iCloud+ now includes Apple TV and Arcade in 100+ countries (not the US)

Apple quietly changed what “iCloud+” means in a long list of countries. On September 15, 2026, paid iCloud+ plans in more than 100 countries started including Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra cost, including the cheapest 50GB tier, with Family Sharing covering up to five other people. That is Apple’s framing on country Newsroom posts such as the Mali Newsroom announcement and the iCloud+ with TV & Arcade marketing page.

Here is the clarifying angle for most of this audience: the United States is not on the list. Neither are Canada, Australia, the UK, and most of Europe, per MacRumors and 9to5Mac. If you live in one of those excluded markets, this is not a secret toggle you missed in Settings. You still buy Apple TV / Arcade separately, or you use Apple One (or another bundle you already pay for).

Who gets the bundle

Apple’s marketing page lists the included countries (India, Singapore, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Ukraine, much of Africa and the Caribbean, and many others). The pattern is clear: this is a services push in markets where Apple wants iCloud+ to carry TV and Arcade instead of selling those a la carte.

In included countries:

Every paid iCloud+ tier gets Apple TV and Apple Arcade, down to 50GB.
Existing iCloud+ subscribers gain access automatically (Apple’s FAQ language on the iCloud marketing page).
Family Sharing can share storage, Apple TV, and Arcade with up to five other family members.
Standalone Apple TV / Arcade subscriptions in those countries are being wound down. Apple says people on standalone plans keep access through iCloud+, and Arcade game progress / saves are preserved (Newsroom).
Some markets also get Apple Music Select (ad-free curated stations) as a lean-back add-on meant to upsell full Apple Music. Secondary coverage from MacRumors and 9to5Mac treats that as part of the same initiative.

Apple is also using the moment to expand Apple TV availability: 59 newly added countries, about 170 total, per the same Newsroom post and MacRumors/9to5Mac.

Who does not (read this twice if you are in the US)

If your Apple ID country/region is the US, Canada, UK, Australia, or most of Europe, this iCloud+ bundle does not apply. Your 50GB / 200GB / 2TB iCloud+ plan stays storage-and-privacy features (Private Relay, Hide My Email, and the rest of the usual iCloud+ kit). It does not suddenly unlock Apple TV and Arcade.

For US readers specifically:

Want TV + Arcade + storage in one bill? That is still an Apple One conversation (or separate subscriptions).
Do not cancel Apple One because a headline said “iCloud+ now includes TV and Arcade.” Check whether your country is on Apple’s included list first.
VPN tricks to “become” an included country are a bad idea for subscriptions, billing, and library access. Apple ties services to Apple ID region rules for a reason.

How to check on your devices

Apple’s own check path:

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → iCloud+.
Look at what the subscription details list. If Apple TV and Apple Arcade are included in your country, they show there (iCloud FAQ).
On a Mac, open System Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions (wording can vary slightly by macOS version) and open the iCloud+ entry the same way.

If you are in an included country and already pay for iCloud+, open the Apple TV app and the Arcade tab in the App Store after the rollout reaches you. Apple has said the change rolls through the month in participating markets (9to5Mac).

If you only had standalone TV or Arcade in an included country, watch for Apple’s transition notice that moves you onto iCloud+ access and cancels the old standalone line item. Confirm Arcade saves still appear before you assume anything was lost. Apple says progress is preserved. Verify once on your devices anyway.

What this means in plain language

Apple is testing a simpler story in price-sensitive markets: pay for iCloud+, get storage plus TV plus Arcade, share it with family. In richer markets where Apple One already sells that story at a higher price, nothing free landed on September 15.

That is not a glitch in your Settings app. It is a regional product decision. Coverage from MacRumors and 9to5Mac is blunt about the exclusion list for a reason.

Bottom line

In 100+ countries, paid iCloud+ (even 50GB) now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade, with Family Sharing for up to five others, and Arcade progress kept through the transition. In the US (and Canada, UK, Australia, most of Europe), you are outside that deal. Check Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → iCloud+, believe the country list, and keep using Apple One or separate subscriptions if that is where you live.

Official references: Apple Newsroom (country post), iCloud+ with Apple TV & Arcade. Secondary roundups: MacRumors, 9to5Mac.

Image: Apple Newsroom press photo (iCloud+ expansion hero from Apple’s iCloud+ / Apple TV / Arcade announcement, Sept 2026).