Photo: Sega / Apple
‘Introducing the inaugural story mode of the rhythm series.’
Samba de Amigo is set to make its debut on Apple Arcade, bringing Sega’s popular maraca-shaking rhythm franchise to Apple platforms and Nintendo Switch on the same day. The highly anticipated VR port for Meta Quest, which was announced in early June, is also expected to launch later this fall.
The game’s description on the App Store invites players to “shake it with your maracas and groove to 40 hit songs from the world’s most popular genres.” Exclusive songs for the Apple version include “The Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga, “Daddy” by Psy (of “Gangnam Style” fame), and “The Walker” by Fitz and the Tantrums. The Apple Arcade version, titled Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, emphasizes its portability, while the Switch version is called Samba de Amigo: Party Central, and the Meta Quest version retains the original title.
Although Sega and Apple have not provided many details about gameplay differences between the Apple Arcade version and the other platforms, it has been confirmed that the Apple Arcade version will feature the series’ first story mode. Players will embark on a quest with Amigo to return lost music to the world.
Apple Arcade subscribers will be able to enjoy Samba de Amigo on various Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. While the App Store listing does not explicitly explain the controls, it is expected that players will use their phones as faux maracas, with touchscreen controls as a backup option. External controllers are also supported. The Switch version will utilize Joy-Cons, and the Meta Quest version will rely on its Touch Controllers.
Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go is scheduled to launch on the App Store on August 29th. Apple Arcade subscription costs $5 per month after a one-month free trial, and none of its games include in-app purchases. The Switch version, also releasing on August 29th, is priced at $40, while the Quest VR variant will be available for $30.