I work on a team that provides an SDK for another game to handle various tasks like authentication. They are experiencing a case where devices using iOS 17 are failing to authenticate with GameCenter, receiving the message "The requested operation could not be completed because local player has not been authenticated." We imagine this is because they still have some setup to finish regarding GameCenter itself, and we're working with them to take care of that. However, on iOS 18, their app ends up waiting indefinitely for GameCenter authentication messages that it never receives. That's where we're puzzled. We expect them to have the same outcome regardless of OS version. We initiate GameCenter authentication by setting an authenticateHandler after some initial application setup. The handler has code to account for UI, errors, and successful authentication. On iOS 17, it's clear that it's getting called as expected because they receive an indication that the player isn't authenticated. But on iOS 18, it looks like the same handler code on iOS 18 isn't being called at all. Are there differences in how iOS 18 interacts with the authenticationHandler that we somehow aren't accounting for? Or is there potentially something else that we're doing incorrectly that is manifesting only on iOS 18? Here's a simplified version of our login function code (in Obj-C++). There is no OS-specific code, and the job that owns this function does stay in scope until after authentication is complete. void beginLogin() { // Snip: Check if the user is already logged in. // Snip: Prevent multiple concurrent calls to this function. auto authenticateHandler = ^(UIViewController* gcViewController, NSError* error) { if (gcViewController != nil) { // Snip: Display the UI } else if (error != nil) { // Snip: Handle the error. } else { if ([[GKLocalPlayer localPlayer] isAuthenticated]) { // Snip: Handle successful authentication. } else { // Snip: Handle other case. } } }; [[GKLocalPlayer localPlayer] setAuthenticateHandler: authenticateHandler]; }

Hey all — I’ve been building out my first set of Game Center Achievements for a game I’m working on, and I’ve run into something odd with the image quality. The specs say to upload icons at 512x512 or 1024x1024@2x. I’ve been uploading 1024x1024 PNGs (without explicitly naming them “@2x” since there’s only one upload slot), assuming that Game Center would just handle the scaling automatically — kind of like how a lot of things are getting more streamlined across platforms lately. But in testing, the icons are showing up a bit blurry, especially in the Game Center interface. It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely softer than I expected — more like low-res than Retina. All my test devices (outside the Simulator) are running iOS 26, so I’m also wondering if this might be a beta-related display bug? Has anyone else run into this? Curious if I’m missing a best practice here, or if I really do need to ensure I’m uploading it with the @2x suffix, or maybe something else entirely? Thanks!

On an iPad running iPadOS 26 beta 4, when tapping the Game Center Access Point, the overlay doesn’t show the configured achievements, leaderboards or challenges. I should specify this is an in-development app and the achievements and leaderboards are in the “Not Live” state, however they show on other devices running iOS 18 in the Access Point UI. Anyone else having this issue? If so, how should I test achievements and leaderboards while iOS 26 beta is out? The UI looks like this on iPadOS 26:

Hello — I shipped an App Store build that signs in to Game Center using the Apple Unity Plugins (GameKit). The login banner appears, but my app still doesn’t show up in Game Center’s “All activity” (You started playing XXX 2d ago) What I’ve done Call await GKLocalPlayer.Authenticate(); “Game Center” is enabled for the current version in App Store Connect Confirmed: other App Store games do appear under “All Activity” on the same device/account Timeline: This is the first version that enables Game Center (not the app’s first release), and it has been about 2 hours since this build went live. Questions Is authentication alone sufficient for “Recently Played,” or is at least one Game Center component (leaderboards, achievements, activities, multiplayer) required? Is there a typical propagation delay before “Recently Played” starts showing a newly enabled app/version? Is there anything else I should configure in App Store Connect or entitlements to make “Recently Played” visible? Thanks for any help.

I’m running into unexpected problems with the Unity GameKit plugin setup with the new Activities. I didn’t see anyone else mentioning these issues, so my guess is that it’s a problem with my setup. The authentication (GKLocalPlayer.Authenticate()) works as expected, but any call to the new GameActivity functionality (e.g. GKGameActivityDefinition.LoadGameActivityDefinitions() or GKGameActivity.WantsToPlay) gives me an exception with a 'UnsupportedOperationForOSVersion' reason despite it running on an iOS 18.6.1 device. I’m using a completely empty Unity 2022.3.62f1 project that only contains the official authentication example, followed by an event handler for activities from another example and the Unity core and gamekit plugins. The setup: macOS 15.6 Xcode 26 beta 6 (also tried with 5) Physical iPhone device running iOS 18.6.1 Unity 2022.3.62f1, which satisfies the requirements Unity plugin, Xcode setup, and build steps: I Followed the official beta branch build steps for Unity plugins with python3 build.py -m iOS iPhoneSimulator macOS -p Core GameKit which ran through after a slight modification for the macOS target that somehow contained an unknown team reference for the GameKitWrapper project, which I changed to not reference a team and use ‘sign to run locally’, as was the case for the other packages. As far as I understood the macOS version is not strictly necessary either way just for running it on a local iOS device(?) I Imported these as tarball packages into the empty Unity 2022.3.62f1 project as per the official instructions, which seems to work as expected Added a single script with the mentioned example code added in a MonoBehavior.Start Building in Unity works as expected as well, creating the Xcode project The Unity-iPhone target has the GameKit framework linked (’do not embed’) and the GameCenter capability was added automatically as expected The GameKit framework seems to not be added to the UnityFramework target, but I don’t think this is necessary? Quickly testing this with the GameKit framework added there as well didn’t make a difference The linked GameKit framework is indeed the expected Xcode 26 beta version I can then build and run this on the physical iPhone iOS 18.6.1 device, where I get an ‘UnsupportedOperationForOSVersion’ as soon as I try to subscribe to deeplinking events (GKGameActivity.WantsToPlay) or use other GameKit Activity functionality from the official examples: // log showing that it's actually running on iOS 18.6: [Apple.Core Plug-In Runtime] Availability Runtime Environment: iOS 18.6 Apple.Core.Availability:OnApplicationStart() // and the exception I get: GameKitException: Code=-7 Domain=GKErrorDomain Description=The operation couldn’t be completed. (GKErrorDomain error -7.) (UnsupportedOperationForOSVersion) at Apple.GameKit.DefaultNSErrorHandler.ThrowNSError (System.IntPtr nsErrorPtr) [0x00000] in <00000000000000000000000000000000>:0 Rethrow as TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'Apple.GameKit.GKGameActivity' threw an exception. I unfortunately didn’t find any clues as to why this happens and how to resolve it on this forum or otherwise. Changing the minimum iOS version - up to 18.6 from the previously used (Unity export default) 12.0 for any and all targets - did not yield a different result I'd rather not update the phone to use the iOS 26 beta, though as far as I understood this is not necessary Any pointers to what I might be missing or doing wrong are greatly appreciated! Thank you very much in advance!

Hi, Since iOS 26 introduced the new Games app, I’ve noticed a problem when using a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller in wired USB-C mode, and also with third-party controllers that emulate it (like the GameSir X5 Lite). In the Games app interface, only the L/R buttons respond, but the D-Pad and analog sticks don’t work at all. Once inside actual games, the controller works fine — the issue only affects the Games app UI. What I’ve tested so far: Xbox / PlayStation controllers → work fine in both wired and Bluetooth, including inside the Games app. Switch Pro Controller (Bluetooth) → works fine, including in the Games app. Switch Pro Controller (wired) → same issue as the X5 Lite, D-Pad and sticks don’t work in the Games app. This makes it hard to use the new Games app launcher with these controllers, even though they work perfectly once a game is launched. My question: is this an iOS bug (Apple needs to add proper support for wired Switch Pro controllers in the Games app), or something that Nintendo / GameSir would need to address? Thanks in advance to anyone who can confirm this or provide more info.

Hello - Upon enabling debug mode for GameKit configuration for my iOS app, I do not see any devices (my iPhone or simulators) in the device list within the "Manage Game Progress" debug tool. I only see my Mac as a device. Is there any trick to this or a way to add devices to this list? Thank you

Hello, On macOS 26 (Tahoe), when building a OSX app that includes GameKit code, calling GKLocalPlayer.local.authenticateHandler shows the "Sign In to Game Center" alert (e.g. didShowFullscreenSignIn) — even if the app does not have the Game Center capability enabled or any related entitlement (com.apple.developer.game-center). This alert only appears when the user is not signed in to Game Center in system settings. However, when testing the same code path on iOS app built with macOS 26 (Tahoe), the alert does not appear unless the proper capability and entitlement are included. This behavior is different from macOS 15 (Sequoia) + Xcode 15.x. Prior to the update, Game Center features did not work at all even with the OSX app without Capability and Entitlements. Steps to Reproduce Create a new OSX app target (App Sandbox enabled, no Game Center capability). Add minimal GameKit code: GKLocalPlayer.local.authenticateHandler = { _, _, _ in } Build OSX app and run on macOS 26 (Tahoe). Ensure Game Center is signed out in System Settings. Observe: “Sign In to Game Center” alert appears automatically. Expected Behavior When Game Center capability and entitlement are not present, authenticateHandler should fail silently, and no signIn alert should appear. Actual Behavior On OSX app, the Game Center signIn UI appears even without any Game Center capability or entitlement. On iOS app, this alert does not appear. *Build Configuration: built with the same condition. (macOS 26 + Xcode 26) Question Could you please confirm whether this behavior is an intentional change in macOS 26 or a bug only for OSX apps in the GameKit authentication flow? Thank you.

I am developing a turn based game using GameKit. The happy path (pretty much as always) is fine; invite, accept, play, have winners/losers and match ends. Yay! But I am working on making sure I handle situations where invited friends decline to participate. I've been through the docs, and don't see how the GKTurnBasedMatch is updated to reflect the tap of the decline button in the Game Center Invite notification. When I reload the match from Game Center on the host device the status for the invitee who declined is still .invited. I also tested by setting all players that are not the host in the nextParticipants of the endTurn(...) to start the invites and the next invitee was not given a push notification to accept or decline the invite. I feel like there should be a way to determine when an invitee has declined an invite (via participant in the match.participants via status OR a delegation method somewhere that is called when the Decline or Accept buttons on that notification are tapped.) I'm missing something, please help me find it! Thank you!

I’ve added two recurring leaderboards to my app and the user interface for the Game Center leaderboards pops up when expected and it lists the leaderboards but when you click on them it says “Have Fun With Friends” and lists some of my contacts instead of any scores. The status under Apple Connect is “Not Live” and I’m wondering how to activate them. App has been approved for external beta testing. On a related note, on my iPad it doesn’t display correctly, it says “Game Center” at the top but the rest of the UI doesn’t appear, just blackness.

Hello, When testing GameKit "Manage Game Progress" in Xcode 26: On iOS devices, achievements, leaderboards, and party code data display and work correctly. On macOS devices, none of these data appear in "Manage Game Progress." Is this a known issue with macOS GameKit, or is there a limitation compared to iOS? If it is not a bug, is there any additional configuration needed to make achievements and leaderboards visible on macOS? I also included the GameKit bundle in my macOS app and enabled Enable Debug Mode in GameKit Configuration in the scheme options. Thank you.

Hi all I have two mystic issues with saving and fetching data to and from iCloud. Both repro only after first launch of an app. 1. [GKLocalPlayer fetchSavedGamesWithCompletionHandler:] After first attempt I can see 0 saved games (but i know that there is at least one saved game) and there is no any error. In case if I try fetch one more time (without any additional actions) even immediately after first attempt I receive saved games correctly (not 0) 2. [GKLocalPlayer saveGameData: withName: completionHandler:] After first attempt I can see error The requested operation could not be completed because local player has not been authenticated. In case if I try save one more time (without any additional actions) even immediately after first attempt I can save data successfully without any error I found the same issue in StackOverflow, but there are no fixes...

Hi All! I'm being asked to migrate an app which utilizes iCloud KVS (Key Value Storage). This ability is a new-ish feature, and the documentation about this is sparse [1]. Honestly, the entire documentation about the new iCloud transfer functionality seems to be missing. Same with Game Center / GameKit. While the docs say that it should work, I'd like to understand the process in more detail. Has anyone migrated an iCloud KVS app? What happens after the transfer goes through, but before the first release? Do I need to do anything special? I see that the Entitlements file has the TeamID in the Key Value store - is that fine? <key>com.apple.developer.ubiquity-kvstore-identifier</key> <string>$(TeamIdentifierPrefix)$(CFBundleIdentifier)</string> Can someone please share their experience? Thank you! [1] https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/transfer-an-app/overview-of-app-transfer

Hi. The earliest version of MacOS that Unity supports is 10.13. However, it seems that running a game using Unity Plugins on 10.13 causes DLL loading exceptions whenever you try to access part of the GameKit API. The errors look like this: Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/GameKitWrapper Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.dylib Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.dylib Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.so Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.bundle DllNotFoundException: GameKitWrapper assembly:<unknown assembly> type:<unknown type> member:(null) at (wrapper managed-to-native) Apple.GameKit.DefaultNSErrorHandler+Interop.DefaultNSErrorHandler_Set(Apple.Core.Runtime.NSExceptionCallback) at Apple.GameKit.DefaultNSErrorHandler.Init () [0x00001] in ./Library/PackageCache/com.apple.unityplugin.gamekit@e3d4ad5a2c8e/Source/DefaultHandlers.cs:35 (Filename: ./Library/PackageCache/com.apple.unityplugin.gamekit@e3d4ad5a2c8e/Source/DefaultHandlers.cs Line: 35) Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/GameKitWrapper Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.dylib Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.dylib Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.so Fallback handler could not load library /Users/love/Desktop/REDACTED/Contents/Frameworks/MonoEmbedRuntime/osx/libGameKitWrapper.bundle DllNotFoundException: GameKitWrapper assembly:<unknown assembly> type:<unknown type> member:(null) at (wrapper managed-to-native) Apple.GameKit.DefaultNSExceptionHandler+Interop.DefaultNSExceptionHandler_Set(Apple.Core.Runtime.NSExceptionCallback) at Apple.GameKit.DefaultNSExceptionHandler.Init () [0x00001] in ./Library/PackageCache/com.apple.unityplugin.gamekit@e3d4ad5a2c8e/Source/DefaultHandlers.cs:14 These errors do not appear on 10.15 or later, which is why I am assuming it's a problem with this particular version of MacOS. Have not been able to test 10.14 so not sure how it handles there. So, here is my question - what is the earliest version of MacOS that the Apple Unity plugins support? It's not documented anywhere on the GitHub page. // Love

I'm building a game with a client-server architecture. Using GKMatch.chooseBestHostingPlayer(_:) rarely works. When I started testing it today, it worked once at the very beginning, and since then it always succeeds on one client and returns nil on the other client. I'm testing with a Mac and an iPhone. Sometimes it fails on the Mac, sometimes on the iPhone. On the device that it succeeds on, the provided host can be the device itself or the other one. I created FB9583628 in August 2021, but after the Feedback Assistant team replied that they are not able to reproduce it, the feedback never went forward. import SceneKit import GameKit #if os(macOS) typealias ViewController = NSViewController #else typealias ViewController = UIViewController #endif class GameViewController: ViewController, GKMatchmakerViewControllerDelegate, GKMatchDelegate { var match: GKMatch? var matchStarted = false override func viewDidLoad() { super.viewDidLoad() GKLocalPlayer.local.authenticateHandler = authenticate } private func authenticate(_ viewController: ViewController?, _ error: Error?) { #if os(macOS) if let viewController = viewController { presentAsSheet(viewController) } else if let error = error { print(error) } else { print("authenticated as \(GKLocalPlayer.local.gamePlayerID)") let viewController = GKMatchmakerViewController(matchRequest: defaultMatchRequest())! viewController.matchmakerDelegate = self GKDialogController.shared().present(viewController) } #else if let viewController = viewController { present(viewController, animated: true) } else if let error = error { print(error) } else { print("authenticated as \(GKLocalPlayer.local.gamePlayerID)") let viewController = GKMatchmakerViewController(matchRequest: defaultMatchRequest())! viewController.matchmakerDelegate = self present(viewController, animated: true) } #endif } private func defaultMatchRequest() -> GKMatchRequest { let request = GKMatchRequest() request.minPlayers = 2 request.maxPlayers = 2 request.defaultNumberOfPlayers = 2 request.inviteMessage = "Ciao!" return request } func matchmakerViewControllerWasCancelled(_ viewController: GKMatchmakerViewController) { print("cancelled") } func matchmakerViewController(_ viewController: GKMatchmakerViewController, didFailWithError error: Error) { print(error) } func matchmakerViewController(_ viewController: GKMatchmakerViewController, didFind match: GKMatch) { self.match = match match.delegate = self startMatch() } func match(_ match: GKMatch, player: GKPlayer, didChange state: GKPlayerConnectionState) { print("\(player.gamePlayerID) changed state to \(String(describing: state))") startMatch() } func startMatch() { let match = match! if matchStarted || match.expectedPlayerCount > 0 { return } print("starting match with local player \(GKLocalPlayer.local.gamePlayerID) and remote players \(match.players.map({ $0.gamePlayerID }))") match.chooseBestHostingPlayer { host in print("host is \(String(describing: host?.gamePlayerID))") } } }

We have a released game in the App Store with Game Center Challenges. The challenges were working well in testing of the final version before the Game Center challenges went live. After release the activity that should take the player to the challenge in game results in this printout and we do not get informed by GKGameActivityListener of the activity happening in our code as we did before the Game Center challenges went live. “Invalid game activity definition. Failed to kick activity notification to GameKit. Error: Error Domain=GKErrorDomain Code=17 "(null)"” Also, Game Center reports that the are no challenges in GKChallengeDefinition.all even though there are ongoing challenges. The leaderboard results do get reported to Game Center though and show up as challenge entries in the Games app. At the moment we are trying to figure out if this is a problem on our end or a Game Center server issue.

I'm trying to add support to PS5 DualSense controller. when I try to use the API from here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/gamecontroller/gcdualsenseadaptivetrigger?language=objc None of the API works, am I missed anything? The code is like this: if ( [ controller.extendedGamepad isKindOfClass:[ GCDualSenseGamepad class ] ] ) { GCDualSenseGamepad * dualSenseGamePad = ( GCDualSenseGamepad * )controller.extendedGamepad; auto funcSetEffectTrigger = []( TriggerEffectParams& params, GCDualSenseAdaptiveTrigger *trigger ) { if ( params.m_mode == TriggerEffectMode::Off ) { [ trigger setModeOff ]; NSLog(@"setModeOff trigger.mode:%d", trigger.mode ); } else if ( params.m_mode == TriggerEffectMode::Feedback ) { [ trigger setModeFeedbackWithStartPosition: 0.2f resistiveStrength: 0.5f ]; } else if ( params.m_mode == TriggerEffectMode::Weapon ) { [ trigger setModeWeaponWithStartPosition: 0.2f endPosition: 0.4f resistiveStrength: 0.5f ]; } else if ( params.m_mode == TriggerEffectMode::Vibration ) { [ trigger setModeVibrationWithStartPosition: position amplitude: amplitude frequency: frequency ]; } }; if ( L2 ) { funcSetEffectTrigger( params, dualSenseGamePad.leftTrigger ); } if ( R2 ) { funcSetEffectTrigger( params, dualSenseGamePad.rightTrigger ); } } I've also tested to add "Game Controllers" capability to Target, still not working. Can't find anything else from the document or forums. I've no idea what need to do.

I just upgraded my macOS, Xcode and Simulator all to the newest beta version 26. Then I found two issues when building my app with Xcode 26 and running it on simulator 26. The game center access point no longer shows up in the app. This is how it's configured in the past. And it still works on simulator 18.4 func authenticatePlayer() { GKAccessPoint.shared.location = .topTrailing self.localPlayer.authenticateHandler = { viewController, error in if let viewController = viewController { // can present Game Center login screen } else if self.localPlayer.isAuthenticated { // game can be started } else { // user didn't log in, continue the game without game center } } } After game ended, the leaderboard won't load. This is how it's implemented in the past. It's still working in simulator 18.4 struct GameCenterView: UIViewControllerRepresentable { @Environment(\.presentationMode) var presentationMode ... func makeUIViewController(context: Context) -> GKGameCenterViewController { let viewController = GKGameCenterViewController( leaderboardID: getLeaderBoardID(with: leaderBoardGameMode), playerScope: .global, timeScope: .allTime ) viewController.gameCenterDelegate = context.coordinator return viewController } func updateUIViewController(_ uiViewController: GKGameCenterViewController, context: Context) {} func makeCoordinator() -> Coordinator { Coordinator(self) } class Coordinator: NSObject, GKGameCenterControllerDelegate { let parent: GameCenterView init(_ parent: GameCenterView) { self.parent = parent } func gameCenterViewControllerDidFinish(_ gameCenterViewController: GKGameCenterViewController) { parent.presentationMode.wrappedValue.dismiss() } } }

I typically read an extended gamepad capture() and get all state. But PSVR2 controllers seem to report nothing. So the stick and other buttons don't do anything in a built app. They register as left/right controllers. This on vOS 26, Xcode 26, etc. They work correctly in the main icon view, although they don't honor inverted vertical and horiztonal scrolling. Both of the default scrolls just feel wrong. When I move left I'm want to scroll level not right. Same for up/down.

In my SceneKit game I'm able to connect two players with GKMatchmakerViewController. Now I want to support the scenario where one of them disconnects and wants to reconnect. I tried to do this with this code: nonisolated public func match(_ match: GKMatch, player: GKPlayer, didChange state: GKPlayerConnectionState) { Task { @MainActor in switch state { case .connected: break case .disconnected, .unknown: let matchRequest = GKMatchRequest() matchRequest.recipients = [player] do { try await GKMatchmaker.shared().addPlayers(to: match, matchRequest: matchRequest) } catch { } @unknown default: break } } } nonisolated public func player(_ player: GKPlayer, didAccept invite: GKInvite) { guard let viewController = GKMatchmakerViewController(invite: invite) else { return } viewController.matchmakerDelegate = self present(viewController) } But after presenting the view controller with GKMatchmakerViewController(invite:), nothing else happens. I would expect matchmakerViewController(_:didFind:) to be called, or how would I get an instance of GKMatch? Here is the code I use to reproduce the issue, and below the reproduction steps. Code Run the attached project on an iPad and a Mac simultaneously. On both devices, tap the ship to connect to GameCenter. Create an automatched match by tapping the rightmost icon on both devices. When the two devices are matched, on iPad close the dialog and tap on the ship to disconnect from GameCenter. Wait some time until the Mac detects the disconnect and automatically sends an invitation to join again. When the notification arrives on the iPad, tap it, then tap the ship to connect to GameCenter again. The iPad receives the call player(_:didAccept:), but nothing else, so there’s no way to get a GKMatch instance again.