Create apps that allow players to interact with each other using GameKit.

Posts under GameKit tag

61 Posts

Post

Replies

Boosts

Views

Activity

Game Center Leaderboards Not Propagating After App Goes Live
I’m encountering (or at least I think I am) a propagation issue between App Store Connect and the live App Store version of my app following an update that introduced Game Center leaderboards via GameKit. The v1.0.1 build was developed and tested in Xcode 26, using GameKit integration for leaderboards. Everything functioned correctly on standalone devices under a signed production build. After submission, the build was approved and is currently live on the App Store, yet App Store Connect still shows the build status as “Ready for Distribution.” This mismatch appears to be preventing proper Game Center leaderboard propagation, leaderboard data and player scores are not syncing (GC dot doesn’t appear) as expected on the production environment, despite all leaderboards being correctly configured under App Store Connect → Game Center → Leaderboards and the identifiers matching the app bundle configuration. It’s been well beyond the typical propagation window, suggesting a potential desync between App Store Connect and Game Center services rather than a code-level issue. Before resubmitting, I’d like to confirm whether others have experienced similar propagation delays or if manual intervention from Apple is sometimes required to resolve the state mismatch. Environment: • Xcode 26 (Release build) • GameKit framework (Swift) • iOS 17.6 target • Game Center leaderboards configured as a set within App Store Connect Any guidance on triggering propagation or forcing a sync between App Store Connect and Game Center servers would be greatly appreciated!!
2
0
254
1d
GameCenter scores are not being posted to the leaderboard
Hello! Bare with me here, as there is a lot to explain! I am working on implementing a Game Center high score leaderboard into my game. I have looked around for examples of how to properly implement this code, but have come up short on finding much material. Therefore, I have tried implementing it myself based off information I found on apples documentation. Long story short, I am getting success printed when I update my score, but no scores are actually being posted (or at-least no scores are showing up on the Game Center leaderboard when opened). Before I show the code, one thing I have questioned is the fact that this game is still in development. In AppStoreConnect, the status of the leaderboard is "Not Live". Does this affect scores being posted? Onto the code. I have created a GameCenter class which handles getting the leaderboards and posting scores to a specific leaderboard. I will post the code in whole, and will discuss below what is happening. PLEASE VIEW ATTACHED TEXT TO SEE THE GAMECENTER CLASS! GameCenter class - https://developer.apple.com/forums/content/attachment/0dd6dca8-8131-44c8-b928-77b3578bd970 In a different GameScene, once the game is over, I request to post a new high score to Game Center with this line of code: GameCenter.shared.submitScore(id: GameCenterLeaderboards.HighScore.rawValue) Now onto the logic of my code. For the longest time I struggled to figure out how to submit a score. I figured out that in Xcode 12, they deprecated a lot of functions that previously worked for me. Not is seems that we have to load all leaderboards (or the ones we want). That is the purpose behind the leaderboards private variable in the Game Center class. On the start up of the app, I call authenticate player. Once this callback is reached, I call loadLeaderboards which will load the leaderboards for each string id in an enum that I have elsewhere. Each of these leaderboards will be created as a Leaderboard object, and saved in the private leaderboard array. This is so I have access to these leaderboards later when I want to submit a score. Once the game is over, I am calling submitScore with the leaderboard id I want to post to. Right now, I only have a high score, but in the future I may add a parameter to this with the value so it works for other leaderboards as well. Therefore, no value is passed in since I am pulling from local storage which holds the high score. submitScore will get the leaderboard from the private leaderboard array that has the same id as the one passed in. Once I get the correct leaderboard, I submit a score to that leaderboard. Once the callback is hit, I receive the output "Successfully submitted score to leaderboard". This looks promising, except for the fact that no score is actually posted. At startup, I am calling updatePlayerHighScore, which is not complete - but for the purpose of my point, retrieves the high score of the player from the leaderboard and is printing it out to the console. It is printing out (0), meaning that no score was posted. The last thing I have questions about is the context when submitting a score. According to the documentation, this seems to just be metadata that GameCenter does not care about, but rather something the developer can use. Therefore, I think I can cross this off as causing the problem. I believe I implemented this correctly, but for some reason, nothing is posting to the leaderboard. This was ALOT, but I wanted to make sure I got all my thoughts down. Any help on why this is NOT posting would be awesome! Thanks so much! Mark
9
2
5.1k
5d
Game Center SignIn alert appears on macOS 26 (Tahoe) without capability or entitlement
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.
1
0
89
6d
请问Game Center的数据保存逻辑
我们想在游戏类 App 内接入 Game Center。用户可以在游戏内创建多个角色,若用户在游戏内创建了2个角色:角色1、角色2,请问: 当用户将角色1与 Game Center 绑定后,数据将上报至 Game Center。此时玩家想要将角色1与 Game Center 解除绑定,解绑后,再将角色2与 Game Center 绑定。那么这时角色1的数据是留存在 Game Center 中,还是将被移除?
0
0
194
6d
GKAccessPoint triggerAccessPointWithState handler not invoked on iOS 26.0 and iOS 15.8.4
GKAccessPoint triggerAccessPointWithState handler not invoked on iOS 26.0 and iOS 15.8.4 Incorrect/Unexpected Behaviour: When calling [GKAccessPoint.shared triggerAccessPointWithState:GKGameCenterViewControllerStateAchievements handler:^{}] on a real device running iOS 26 beta (iOS 26), the overlay appears as expected, but the handler block is never called. This behavior also not working correctly on previous iOS versions(tested on iOS 15.8.4) Steps to Reproduce: Authenticate GKLocalPlayer Call triggerAccessPointWithState:handler: with a block that logs or performs logic Observe that overlay appears, but block is not executed Behavior: UI appears correctly Handler is not invoked at all Expected Result: The handler should fire immediately after the dashboard is shown. Actual Result: The handler is never called. Usecase: As GKGameCenterViewController is deprecated we are moving to GKAccesspoint but due to above functionality issue we are unable to. Environment: Device: iPhone 16, iPhone 7 iOS: 26.0 and iOS 15.8.4 Xcode: 26.0 beta and Xcode 16.4
6
0
401
1w
Issues building Unity plug-in project: Cannot locate native library Apple.Core/Apple.GameKit for iOS
I'm having issues getting a well built package from the Apple Unity Plug-in project. When building the my game project in Unity the following error is printed to the console: Apple.Core.AppleNativeLibraryUtility] Cannot locate a Debug or Release Apple.Core native library for iOS. Please ensure that the build invocation (build.py, xcodebuild, or Xcode) compiled cleanly and that the build was configured to support Debug on iOS. As far as I can tell the build did compile cleanly, but I might be missing something. If anyone can see what I'm doing wrong or has any insight it would be greatly appreciated. Setup is the following: macOS Tahoe 26 Beta Xcode-beta Version 26.0 beta 3 (17A5276g) Unity Plug-in branch: 2025-beta1 Unity game project version: 2022.3.60f M1 Macbook Pro The built packages have been imported into the game project through the Unity Package Manager using the tarball option pointing to the built packages from the Unity Plug-in project. The Unity Plug-in project has been built using the build.py file with the following: python3 build.py -m iOS iPhoneSimulator -p Core GameKit CoreHaptics GameController -k all The output is available in the attached file. build-output.txt Here's an image of the NativeLibraries~ folder inside the built Apple.Core package.
4
1
577
1w
Xcode 26 – "Manage Game Progress" not showing achievements/leaderboards on macOS
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.
3
0
542
3w
GKLocalPlayer.authenticateHandler not called on iOS 26 when Game Center auth overlay is shown
Hi — we’re testing our app on iOS 26 and ran into strange behavior with GKLocalPlayer.local.authenticateHandler. GKLocalPlayer.local.authenticateHandler = { [weak self] viewController, error in // additional code } What happens: When we assign authenticateHandler on iOS 26 and the user is not signed in to Game Center, the system shows a full-screen Game Center overlay asking the user to sign in. If the user taps Cancel, nothing further happens — the closure is not invoked again, so we don’t receive an error or any callback. The app never learns whether the auth was cancelled or failed. In previous iOS versions the closure was called (with viewController / error as appropriate) and the flow worked as expected. What we tried: Verified authenticateHandler is being set. Checked GKLocalPlayer.local.isAuthenticated after the overlay dismisses — it’s unchanged. Observed system logs: a com.apple.GameOverlayUI scene is created and later removed (so the auth overlay is shown by the system). Confirmed the same code works on earlier iOS versions. :thinking: Question: Has anyone seen authenticateHandler not being invoked on iOS 26 when the Game Center auth overlay is presented? Could this be a behavioral change in iOS 26 (overlay runs in a separate system process), or a bug? Any suggested workarounds to reliably detect that the user cancelled the sign-in (for example: listening for willResignActive / didBecomeActive, watching for a system overlay, or saving/presenting the viewController manually)? Thanks in advance for any advice — we’d appreciate pointers or suggested diagnostics ?
7
2
887
3w
macOS 26 Games app – Achievement description shows incorrect text before unlocking
Hello, I found an issue with the Games app on macOS 26 (Tahoe) when viewing achievements: In App Store Connect, each achievement has different values set for the pre-earned description and the post-earned description. When testing with GameKit directly (GKAchievementDescription), both values are returned correctly. However, in the macOS Games app, the post-earned description is shown even before the achievement is earned. This seems to be a display issue specific to the Games app on macOS. Could you confirm if this is a known bug in the Games app, or if there is a reason why pre-earned descriptions are not being shown? Thank you.
1
0
283
Sep ’25
macOS 26 Games app – Achievement description shows incorrect text before unlocking
Hello, I found an issue with the Games app on macOS 26 (Tahoe) when viewing achievements: In App Store Connect, each achievement has different values set for the pre-earned description and the post-earned description. When testing with GameKit directly (GKAchievementDescription), both values are returned correctly. However, in the macOS Games app, the post-earned description is shown even before the achievement is earned. This seems to be a display issue specific to the Games app on macOS. Could you confirm if this is a known bug in the Games app, or if there is a reason why pre-earned descriptions are not being shown? Thank you.
1
0
205
Sep ’25
iOS 26 Games app: Wired Switch Pro controllers (and GameSir X5 Lite) not working correctly
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.
2
0
297
Sep ’25
Unity GameKit Plugin w/ Matchmaking Queue is not working
TLDR; I can't get QueueName to work with matchmaking a turn-based match in Unity using matchmaking rules. Long version: I'm using the apple unity plugin found here: https://github.com/apple/unityplugins/blob/main/plug-ins/Apple.GameKit/Apple.GameKit_Unity/Assets/Apple.GameKit/Documentation~/Apple.GameKit.md I have created a Queue, RuleSet and a simple Rule to match players by following these docs tightly: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/gamekit/finding-players-using-matchmaking-rules. Here is the single rule I have that drives matchmaking: { "data" : { "type" : "gameCenterMatchmakingRules", "id" : "[hiddden-rule-id]", "attributes" : { "referenceName" : "ComplimentaryFactionPreference", "description" : "default desc", "type" : "MATCH", "expression" : "requests[0].properties.preference != requests[1].properties.preference", "weight" : null }, "links" : { "self" : "https://api.appstoreconnect.apple.com/v1/gameCenterMatchmakingRules/[hidden-rule-id]" } }, "links" : { "self" : "https://api.appstoreconnect.apple.com/v1/gameCenterMatchmakingRules" } } which belongs to a rule set which belongs to a queue. I have verified these are setup and linked via the App Store Connect API. Additionally, when I tested queue-based matchmaking without a queue established, I got an error in Unity. Now, with this, I do not. However there is a problem when I attempt to use the queue for matchmaking. I have the basic C# function here: public override void StartSearch(NSMutableDictionary<NSString, NSObject> properties) { if (searching) return; base.StartSearch(properties); //Establish matchmaking requests _matchRequest = GKMatchRequest.Init(); _matchRequest.QueueName = _PreferencesToQueue(GetSerializedPreferences()); _matchRequest.Properties = properties; _matchRequest.MaxPlayers = PLAYERS_COUNT; _matchRequest.MinPlayers = PLAYERS_COUNT; _matchTask = GKTurnBasedMatch.Find(_matchRequest); } The _PreferencesToQueue(GetSerializedPreferences()); returns the exact name of the queue I added my ruleset to. After this function is called, I poll the task generated from the .Find(...) function. Every time I run this function, a new match is created almost instantly. No two players are ever added to the same match. Further, I'm running two built game instances, one on a mac and another on an ipad and when I simultaneously test, I am unable to join games this way. Can someone help me debug why I cannot seem to match make when using a queue based approach?
1
0
861
Sep ’25
How to use Unity Apple GameKit Plugin For Rule-based matchmaking?
Hello, **I'm Using ** Unity 6 LTS Unity Apple GameKit + Core plugins Turn-based matchmaking interface w/ 2 players max App Store Connect API for rule-based matchmaking I have already enabled game center in app store connect (I think) authenticated players and matched via friend request I am stuck Using queues to match players automatically I'm working on a rule-based matchmaking system which aims to place two players against each other into a GKTurnBasedMatch. I have a simple Unity Project that correctly authenticates a user and proceeds to send a matchmaking request. The matchmaking script utilizes the Unity plugins' GKTurnBasedMatchmakerViewController.Request(...) request function with a GKMatchRequest.Init() request configured with a QueueName equal to the App Store Connect API Queue I created. The queue I created is also linked to a ruleset with a very basic rule that checks if the properties contains a key called 'preference' that contains a string value for what side the player wants to play for this match. If during the matchmaking, the preferences between players are different, then the match is made and both players should join the match; each player gets to play the side they have chosen. I have my rule expression designed to just check if the preferences are not equal: requests[0].properties.faction_preference != requests[1].properties.faction_preference When I launch the game with two physical iPads and begin the matchmaking request, each player is immediately presented with two options: Invite a friend, or Start game The Problem: Inviting a friend works to get two players into a game, but queue seems to not matter, and clicking start game will just put the current player into its own match (no one joins). The Question: How do I get queue based matchmaking to work in Unity for a Turn-based match with only two players who are able to select the enemy side they want to play dictated by a rule that compares enemy play-side preferences? Resources I've used: Apple Unity GameKit Plugin: https://github.com/apple/unityplugins Matchmaking: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/gamekit/matchmaking-rules Multiplayer rulesets: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/gamekit/finding-players-using-matchmaking-rules
1
0
971
Sep ’25
GameKit not working as expected in iOS 26.
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() } } }
5
2
326
Sep ’25
GameKit Manage Game Progress does not work for Leaderboards
Works fine to show achievements but not Leaderboards. Launching the Xcode Project directly on device, loading remote (not yet live) leaderboards without issue and submitting scores to them works fine as well. I was hoping that rather than going through the app store distribution leaderboards with all of their limitations I could instead run it locally and add scores to test the behaviour, but even though I can edit the achievements progress locally, I can't see any leaderboards being available... One out of 3 leaderboards started beginning of this september while the other 2 leaderboards won't launch until the game launch.
0
0
105
Sep ’25
Game Activity link works when app is running, but not on cold start
I’m testing Game Activities in my Unity project with the new Apple.GameKit 2025-beta1 plugin. When I go into Xcode- Debug → GameKit → Manage Game Progress → Leaderboards → and click the generated link: If my app is already running in the background, the link opens the app and my handler (Apple.GameKit.GKGameActivity.WantsToPlay += OnWantsToPlay;) fires as expected. I can read the activity and route the player to the right level. If the app is completely closed, clicking the same link launches the app, but my OnWantsToPlay listener is never invoked. The app just boots normally and the activity intent seems lost. I’ve tried to subscribe as early as possible (in Awake() of my bootstrap scene, also tested with RuntimeInitializeOnLoadMethod(RuntimeInitializeLoadType.BeforeSplashScreen)]). Nothing works. Also, “Get Started with Game Center” video only demonstrates activation when the app already running, not a cold start from a Game Activity link. What am I missing? Environment Device/OS: iPhone on iOS 26.0 beta (Game Center sandbox) Xcode: 26.0 beta 6 Unity: 2022.3.21 Apple GameKit Unity plugin: 2025-beta1 (GameKit package) Signing: Game Center capability enabled; using development provisioning profile GameKit resources: GameCenterResources.gamekit in project (Target: Unity-iPhone), appears under Build Phases → Copy Bundle Resources
0
0
78
Sep ’25
Game Center Challenges and Activities are not appearing
Hi, I'm trying to add game center challenges and activities to an already live game, but they are not appearing in game for testing, GameCenter, or the Games app. I know the game is setup with GameKit entitlements since this is a live game and it has working leaderboards and achievements. I've updated to Tahoe beta 8, added a challenge and activity on app store connect, added that to a new distribution and added that distribution to 'Add for Review' I'm using Unity and the Apple Unity plugin Not sure what other steps I'm missing Thanks
0
0
1k
Sep ’25
GKLeaderboard.LoadLeaderboards() return empty when testing on Xcode with local gamekit file (Unity)
var allLeaderboards = await GKLeaderboard.LoadLeaderboards(); Log(allLeaderboards.Count); // returns 0 What am I missing?? What doesn’t work: await GKGameActivityDefinition.LoadGameActivityDefinitions() → count = 0 await GKLeaderboard.LoadLeaderboards() (no args) → 0 leaderboards await GKLeaderboard.LoadLeaderboards("MY ID") → returns 0 GkGameActivity.SetScoreOnLeaderboard(Leaderboard, score, context); returns an error since my Leaderboard is null. Activities and leaderboards are defined in GameCenterResources.gamekit in Xcode. Achievements that I add locally in the .gamekit file do not appear at runtime either; only ASC live ones show. ** What works:** xcode- debug- Gamekit- Manage Game progress- I can submit new scores with the plus button and see the notification on my device. await GKLocalPlayer.Authenticate() succeeds. await GKAchievement.LoadAchievements() returns the list of achievements configured in App Store Connect- but not any new local achievements created in Xcode in GameCenterResources.gamekit Environment Device/OS: iPhone on iOS 26.0 beta (Game Center sandbox) Xcode: 26.0 beta 6 Unity: 2022.3.21 Apple GameKit Unity plugin: 2025-beta1 (GameKit package) Signing: Game Center capability enabled; using development provisioning profile GameKit resources: GameCenterResources.gamekit in project (Target: Unity-iPhone), appears under Build Phases → Copy Bundle Resources
1
0
688
Sep ’25