Meta Platforms has finally rolled out an iPad-optimised version of WhatsApp, offering users of Apple’s tablets a tailored experience of the world’s most popular messaging app.
This long-anticipated move coincides with Apple’s own big push into the gaming market through a new, system-wide gaming app expected to debut later this year.
The newly released WhatsApp for iPad features a split-screen two-column layout and full support for iPadOS multitasking capabilities like Split View. Users can also make video calls with up to 32 participants — a feature in line with the desktop and smartphone versions.
Until now, iPad users were limited to using the scaled-up iPhone version of WhatsApp or accessing the platform via web browsers. With this rollout, Meta closes one of the final gaps in its iPad app ecosystem, leaving Instagram as the major holdout still lacking a dedicated iPad experience.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed WhatsApp now boasts over 3 billion monthly active users. While it’s unclear how many of those use iPads, the addition of a native app is expected to deepen user engagement on Apple tablets.
Meanwhile, Apple is planning to cement its presence in the gaming space with a brand-new app launching across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV later this year. Designed to unify the gaming experience across devices, the app will serve as a central hub for launching titles, tracking achievements, accessing leaderboards, and managing in-game communication.
Sources familiar with the matter say the software will replace the underwhelming Game Centre — which debuted in 2010 but failed to gain traction — and borrow inspiration from leading gaming ecosystems. Apple will unveil the app at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9.
This comes as Apple aims to elevate its gaming profile, especially with high-end titles like Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed making their way to its platforms. Currently, gaming accounts for roughly two-thirds of Apple’s App Store revenue, making it a critical pillar of its services business.
The new app will also support editorial content, highlight Arcade titles, and offer deeper integration with non-App Store Mac games — a rare step that acknowledges the growing influence of indie developers and alternative gaming shopfronts.
Both the WhatsApp expansion and Apple’s new gaming platform are part of broader efforts to boost device utility and improve cross-platform user experience. Apple’s upcoming operating system update — iOS 26 — is expected to introduce a redesigned UI dubbed Solarium, which aligns visual elements more closely across iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and other Apple hardware.
Additional new features include AI-enhanced battery and health tools, a revamped Translate app, real-time AirPods translation, and advanced accessibility features like eye-scrolling on the Vision Pro.
