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Apple Games App in iOS 26.2 Unveils Three New Upgrades

**Apple Games Receives Multiple Upgrades in iOS 26.2**

iOS 26.2 is scheduled for release next month, with the developer beta 2 just unveiled, highlighting numerous improvements for Apple’s Games app. This update comes on the heels of iOS 26, which introduced two new system applications, one of which is Apple Games, a unified hub for gaming activities on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

### Features of Apple Games

The Apple Games app encompasses various features aimed at enhancing the gaming experience:

– **Live Events and Updates**: Users can view the most recent events and updates in the games they are currently engaged in.
– **Game Discovery**: The app enables users to find new games that their friends are playing and upcoming titles on the horizon.
– **Game Library Access**: Users can conveniently access their entire game collection, including previous downloads, with sorting and filtering functionalities.
– **Friend Challenges**: The app allows users to invite friends to partake in challenges and real-time multiplayer sessions.
– **Score Notifications**: Users receive alerts when friends achieve higher scores, fostering friendly rivalry.

### New Updates in iOS 26.2

With the launch of iOS 26.2, Apple brings forth several updates to the Games app:

1. **Enhanced Library Filtering**: Users can now refine their game library based on titles their friends are playing, those that allow challenges, and game size.
2. **Improved Controller Compatibility**: The app now features enhanced compatibility with controllers, enabling users to navigate without needing to switch to touch input.
3. **Real-Time Score Updates**: Challenge scores will now refresh in real time during gameplay.

These updates prioritize enhancing the user experience over attracting new users, reflecting Apple’s dedication to optimizing the app based on user input.

### Conclusion

The upgrades in iOS 26.2 demonstrate Apple’s attentiveness to user demands, striving to deliver a more enjoyable experience for current users of the Apple Games app. As the release date draws near, gamers can anticipate these quality-of-life enhancements.

iOS 26.2 Brings Liquid Glass Effect to Built-in Level Tool

Apple unveiled iOS 26.2 earlier today, advancing its comprehensive redesign of the Liquid Glass visual theme with an interface enhancement to the Level tool in the Measure app.

### Liquid Glass Continues to Spread Throughout the System

Following the first round of app revisions showcasing the Liquid Glass visual theme introduced at WWDC25, Apple is further embedding these fresh visual elements into its default applications. In the most recent iOS 26.2 developer beta 2, Apple revamped the Measure app to integrate Liquid Glass visual elements into the interfaces of both the Measure and Level tools.

The refreshed app now displays chromatic aberrations when the level indicator crosses the horizon, as well as a distortion effect on the background grid. When determining the level of an object located on either the floor or ceiling, the Level tool now presents two Liquid Glass circles rather than the former flat circles. The Liquid Glass effect within these circles also alters the background grid and level number on the display, providing a cohesive visual experience as the level indicator approaches 0º.

Although the Measure and Level tools are not among the most commonly utilized native iPhone features, the Liquid Glass effect in the Level tool is visually impressive. It remains uncertain whether Apple will implement further modifications before the official launch of iOS 26.2 or if more Liquid Glass elements will be incorporated into the Measure tool itself.

iOS 26.2 Brings Option to Turn Off New CarPlay Functionality in Messages

### Key Changes in iOS 26: Upgrades to CarPlay and Messages Application

The launch of iOS 26 has brought important modifications to CarPlay, improving the user experience with a fresh Liquid Glass design, widgets, Live Activities, and more. Among these modifications, the Messages application has also benefited from enhancements, including the inclusion of Tapbacks and pinned chats, making communication more effective and visually attractive.

#### iOS 26.2: A Fresh Toggle for Pinned Chats

With the latest update of iOS 26.2, Apple has incorporated a new function that enables users to refine the Messages application within CarPlay. Previously, users lacked the ability to manage pinned chats in CarPlay; the interface merely duplicated the iPhone’s configuration. If pinned chats were activated on the iPhone, they would automatically appear in CarPlay.

The introduction of a new toggle in iOS 26.2 permits users to completely disable pinned chats in CarPlay. This function can be located in the Settings application under CarPlay. Users can scroll down to find the “Pinned Conversations” toggle and turn it off, resulting in a more streamlined list of conversation threads in the CarPlay Messages application.

#### User Experience and Input

While the new toggle presents a more straightforward interface, some users indicate a wish for additional customization choices. The existing arrangement offers an all-or-nothing option, which may not accommodate every user’s preferences. For example, while some users might wish to retain specific group chats pinned on their iPhones, they could prefer having only crucial conversations, like those with immediate family, pinned in CarPlay.

#### Summary

The enhancements in iOS 26 and the following iOS 26.2 update demonstrate Apple’s persistent dedication to improving user experience in CarPlay and the Messages application. The new features and customization alternatives grant users greater control over their messaging environment while driving. As always, user input will be vital in influencing future updates, and it will be intriguing to observe how Apple continues to develop these features based on user desires.