Apple has taken a strategic step by acquiring assets from Rabbit 3 Times, the company behind the acclaimed app design tool Play. This acquisition, which includes the potential hiring of certain employees, was officially notified to the European Commission in February and made public after a four-month waiting period.
Play, once a popular Mac and iPhone app, enabled designers to prototype iPhone app interfaces using Apple’s SwiftUI frameworks, with seamless integration into Xcode. The app was recognized for its innovation with an Apple Design Award in 2025.
Apple described Play as a sophisticated yet accessible tool that facilitates the creation of interactive prototypes with SwiftUI frameworks. The app’s user-friendly interface allows designers to collaborate across Mac and iPhone, syncing in real time to enhance creativity.
Following the acquisition, Play is no longer available on the App Store, suggesting a strategic move by Apple. The company may leverage Play’s intellectual property to enhance its Xcode platform, although specific plans have yet to be disclosed.
