An anti-immigration-themed adaptation of Tetris was removed from the White House website over the weekend. The move comes days after The Tetris Company disavowed any involvement with the game and said that it "take[s] copyright infringement very seriously."
The White House's "Build the Wall" game asked players to stop a "Zombie Border siege" by stacking Tetris-styled bricks in an attempt to "hold the line." Unlike in Tetris, though, the blocks in "Build the Wall" don't disappear when you complete a line, meaning each brick contributes to an impassable barrier for the pixel-art "zombies" marching in from the "Southern Border." That change makes the gameplay pretty uninteresting for anything but cheap propaganda, and it also means that every game quickly and ironically ends with a "Border Breached" message when the blocks inevitably fill up the well.
Amerika Garcia Grewal, co-director of Texas migrant rights group Frontera Federation, told AFP last week that the makers of the game "have lost touch with what it means to be human and care for others."
Code in an early macOS 26.7 release candidate suggests Apple has been developing two unreleased game controllers that identify as first-party hardware, according to reporting from MacRumors‘ Juli Clover.
MacRumors reader Pdfu found GameController profiles for devices labeled T6502 and T1057 in the first 26.7 release candidate, which shipped in mid-August. Both appear to include standard gamepad parts: a D-pad, dual analog sticks, shoulder buttons, Home and Menu buttons, and analog triggers. The two designs differ in haptics. T1057 also includes accelerometer and gyroscope support; T6502 does not.
Dedicated hardware plug-ins for each device were present as well, which Clover noted is more consistent with real hardware than leftover placeholder strings. Apple later removed the references in the second 26.7 release candidate.
The find sits alongside a broader set of unreleased-device strings previously spotted in the same build. Apple has long rumored work on a physical game controller and has never shipped one, despite chances around Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Vision Pro. The company has instead leaned on third-party pads and, in the Vision Pro case, partnered with Sony on PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
The strings could describe shipping products or internal test hardware used to validate controller support. If Apple did bring a controller to market, features such as Find My and instant pairing across Apple devices would be the most obvious ways to stand out from Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo pads that many players already own.
MacDailyNews Take: To accompany the next-gen Apple TV hardware?
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Football fans have a major new reason to check out the latest Apple Arcade additions today. Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is now officially available for players to download and enjoy. This release brings the full football simulator to your screens without asking players to buy extra packs or sit through commercials. Apple secured this […]
EA Sports has released Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition, a version of the popular football simulation franchise that Apple Arcade subscribers can play on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. It’s a big release built specifically to take advantage of Apple hardware, allowing players to play the game on a wide variety of hardware.
I was struck by how easy it is to pick up and play the game whether you’re a diehard NFL fan or not. I don’t follow football closely, but I was able to get the hang of the game and have fun right away, knocking out a Quick Play match when I had a few minutes to spare.
Quick Play tightly limits the overall time it takes to complete a matchup, but it doesn’t sacrifice depth in the process. There are long lists of plays you can run, including suggested plays, play types, formations, and recents, as well as a wide variety of statistics. And after a big play, you can replay it with total control over the camera angle, too.
However, if you want to go really deep, the game’s Franchise Mode lets you play a full NFL season, managing your team all the way through the playoffs. You can also draft your dream team from the game’s huge catalog of real-world NFL stars. Plus, during the real-world NFL season, player attributes shift based on their actual performance.
Madden NFL 27 also looks terrific. The 120Hz playback is smooth on the iPhone, where I spent most of my time with the game, and even nicer on a bigger screen like my 14” M4 Max MacBook Pro, making for an immersive experience.
What impresses me most about Madden NFL 27, though, is how well it makes use of the Apple hardware and technologies at its disposal. Too often, those sorts of details get left behind when a big release is published on Apple platforms.
To its credit, EA has done an excellent job adapting Madden NFL 27 for Apple Arcade subscribers. You can play across every device mentioned above, leaving off on one device and picking up on another seamlessly because saves sync across devices. Every device supports game controllers and touch where applicable, and those devices with 120Hz displays support that, too.
It’s a big sports month for Apple TV, starting with Apple Arcade, which goes all-in on football with Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition and Retro Bowl College+. On the Apple TV side, Ted Lasso returns for a fourth season, Formula 1 is coming out of its summer break, the MLS Leagues Cup begins, and MLB continues.
Let’s take a closer look.
Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is adding two new games this month, both on Thursday, August 6, and both of them football games. That’s not a coincidence. The NFL and college football seasons are right around the corner, and these games offer great ways to get ready for both. They’re also part of a broader trend across Apple Arcade where sports games like NBA 2K26 and PGA TOUR Pro Golf, which also have continued receiving updates, have found a fan base.
The headliner this month is Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition, an all-new entry in EA’s long-running NFL franchise built specifically for Apple Arcade. The game includes Franchise and Quick Play modes, featuring current NFL player rosters and ratings that adapt to real-world performance. And as part of Arcade, the game cane be played across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro with controller support and no ads, paywalls, or in-app purchases.
I’m a huge fan of retro-style games of any kind, and Retro Bowl College+ looks like another winner. I love the game’s chunky pixel vibe and depth. You can choose to act as the head coach of any of 250 college teams, recruiting players, managing your school’s athletic budget, dealing with player drama, and more. Who knew an 8-bit game could be packed with this much style and story?
It’s been three years since the Ted Lasso series finale, and it still holds a special spot in the hearts of many fans. This week, the show returns on Wednesdays with a 10-episode run, in which Ted comes back to Ricmond to coach a second-division women’s team. Other returning cast members include Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift.
Women in Blue, Apple’s Spanish-language drama, returns August 12. Bárbara Mori’s character María is promoted to lieutenant and pulled into an investigation of a student’s death that stretches back to 1968. The season portrays María, Valentina, Gabina, and Ángeles’ fight against crime as they simultaneously endure corruption in their precinct. Episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays through September 30.
The Dynasty: UConn Huskies is a three-part docu-series covering 40 years of the most dominant college basketball program in history – one that eclipses teams like Duke, UNC, Kentucky, and UCLA. The series covers the career of famed coach Geno Auriemma, who led the Huskies women’s team to 12 national championships, more than any other team in NCAA Division I history. Directed by Matthew Hamachek and Erica Sashin, it pairs never-before-seen footage with in-depth access to players and coaches as it explores UConn’s extraordinary legacy.
Stillwater returns August 21 with five episodes that will all drop the same day. Based on Jon J Muth’s “Zen” books, the kids’ series follows siblings Karl, Addy, and Michael and their neighbor Stillwater, a wise panda voiced by James Sie who helps them work through everyday problems with stories and humor.
Blake Crouch’s multidimensional sci-fi thriller Dark Matter returns for 10 more episodes on August 28. Season two picks up with the Dessen family settling into a quiet, seemingly safe life, until they’re sent running again. Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, and Daniela’s paranoia threatens their relationship. Meanwhile, Amanda and Ryan try to find their way home, and Blair races to stop Leighton from building what he thinks is a perfect world.
Formula 1 comes back from its summer break at Zandvoort for Round 12, and it’s a sprint weekend, which will be a busy three days. Practice 1 and the Sprint Qualifying run on Friday, August 21 are free, followed by the Sprint and Qualifying rounds on Saturday, August 22. Then, the Grand Prix itself is on Sunday, August 23.
Apple’s weekly doubleheader continues every Friday in August on Apple TV, with no local blackout restrictions and coverage in 60 countries and regions:
August 14 is the highlight, with a Cardinals–Cubs matinee followed by a rematch of last year’s Yankees–Blue Jays Division Series. August 28 is nearly as good, with the Red Sox facing the Yankees while the Mariners and Blue Jays revisit last year’s Championship Series.
Beginning August 4, the Liga MX clubs face off against 18 MLS clubs for the Leagues Cup. Phase One is 54 matches in nine days, from August 4–13, with quarterfinals August 25–27. This is the first edition to include matches in Mexico, and every match is on Apple TV. The MLS regular season games continue alongside the Cup, with midweek Leagues Cup games followed by weekend MLS matches.
If you’re a Club MacStories Plus or Premier member, drop by the TV and Movies channel in Discord to chat about what you’re looking forward to from Apple TV this month, and be sure to listen to MacStories Unwind, where Federico and I cover some of these shows and games, along with our other media recommendations, every week.
O jogo é uma versão completa de Madden, a série de jogos da EA dedicada à NFL. Sem anúncios ou compras dentro do aplicativo, o game inclui os modos Franquia e Jogo Rápido, cujas classificações se baseiam nas avaliações reais de desempenho dos jogadores da liga.
O modo Franquia conta com um sistema de histórias semanais, colocando o jogador no papel de gerente geral, responsável por conduzir a equipe por narrativas que evoluem ao longo da temporada, conquistar a torcida e formar uma equipe campeã. O jogo possui suporte a controle no iPhone, iPad, Mac e Apple TV.
Além dele, Retro Bowl College+, jogo retrô feito em pixel art, também chegou hoje ao Apple Arcade. Nele, os jogadores assumem o papel de técnico em uma das 250 equipes universitárias, podendo se consagrar como um nome vitorioso.
Divulgação/Apple
O Apple Arcade conta com mais de 200 títulos no acervo (livres de propagandas ou compras internas), os quais podem ser acessados por até cinco membros de um Compartilhamento Familiar em iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs e/ou Apple Vision Pros. O serviço de jogos custa R$14,90 por mês e também faz parte do pacote de assinaturas da empresa, o Apple One.
NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.
Macrobiological features have been cited as irreducibly complex, including animal joints and the trap mechanisms of carnivorous plants, even the cell itself.
“Fim do monopólio da Apple.” “iPhone liberado no Brasil.” “Mudança histórica.” As manchetes das últimas semanas não economizaram no tamanho. Do outro lado, o que o usuário recebeu de fato foi uma opção nova e discreta nos Ajustes do iPhone — e, se você não for atrás dela, sua vida com o aparelho seguirá exatamente igual. Aposto que vai seguir…
Recapitulando rapidamente: em 18 de junho, com o iOS 26.5, a Apple oficializou a abertura do iOS no Brasil, cumprindo o acordo assinado com o Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) em dezembro de 2025 — desfecho de uma investigação que começou lá em 2022, com uma denúncia do Mercado Livre. Lojas alternativas de apps agora são permitidas — a AltStore PAL chegou no mesmo dia —, desenvolvedores podem usar meios de pagamento próprios e incluir links para compras fora do app. O acordo vale por três anos, sob supervisão do Cade, com multas de até R$150 milhões se a Apple descumprir. Nós mostramos como tudo funciona em um vídeo.
Até aqui, a notícia. Agora, a leitura que ninguém fez direito. Passei mais de 20 anos construindo aplicativos que viveram sob as regras da App Store (apps de banco, varejo, montadora, etc.) e, quando li os termos do acordo com olhos de gerente de produto, a conclusão foi rápida: a Apple não abriu a porta. Ela redesenhou o funil.
Siga o dinheiro: ele continua indo para Cupertino
O detalhe que as manchetes de “fim do monopólio” esquecem de contar: a Apple criou uma estrutura de taxas em que ela recebe em praticamente qualquer caminho que o desenvolvedor escolher. Vale comparar os cenários:
Onde o app vive e como cobra
Como cobra
Quanto a Apple leva
App Store
Pagamento pelo sistema da Apple
De 10% a 21% + 5% de processamento
App Store
Pagamento por sistema próprio dentro do app
De 10% a 21%
App Store
Link para compra externa
15% (10% para quem se qualifica)
Loja alternativa
Pagamento próprio
5% sobre bens digitais
Olhe a última linha com calma. Um app que sair da App Store, for distribuído por uma loja concorrente e processar o pagamento por conta própria (ou seja, um cenário em que nenhuma infraestrutura de venda da Apple aparece) ainda deve 5% de cada transação de bens digitais para a Apple. É a chamada “comissão de tecnologia essencial”, e ela viaja junto com o app para onde ele for.
Agora, pense com a cabeça de um desenvolvedor. Os apps gratuitos (WhatsApp, Nubank, iFood e a imensa maioria dos que você usa) não pagam nada de comissão hoje. Se migrarem para uma loja alternativa, passam a pagar 5% sobre qualquer venda digital que façam. Migrar significa criar um custo que não existia. E são justamente esses apps gigantes que dariam tração a uma loja concorrente. Ou seja: o desenho das taxas torna a mudança irracional exatamente para quem faria a diferença. Isso não é acaso; é arquitetura de incentivos, e das bem-feitas.
A porta existe, mas tem um cadeado de US$1 milhão
Tem mais um filtro, ainda menos comentado. Para operar uma loja alternativa no Brasil, a empresa precisa apresentar uma carta de crédito de US$1 milhão emitida por uma instituição financeira com nota BBB ou superior — ou, alternativamente, ter dois anos contínuos no programa de desenvolvedores da Apple com mais de 1 milhão de instalações anuais no mundo. Na prática, isso deixa de fora todo mundo, menos gigantes bem capitalizadas: a Epic Games (que já prometeu trazer sua loja “nos próximos meses”), talvez o próprio Mercado Livre (que, ironicamente, foi quem começou essa briga) e pouquíssimos outros.
Sem várias lojas competindo de verdade, não há pressão de preço. E sem pressão de preço, o usuário não tem motivo para mudar de comportamento. O ciclo se fecha sozinho.
A Europa já fez esse filme, e o final não anima
Nada disso é especulação minha; é o roteiro que a União Europeia vem rodando desde março de 2024, quando a Lei dos Mercados Digitais (Digital Markets Act, ou DMA), obrigou a Apple a uma abertura muito parecida — e que serviu de modelo para o acordo brasileiro. Dois anos depois, o balanço europeu é magro: as lojas alternativas seguem como nicho, a Setapp Mobile (da MacPaw, empresa séria, com catálogo bom) fechou as portas em fevereiro citando “a complexidade excessiva dos termos comerciais da Apple” e a Comissão Europeia precisou multar a Apple em 500€ milhões por continuar dificultando que desenvolvedores direcionassem usuários para compras mais baratas. A Apple recorre da multa até hoje.
O Cade, vale dizer, aprendeu algo com isso: o acordo brasileiro exige que os avisos da Apple sobre lojas e pagamentos de terceiros sejam “neutros e objetivos”, sem telas de fricção empurrando o usuário de volta para o caminho de Cupertino. É um detalhe regulatório esperto. Mas o incentivo econômico de fundo (a taxa que persegue o desenvolvedor aonde quer que ele vá) é o mesmo da Europa. E foi ele que esvaziou a festa por lá.
Onde as coisas podem mudar de verdade
Para ser justo, nem tudo é fumaça. Duas frentes me parecem promissoras — e nenhuma delas envolve você trocar de loja.
A primeira são as assinaturas. Um serviço que lhe leva para pagar no site, na faixa de 10% a 15% de comissão em vez dos até 26% de antes, tem margem real para repassar desconto — se quiser.
A segunda é o pagamento dentro do próprio app: agora, nada impede um jogo ou serviço de oferecer checkout com Pix, com taxas de processamento muito menores que as do cartão internacional embutido no sistema da Apple.
Repare, porém, no que essas duas frentes têm em comum: dependem de o desenvolvedor escolher repassar a economia. A Apple, aliás, avisou que não cuida de reembolso nem de gestão de assinatura de nada comprado fora do sistema dela — mais um empurrãozinho para que tudo fique como está.
O jardim ganhou um portão; o pedágio continua o mesmo
No fim das contas, o acordo com o Cade é real, tem dentes (R$150 milhões deles) e coloca o Brasil num clube seleto — só União Europeia, Japão e Coreia do Sul forçaram abertura parecida. Como precedente regulatório, é enorme. Como mudança no seu dia a dia, é quase nada: o botão novo nos Ajustes vai continuar intocado na imensa maioria dos iPhones brasileiros, os apps vão continuar vindo da App Store e os preços vão continuar os mesmos.
A Apple declarou que, com as novas regras, desenvolvedores pagarão “o mesmo ou menos” do que antes. Curiosamente, é a frase mais honesta de toda essa história — porque o objetivo do desenho inteiro é exatamente esse: que tudo mude o suficiente para satisfazer o regulador, e pouco o bastante para não mudar nada.
Suit up, call the plays, and compete for gridiron glory. EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition debuts August 6 on Apple Arcade.
On August 6, the most authentic NFL video game comes to Apple devices with Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition. Designed specifically for Apple Arcade, this all-new release in the massively popular franchise lets fans live out their gridiron dreams, offering an immersive season-based experience featuring current NFL teams and realistic simulation gameplay. Arcade also welcomes NFL Retro Bowl ’27 and Retro Bowl College+, adding to the blockbuster catalog of hit sports games on the service including Football Manager 26 Touch, Mini Football Legends, NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition, NFL Retro Bowl ’26, PGA TOUR Pro Golf, Skate City: New York, and more.
“From the pitch to the court to the gridiron, Apple Arcade delivers an unmatched lineup of sports games for every kind of fan,” said Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade, in a statement. “I’ve been a longtime Madden NFL player and adding this legendary franchise to our catalog is a dream come true. Just in time for the new season, our Arcade community can now dive into an authentic NFL experience alongside other massive sports hits like NFL Retro Bowl, NBA 2K, and Football Manager, all in one place.”
“Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is a chance to bring the most authentic NFL experience to a new audience of football fans, letting them play and compete as the league’s most elite players, or take control as GM and shape a franchise,” said Evan Dexter, EA’s vice president of Franchise Strategy and Marketing, in a statement. “Apple Arcade is the perfect home for Madden as a premium platform that matches the complete, no-compromise experience we’ve built. Whether you’re playing on your iPhone on the go or on Apple TV with friends and family, the future of football is now in your hands.”
Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition delivers the pure football experience players seek, a complete Madden NFL game free from ads or in-app purchases. Players can dive into fan-favorite Franchise and Quick Play modes featuring dynamic player ratings built on real-world NFL performances. Powered by a weekly story engine, Franchise mode puts players in the GM seat to navigate season-shifting narratives, win over fan bases, and build a championship team. With seamless controller support across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition brings players closer to the action exactly how they want to play, wherever they are.
Retro Bowl College+ developed by New Star Games.
Sports fans looking for even more football action can tackle Retro Bowl College+ on August 6. In this beloved spinoff of the hit Retro Bowl 8-bit game, players can make a name for themselves as a winning head coach for one of 250 college teams.
NFL Retro Bowl ’27 developed by New Star Games.
On September 3, NFL Retro Bowl ’27 kicks off a brand-new season. The hit pixel-art game is raising the stakes with a thrilling new Gauntlet Mode. Starting with limited resources, armchair GMs must survive a grueling 15-game win streak with the highest score among other players. Along the way, they must choose between safe matchups or high-risk opponents, and the rewards of real NFL stars or powerful perks. Player XP and abilities carry over after a loss, with every run fueling a relentless climb toward an epic winner-takes-all showdown against a bitter division nemesis and weekly leaderboard supremacy.
NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition developed by Visual Concepts and 2K Games.
With a constant stream of new releases and updates to current favorites, Apple Arcade ensures that players always have something to look forward to. Sports fans keep winning. The latest update to NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition is out now, adding two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey as the newest Paragon player, along with the 2016-2024 Era to The Association mode. Also available now in PGA TOUR Pro Golf is an all-new course, Bear’s Best Atlanta, and on July 16, NFL Retro Bowl ’26 introduces a new set of Apple Games Historic Super Bowl challenges, where players can tackle some of the biggest matchups in Super Bowl history.
PGA TOUR Pro Golf developed by HypGames, Inc.
Players can also check out new free introductory experiences on the App Store for select Arcade games without a subscription, including PowerWash Simulator, Mini Motorways, Cooking Mama: Cuisine!, and Play-Doh World.
Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free. Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95), Family ($25.95), and Premier ($37.95) plans, with a one-month free trial. Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog. Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
MacDailyNews Take: It’d be awesome if you could pay off the refs and players to fix NBA games just like in real life!
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It’s July, and Apple TV and Apple Arcade have an interesting lineup, including four games that debuted last week, the return of Silo, one of my favorite Apple TV series, Lucky, a limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, and The Dink, a pickleball movie that looks like a lot of fun.
The game I’m most curious about this month is Stray Fawn Studio’s Dungeon Clawler+, which Apple says “combines the strategic depth of a roguelike deckbuilder with the unpredictability of an arcade claw machine.” The hook is that instead of drawing cards, you use a claw to grab weapons, shields, and other items that affect your next move.
Creatures of the Deep+ is a single-player fishing adventure that pairs fishing with exploration and mystery. Your job is to embark on the open seas, catch fish, and learn the secrets that lie beneath the waves.
If you’ve ever played a classic Sim City game, you’ll have a feel for Pocket City 2+. You play as the city’s mayor and are charged with building and maintaining your city, which you can explore on foot as you build.
Draw It+ challenges players to draw things based on prompts under time pressure. It’s a single-player family-friendly game that can be passed around at a party or played solo, while honing your doodling skills.
I only just started Silo, season 2, prompted in part by the release of season 3 last Friday. It’s a fantastic dystopian mystery starring and executive produced by Rebecca Ferguson and created by Graham Yost. If you like a good post-apocalyptic brain teaser, be sure to check the new season.
This week the acclaimed British comedy Trying returns for a fifth season. Starring and executive produced by Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, the series is a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of family life.
Lucky is a limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley. Taylor-Joy plays a young woman whose former life of crime comes back to haunt her, just as she thinks she’s escaped her past.
The Dink is a comedy about a former tennis star played by Jake Johnson who has been reduced to coaching kids at a suburban country club. Johnson, who stars with an ensemble cast that includes Ed Harris, Ben Stiller, and Mary Steenburgen, discovers that he loves pickleball, which just may save the ailing country club.
That’s it for July. I’m personally looking forward to moving on to season three of Silo once I finish season two and watching Lucky.
If you’re a Club MacStories Plus or Premier member, drop by the TV and Movies channel in Discord to chat about what you’re looking forward to from Apple TV this month, and be sure to listen to MacStories Unwind where we will undoubtedly cover these shows in the coming weeks.
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