Apple News+ adds a new game that uses emoji and Genmoji to sovle puzzles

Apple is enhancing its subscription service, Apple News+, by introducing an exciting new feature: the Emoji Game. Announced on Thursday, this game joins a lineup that includes popular options like Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and Quartiles in both the U.S. and Canada, catering to English-speaking users. By bundling games with its subscription service, Apple hopes to replicate the success seen by The New York Times and LinkedIn in attracting and retaining users. While Apple has not disclosed specific user statistics related to its gaming offerings, it has indicated that many subscribers are drawn to News+ primarily for its puzzles. Coinciding with World Emoji Day, the Emoji Game is an innovative mix of logic and wordplay, inspired by our everyday use of emojis in communication. Players are tasked with solving phrases represented by emojis, aiming to complete each puzzle in the fewest moves possible. For instance, if the puzzle hints at the word "appear," players might see the letters "ap" followed by blank spaces. To finish the word, they would drag the emoji for a pear into the correct position. The challenges in the Emoji Game will require players to think creatively, often involving combinations of emojis or abstract reasoning to find the correct answers. If players encounter difficulties, they can reveal a hint, but this will count against their total moves. Each day offers a fresh set of phrases to solve, with achieving a perfect score of six moves being the ultimate goal. Players can also compare their scores with friends through leaderboards, enhancing the competitive aspect of the game. In the upcoming iOS 26 update, users will have the opportunity to challenge friends through the new Games app. Additionally, the game incorporates Genmoji, Apple's custom emojis created with their AI technology, expanding the emoji options beyond the standard keyboard selection. For instance, players might encounter a Genmoji of a blender alongside a tomato emoji to spell out "purée." Developed in collaboration with The Puzzle Society (now GoComics) and curated by Apple’s puzzle editors, the Emoji Game is currently rolling out to Apple News+ subscribers on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users with iOS 18.4 and later can access the game without needing to update their app, while those on older versions will need to do so for access. Alongside the new game, Apple News+ continues to offer access to over 400 premium publishers, narrated audio content, local news, sports updates, and the recently introduced Apple News+ Food feature for recipe saving.