Apple Launches New Emoji Game Puzzle for News+ Subscribers in the U.S. and Canada
Apple has expanded its premium Apple News+ offering with the launch of a new daily puzzle called the Emoji Game, now available exclusively to subscribers in the United States and Canada.
The Emoji Game joins Apple News+’s existing puzzle lineup, which includes Crossword, Mini-Crossword, Quartiles, and Sudoku, giving users an extra reason to engage with the service beyond news and audio content.
What Is Apple’s Emoji Game Puzzle?
Apple’s Emoji Game is designed to combine wordplay with emoji-based challenges. Each day, players must solve multiple puzzles by filling in missing parts of words using emojis.
For example, players might need to use a pear emoji to complete the word “appear.” But Apple intentionally adds complexity, requiring abstract thinking where emojis may represent entire concepts, combinations, or metaphors.
According to Apple:
“Many people subscribe to News+ just for the puzzles.”
Key Features of Apple’s Emoji Game
- Daily puzzles blending words and emojis
- Genmoji integration: Apple’s custom, AI-generated emojis expand puzzle possibilities
- Scoring system: Complete puzzles in six moves for a perfect score
- Leaderboards and streaks via Apple’s Game Centre
- Hints available: Players can reveal clues by sacrificing moves
- Curated by The Puzzle Society (part of GoComics) in partnership with Apple’s internal puzzle editors
The Emoji Game’s launch coincides with World Emoji Day, further highlighting Apple’s focus on visual language innovation.
Device Compatibility
The Emoji Game is available on:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Mac
Users must have iOS 18.4 or newer installed, but no additional app updates are required to access the new feature through Apple News.
Why Apple Is Adding Games to News+
Apple’s move mirrors similar strategies by platforms like The New York Times and LinkedIn, which have introduced casual games to drive subscriber engagement.
Apple News+ already offers access to:
- Over 400 premium publishers
- Local and global news updates
- Sports coverage
- Narrated audio articles
- Apple News+ Food: A recently introduced recipe-saving feature
The inclusion of puzzles such as the Emoji Game helps Apple compete in the growing market for subscription-based content services by blending entertainment with information delivery.
What Makes Apple’s Emoji Game Unique?
Unlike standard emoji puzzles, Apple’s version incorporates Genmoji, expanding the emoji set beyond the usual keyboard selections.
For instance:
- A blender Genmoji combined with a tomato emoji might symbolise “purée.”
This feature adds unpredictability and encourages creative problem-solving, setting the Emoji Game apart from similar offerings.
Conclusion
Apple’s launch of the Emoji Game puzzle for News+ subscribers adds a fresh, interactive layer to its premium content platform. Available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, the game highlights Apple’s strategy to boost engagement through casual gaming tied to its ecosystem.
For users running iOS 18.4 or newer in the U.S. and Canada, the Emoji Game is ready to play without any extra downloads, providing a unique mix of wordplay, visual puzzles, and Apple’s proprietary Genmoji technology.
