iOS 26: Apple Games & Preview App to Transform iPhone Use
Among the most talked-about software updates in the tech world this year, iOS 26 is set to not only change the look and feel of your iPhone but also transform the way you use it. In this update, Apple has gone beyond design enhancements such as the new Liquid Glass interface and announced the introduction of two entirely new built-in apps that could significantly change the experience for millions of users in the coming months. These apps are Apple Games and Preview.
While Apple Games will turn your iPhone into a dedicated, curated, and social gaming platform, Preview will bring Mac-like powerful document and image editing tools directly to your phone and tablet. Whether you are a gaming enthusiast or someone who works with documents daily—iOS 26 has something special in store.
Apple Games: A ‘Home Base’ for All Games
Apple has been part of the mobile gaming space for years, but the experience so far has been scattered. Searching for games on the App Store, connecting with friends via Game Center, and checking events on separate screens—all of this was fragmented. With iOS 26, Apple aims to eliminate this scattered experience through a new app called Apple Games.
Apple Games will be integrated into the iPhone’s system, just like Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Books. This means it won’t be a third-party download but a built-in app available to every user.
Home Tab: The Front Page of Gaming
The first section of Apple Games will be the Home Tab, serving as the hub of your gaming universe. It will showcase your favourite titles, recently played games, and personalised recommendations based on your preferences. In addition, you will find information about live gaming events, tournaments, and categories like “Trending Now” or “Must Play.” The goal is to ensure you never waste time searching for games—everything will be just a click away.
Arcade Tab: Hub for Subscription Gaming
For Apple Arcade subscribers, there will be a dedicated Arcade Tab. Here, you can browse, download, and launch subscription games seamlessly—similar to the App Store, but entirely within Apple Games. New exclusive titles, updates, and curated genre-based collections will all be featured here.
Play Together: Multiplayer Made Easy
Setting up multiplayer games often takes time—choosing a game, sending invites, and starting a match. The Play Together tab aims to fix this. It will let you connect with Game Center friends, send challenges, instantly join live games, and even group chat. If integrated with FaceTime or SharePlay, the multiplayer experience could rival console-level smoothness.
Library: Your Game Shelf
Every gamer wants all their installed games neatly organised in one place. The Library tab in Apple Games will serve this purpose, offering a complete catalogue of games on your iPhone, along with cover art, achievement progress, controller support, and cloud save information.
Extending to iPad and Mac
Apple has confirmed that Apple Games will also be available on iPad and Mac starting this fall. This means your game saves, friends list, and achievement progress will sync across all devices, delivering a seamless experience similar to what console ecosystems offer.
Preview: The Power of Mac in Your Pocket
Next is Preview, a long-standing favourite among Mac users for viewing, editing, and managing PDFs and images. With iOS 26, it is coming to iPhone and iPad for the first time, enabling professional-grade document handling on the go.
Mastering PDF and Image Browsing
The Preview app will allow you to browse PDFs and high-resolution images smoothly. You can easily flip through multi-page PDFs, navigate via thumbnail view, and bookmark important pages.
Resize, Crop, and Edit with Ease
Preview will feature basic yet powerful editing tools—crop, resize, rotate—along with highlighting, adding text, and drawing. This means you can annotate documents or make quick edits to images directly from your iPhone.
Easy Document Scanning
For instant document scanning, the integrated camera feature will come in handy. With edge detection and perspective correction, scanned files will be saved directly as PDFs—no third-party app required.
PDF Auto-fill and Digital Signatures
The PDF Auto-fill feature in Preview will speed up form completion. Using details from Keychain or Contacts, it can automatically fill in names, addresses, and even signatures, making mobile form-filling as simple as on a desktop.
Deep Integration with Files App
With iOS 26, opening any PDF or image from the Files app will launch it directly in Preview, making file handling more organised and faster.
Liquid Glass Design
Alongside new features, Apple has made visual changes in iOS 26. The Liquid Glass design introduces transparency, smooth shadows, and depth for a fresh feel. Both Apple Games and Preview will follow this modern, layered aesthetic.
Security and Privacy
Both apps will maintain Apple’s privacy-first approach.
- In Preview, document scanning and editing will be fully on-device.
- In Apple Games, parental controls and Screen Time will ensure a safe multiplayer experience.
Benefits for Users
- Gamers will have one unified place for all games, friends, and multiplayer features.
- Professionals and students will get Mac-like tools on mobile devices.
- With iCloud and Continuity, a seamless cross-device experience will be possible.
Launch Timeline
Apple has indicated that both apps will launch this fall alongside the final version of iOS 26. Beta testers can access the test versions now, with more refinements expected before release.
Conclusion
iOS 26 is not just a design refresh—it is Apple’s effort to transform the iPhone into an all-in-one gaming and productivity platform. Apple Games will unify and socialise mobile gaming, taking it to a new level, while Preview will turn the iPhone into a powerful document workstation.
In the coming months, as these features reach everyday users, we may witness a new standard for how iPhones and iPads are used where one device handles gaming, work, and creativity seamlessly, without compromise.
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