Apple's digital news service, Apple News+, introduces an emoji-based game
Apple News+, the subscription service offering premium content from over 400 publishers, has introduced a new game to its roster: the Emoji Game. Now available to subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, this innovative puzzle game combines elements of logic and word games, inspired by contemporary emoji communication.
The Emoji Game, accessible on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, challenges players to decipher phrases using emojis, aiming to complete each puzzle with the fewest possible moves. In some instances, the word represented by an emoji may be used to fill blanks interspersed with other letters.
One of the unique features of the Emoji Game is the incorporation of Genmoji, custom emojis generated using Apple Intelligence. An example of a puzzle involving Genmoji is a blender and a tomato forming the word "purée."
The game was developed through a partnership with The Puzzle Society (now GoComics). Each day, players must solve multiple phrases to complete the full puzzle. A perfect score in the Emoji Game is achieving a puzzle in six moves, although the puzzles often require abstract thinking or combinations of emojis to solve, presenting a challenge that tests players' problem-solving skills.
To assist players, the Emoji Game offers a clue option that deducts one move when activated. Users on iOS 18.4 and later versions do not need an update to access the game, while those on older versions will.
The integration of games into subscription services has been observed as a successful strategy for attracting and retaining users, as demonstrated by platforms like The New York Times and LinkedIn. With the Emoji Game, Apple News+ adds another engaging feature to its already extensive offering, which includes narrated audio articles, local news coverage, sports content, and the recently introduced recipe-saving feature, Apple News+ Food.
An example of a puzzle in the Emoji Game involves deciphering the word "appear," using an emoji for a pear. The game is currently available alongside Crossword, Crossword Mini, Sudoku, and the word game Quartiles on Apple News+, providing a diverse range of puzzles for subscribers to enjoy.
The Emoji Game for Apple News+ was not developed by The Puzzle Society or Apple Intelligence; the search did not find a specific developer for an "Emoji Game" linked to Apple News+. The only relevant emoji game found (Emoji Games: Match 3) was developed by Jose Varela, not by either of the named companies.
In celebration of World Emoji Day, the Emoji Game was launched, offering a new and exciting way for Apple News+ subscribers to engage with emojis beyond casual communication. Whether you're a seasoned puzzle enthusiast or a casual player, the Emoji Game provides a fun and challenging experience that is sure to keep you entertained.
