No Man's Sky iOS Oct 28: Apple's Indie Week Adds Sifu, Vampire Crawlers & More

Apple has initiated a promotional campaign titled Indie Games Week on the App Store, recognising seven independent titles that have launched recently or are scheduled for release in the near future. According to 9to5Mac, the initiative aims to highlight these specific games throughout the current week. The selection includes a mix of genres, from action brawlers to strategic kingdom builders, showcasing the diversity of content available to users on Apple’s platform.

Root cause

The primary driver for this announcement is Apple’s desire to celebrate the creativity of independent developers. Carson Oliver, head of App Store Worldwide, stated that indie games constantly push the boundaries of creativity to deliver unique gameplay experiences. He noted that the App Store provides a global stage for bold ideas, turning daring visions into worldwide hits. The campaign recognises the teams that take creative risks to advance gaming on Apple devices.

Attack path

This event involves no security vulnerability or attack vector. It is a marketing initiative designed to increase visibility for specific applications. According to MacRumors, Apple described the effort as a celebration of the incredible catalog of imaginative games made by independent teams with big dreams. The mechanism is purely promotional, featuring selected titles on the App Store interface to attract user attention and downloads during the designated week.

Affected versions

The following seven titles are featured in the campaign, as reported by 9to5Mac and MacRumors:

• Sifu: A third-person brawler following a kung fu student on a path of revenge.
• Vampire Crawlers: A spin-off of Vampire Survivors focusing on tactical deck building.
• No Man’s Sky: Making its mobile debut on iPhone and iPad on 28 October.
• Little Kitty, Big City: An open-world adventure guiding a curious feline through a metropolis.
• 9 Kings: A strategic kingdom builder involving card armies and royal adversaries.
• Dome Keeper: An alien mining simulator where players dig deep to fend off foes.
• Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall: A title requiring moral choices to save a crumbling empire.

Mitigation

As this is a promotional event and not a security incident, no technical mitigation is required. Users do not need to apply patches or change security settings in response to this announcement. The App Store continues to operate normally, with these titles available for download according to their respective release schedules. No system configuration changes are necessary to participate in or observe this campaign.

What to do and how to stay safe: Apple

• Verify the release dates of featured games on the App Store to plan installations.
• Check device storage capacity before downloading large titles like No Man’s Sky.
• Review app permissions for new installations to ensure they align with your security policy.
• Monitor official Apple channels for updates on future promotional campaigns.

Step-by-step guide: Password Policies Examples That Reduce Password Fatigue

General security guidance from the Vector Bulletin newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

When does No Man’s Sky launch on mobile devices?

No Man’s Sky is scheduled to launch on iPhone and iPad on 28 October, including every major content expansion to date.

How many games are featured in Indie Games Week?

Apple is highlighting seven new indie games during this week’s promotional campaign on the App Store.

Who announced the Indie Games Week initiative?

Apple announced the initiative, with Carson Oliver, head of App Store Worldwide, providing commentary on the value of indie developers.