Why do I have to add a Credit Card to play a free game?

Apple Arcade – the subject of this forum – is a subscription service. You would need a valid payment method on file to pay for it.

But generally, Apple requires a valid payment method on file even to download "free" apps. Many of those apps are stocked with "in-app purchases" and if you make any of those, those will NOT be free.

Ihateapple12rte wrote:

Why do I have to put a credit card on file to play a free game?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Because it is Apple’s App Store policy. End of story. There is no reason.