, and crimes in this star-packed comedy that also includes Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Carol Burnett, Josh Lucas, and Leslie Bibb.

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Come See Me in the Good Light (November 14)

Come See Me in the Good Light is a documentary that tells the story of poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley following Gibson’s diagnosis of terminal cancer. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year where it reviewed well and won the event’s Festival Favorite Award.

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The Family Plan 2 (November 21)

Mark Wahlberg is back as Dan, a retired assassin living the dad life. In this holiday season sequel, Dan takes his family to London, where his best-laid plans collide with a mysterious stranger. The action-packed movie spins into a wild chase across Europe, thwarting what was supposed to be a relaxing family vacation.

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WondLa (November 26)

The animated series WondLa kicks off its third and final season with war breaking out between humans and aliens on the planet Orbona. Eva’s mission is to retrieve the Heart of the Forest, which has been stolen, by forming alliances to protect her world.

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Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age (November 26)

The latest installment of Prehistoric Planet, which is executive produced by Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton. Narrated by Tom Hiddleston and scored by Hans Zimmer, Anže Rozman, and Kara Talve for BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, the third season of the docu-series includes five episodes that explore the ice age.

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That’s up for now. Also, if you’re not listening to MacStories Unwind, please give it a try. I’m sure you’ll hear more about some of these shows and movies from me and Federico in the coming weeks as they debut.

Apple Strikes Broadcast Deal with F1

Apple announced today that it will be the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for Formula 1 racing. The five-year deal begins next year and will also include integrations with Apple News, Maps, Music, and Fitness+.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, said of the deal:

We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet. 2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world, and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.

Apple says that its streaming subscribers will have access to all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix and that certain races and practice sessions will be available for free in the TV app. Apple TV subscribers will also have exclusive access to F1 TV Premium, F1’s premium content service, at no extra cost. Apple says it will release more information about F1 product integrations in the coming months.

This deal has been rumored for a long time and makes a lot of sense for Apple, which has been working to add internationally popular sports to its lineup for some time. Along with MLS and select weekly baseball games, the company has a much more robust sports package than ever before, which should make Apple TV attractive to a broader audience.

Apple Previews a Wide Range of Upcoming Accessibility Features to Mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

With Global Accessibility Awareness Day coming up this Thursday, May 15, Apple is back with its annual preview of accessibility features coming to its platforms later in the year. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the first office within Apple to address accessibility, and there’s no sign of any slowdown in the company’s development on this front. While no official release date has been announced for these features, they usually arrive with the new OS updates in the fall.

In addition to a new accessibility-focused feature in the App Store, Apple announced a whole raft of system-level features. Let’s take a look.

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Ted Lasso Renewed for a Fourth Season on Apple TV+

Apple has officialy renewed its hit comedy series Ted Lasso for a fourth season on Apple TV+ with series star and executive producer Jason Sudeikis returning. Sudeikis even offered a small hint of what viewers can expect:

As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to “look before we leap,” in season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be.

Sudeikis also appeared on the New Heights podcast today, mentioning that his character Ted will coach a women’s football team in the next season. This information was exclusively revealed on MacStories’ own Magic Rays of Light podcast in February.

Season four is currently being written. The creative team behind the show, including executive producers Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, is returning alongside new executive producer Jack Ruditt. The series, based on the preexisting format and characters from NBC Sports, won 13 Emmy awards over its first three seasons, including back-to-back wins for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Other details about season four, including its full cast and anticipated release date, are currently unknown. But for fans of Ted Lasso, this official renewal is an exciting progression after many months of rumors that the show would return. Sometimes, the hope doesn’t kill you.

Netflix Appears to Be Rolling Out Apple TV App Integration in the U.S.→

Source: [FlatpanelsHD](https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1739529080).

Source: FlatpanelsHD.

Update: A spokesperson for Netflix has told The Verge that the integration with the Apple TV app’s Watchlist and Continue Watching features was a mistake and is being reversed. Perhaps the reaction to the change will cause Netflix to reconsider its refusal to participate in the TV app, but I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

FlatpanelsHD has discovered that Netflix, long a holdout that was unavailable in Apple’s TV app, is beginning to prompt users to add the service to the TV app:

Today, FlatpanelsHD received a prompt on Apple TV 4K to integrate Netflix into the Apple TV app, as shown at the bottom. After accepting, Netflix content appeared in the Continue Watching queue and Watchlist within the Apple TV app, as seen below.

FlatpanelsHD says the feature is currently limited to Netflix Originals programming and users who are also U.S. account holders.

I’ve looked for this myself and haven’t seen it yet, but it may just be that the rollout is happening gradually. As of publication, I haven’t seen an update to the Netflix app (though the update may be a server-side change) and as 9to5Mac points out, Apple’s list of apps that support Watchlist hasn’t been updated in almost one year. So, it’s possible that after more people have the new feature, we’ll see an official announcement from Apple and/or Netflix.

This is great news, although my enthusiasm is tempered by the reported limitations. I hope the feature extends beyond Netflix Originals and to other countries. Still, for a lot of people I’m sure the only service they use that isn’t in the TV app is Netflix, so any integration after all these years is better than none. I know I’ll be checking my Apple TV throughout the day to try this myself.

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Apple TV Go: How a USB-C Mod Spiraled into an iPad-Based tvOS Workstation

Apple TV Go.

Apple TV Go.

This time of year is one that’s always filled with anticipation for what’s upcoming for both developers and users of Apple’s platforms. And while many traveling to Cupertino will be focused on the iPhone in their pocket or the iPad or MacBook that regularly travels with them, for an Apple TV aficionado, it’s a different story.

As I packed for my first WWDC last year, I had a moment of self-reflection. Did I really need to pack an external display, ATEM switcher, HDMI splitters, HomePod minis, controllers, multiple Apple TVs, and an eight-gang multi-plug extension lead into my carry-on in anticipation of a noteworthy software story for Apple TV?1 After all, the year prior had developers and fans giving their best impersonations of confused John Travolta following a largely absent year for tvOS.

Thankfully, WWDC23 was a different story, with a surprisingly ambitious tvOS 17 release full of improvements and features I couldn’t wait to try. But while other attendees could go hands-on with the first developer betas of their favorite platforms with relative ease, given the nature of Apple TV hardware, I had to head back to the apartment I was staying at whenever I wanted to get hands-on time with tvOS.

Somewhere in the Apple TV multiverse, there was a USB-C powered device that I could carry with me for quick reference, whether at Apple Park or a south London coffee shop during my writing process for last year’s tvOS review. Somewhere, there was an iPad-like device that could run tvOS, offering a superior software alternative to the plentiful supply of affordable, battery-powered Android portable projectors.

Although neither of those products have yet to enter our own Apple TV universe, the introduction of iPadOS 17 and its support for UVC (USB Video Class) devices had my imagination running wild at the possibilities for this year. I needed to become the hero of my own story and create the on-the-go tvOS workstation I envisioned by braving the world of hardware modification and building my very own Apple TV Go.

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