Tag • #mobile games

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‘I did not expect so many games about people’s pets’: why Downpour is a great alternative to doomscrolling

news.movim.eu / TheGuardian · Tuesday, 12 March - 09:30 · 1 minute

A simple and endearing game creation tool has me and thousands of others creating little shareable interactive games instead of pawing at the news on our phones

Last week, while slowly suffocating on a packed train from Frome to London, I took out my phone and instead of doomscrolling social media, I made a game. It was an extremely basic game that required the player to correctly identify Westminster Palace’s Big Ben tower in a photograph, but the experience was so engrossing that the journey flew by.

The app I used to build my masterpiece was Downpour, by lone coder v Buckenham. Launched on App Store and Google Play last week, it’s an intuitive program that lets you build games out of your own photos. You simply create a collage of images, add some text and save that as a page; you then add more pages and link them together to create your game. Transparent boxes on the screen form the hyperlinks – so say you use a photograph of Westminster, you can place a box around the Elizabeth Tower and when the player touches it, they’ll be led to a page that says “Congratulations, you’ve found Big Ben”.

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Netflix lands its first big-name games with Grand Theft Auto trilogy

news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Wednesday, 29 November - 22:14

Enlarge / The enhanced edition trilogy includes Grand Theft Auto 3 , Grand Theft Auto Vice City , and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas . (credit: Rockstar Games)

Netflix subscribers will be able to play the three original 3D Grand Theft Auto games on iOS and Android starting in December, according to a blog post from the streamer.

The titles included are 2001's Grand Theft Auto III , 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City , and 2004's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas .

All three released initially on the PS2 and Xbox. The first 3D entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto III , was a crossover cultural sensation when it debuted, and it is credited as one of the main originators of the open-world genre, which remains one of the most popular genres in triple-A games to this day.

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Behind the scenes of Unity’s “rushed-out” install-fee program

news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Thursday, 26 October - 16:42 · 1 minute

Enlarge / A push for more IronSource customers may have been a major motivation behind Unity's controversial install-fee proposals (credit: Unity)

It's been over a month now since Unity partially backtracked on its controversial proposed "pay per install" fee structure , a trust-destroying saga that seems to have contributed to the retirement of Unity CEO John Riccitiello . Now, a new report highlights some of the internal divisions over the "rushed-out" policy introduction and provides new insight into what may have been motivating the company to even attempt such a plan.

Business-focused site MobileGamer.biz cites multiple "sources from inside Unity and across the mobile games business" in reporting that Unity received some significant pushback from senior-level managers before rolling out its initial fee-restructuring plans. "Half of the people in that meeting said that this model is too complicated, it’s not going to be well-received, and we should talk to people before we do this," one anonymous source told the site. "It felt very rushed. We had this meeting and were told it was happening, but we were not told a date. And then before we knew it, it was out there."

After the negative reaction to that initial plan, Unity reportedly considered a modification that would take up to 4 percent of revenue from the largest Unity publishers—slightly under the 5 percent charged by the Unreal Engine . The final policy knocked that cap down to 2.5 percent only after the extent of the backlash became clear.

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Rovio delists pay-to-own Angry Birds because it hurt free-to-play earnings

news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 24 February, 2023 - 16:58 · 1 minute

Enlarge / Angry bird is angry. (credit: Rovio)

Back in the days before practically every mobile game was a free-to-play, ad- and microtransaction-laden sinkhole, Rovio found years of viral success selling paid downloads of Angry Birds to tens of millions of smartphone users . Today, though, the company is delisting the last "pay upfront" version of the game from mobile app stores because of what it says is a "negative impact" on the more lucrative free-to-play titles in the franchise.

Years after its 2009 launch, the original Angry Birds was first pulled from mobile app stores in 2019, a move Rovio later blamed on "outdated game engines and design." The remastered "Rovio Classics" version of the original game launched last year , asking 99 cents for over 390 ad-free levels, complete with updated graphics and a new, future-proofed engine "built from the ground up in Unity."

In a tweeted statement earlier this week , though, Rovio announced that it is delisting Rovio Classics: Angry Birds from the Google Play Store and renaming the game Red's First Flight on the iOS App Store (presumably to make it less findable in an "Angry Birds" search). That's because of the game's "impact on our wider games portfolio," Rovio said, including "live" titles such as Angry Birds 2 , Angry Birds Friends , and Angry Birds Journey .

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3 years after launch, Apple Arcade loses 15 games

news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Tuesday, 2 August, 2022 - 21:36

Art from <em>Various Daylife</em>, one of the games that left Apple Arcade in August 2022.

Enlarge / Art from Various Daylife , one of the games that left Apple Arcade in August 2022. (credit: https://variousdaylife.square-enix-games.com )

Several games that were previously available as part of the Apple Arcade subscription service have been removed.

Fifteen titles have been dropped, and all of them are games that were introduced in the early days of the service. Since mid-July, these games had appeared in a "Leaving Arcade Soon" section of the Apple Arcade tab in the App Store. That section is now gone, suggesting that these are the only games that will be removed in the immediate future.

Apple revealed that these games would be leaving Arcade within that section, so subscribers had a little over two weeks' notice. But there's a little more time for those currently playing the games.

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Thanks to subscriptions, iPhone apps finally made more money than games

news.movim.eu / ArsTechnica · Friday, 15 July, 2022 - 20:29

Enlarge / Apple's App Store. (credit: Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images )

Throughout the short history of smartphone apps, games have consistently driven more revenue than non-gaming app categories. But that has finally changed in the United States, according to new data from app intelligence firm Sensor Tower.

The shift began in May 2022. By June, 50.3 percent of US consumer spending on apps was on non-game apps like TikTok, Netflix, and Tinder. Spending on non-game apps has recently grown at twice the rate as spending on games. Game spending was exploding at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 and early 2020, but by late 2020, non-gaming apps caught up, and they surpassed games in 2021.

This has been driven in part by the shift so many apps have made to a subscription-based model of late. For years, games generated more revenue not necessarily because they got more downloads (though they often did) but because their long-term monetization was clearer, more consistent, and more robust thanks to in-app transactions. Other types of apps didn't have that going for them, and many were sold for one-time purchase prices or offered a limited number of premium upgrades.

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Rocket League Sideswipe Is Coming To iOS & Android Later This Year

pubsub.do.nohost.me / FossBytes · Thursday, 25 March, 2021 - 11:40 · 1 minute

Rocket League Sideswipe Is Coming To iOS & Android Later This Year

Iterations of popular PC and Console games making their way to mobile devices is the new trend. Since mobile games offer an on-the-go gaming experience, the developers are pushing forward the respective versions of their popular games to mobile. Now, “Rocket League Sideswipe” will join the ranks of fan-favorite mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile .

Rocket League is a popular Esports title by Psyonix. The studio recently announced that “Rocket League Sideswipe” is coming to iOS and Android later this year.

The upcoming game looks similar to the PC and Console versions of the game. For more details about this upcoming iteration of Rocket League, read on.

What is Rocket League?

Rocket League is a free-to-play football game, but with a catch. Instead of an in-game humanoid character, you play football with cars. The game was launched in 2015 for PC and Playstation 4, and it was later ported to Xbox and Nintendo Switch .

How to play Rocket League Sideswipe?

Rocket League Sideswipe will be a free-to-play mobile game upon its launch. The game is currently in beta testing, and only players in Australia and New Zealand can sign up. However, to sign up for the “limited time Alpha test,” players should have an android device, as the beta is not available on iOS.

Furthermore, Psyonix also said in the press release, “We’ll have more information on future betas in additional regions in the coming months.” Hopefully, we can expect a beta version for iOS in the next few months. However, there is no official release date for Rocket League Sideswipe.

Since Rocket League is a major Esports title, it’s safe to assume its mobile counterpart will follow in similar footsteps. As confirmed by Psyonix, “competitive gameplay of Rocket League and reimagines it for a mobile device.”

Moreover, Rocket League Sideswipe’s matches will be fast-paced 1v1 and 2v2, confined within the limit of 2 minutes.

So this is all the information released regarding Rocket League Sideswipe; we’ll update this article when any new information surfaces.

The post Rocket League Sideswipe Is Coming To iOS & Android Later This Year appeared first on Fossbytes .

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7 Upcoming Mobile Games You Should Be Excited About (2021 & Beyond)

pubsub.do.nohost.me / FossBytes · Sunday, 28 February, 2021 - 18:18 · 6 minutes

7 Upcoming Mobile Games You Should Be Excited About (2021 & Beyond)

The gaming community expanded exponentially after PUBG Mobile became an esports sensation. PUBG Mobile’s success motivated Activision to release Call of Duty Mobile , which grabbed millions of players instantly. It seems like the trend for mobile games isn’t going to end soon, as several upcoming mobile games are already creating enough hype.

Most video game developers realized that mobile gaming is a massive market. And to expand to that market, developers have to release games for Android and iOS. Thus, there are some amazing upcoming mobile games in 2021 that you should be excited about. So, let’s straight away get to the good stuff.

Upcoming Mobile Games (2021 & Beyond)

S.NO.	Best Upcoming Mobile Games	Release Date (Expected)
1.	Valorant Mobile	2022
2.	Apex Legends Mobile	2021
3.	PUBG: New State	2021
4.	League Of Legends: Wild Rift	2021
5.	Diablo Immortal	2021
6.	Pokemon Unite	2021
7.	The Witcher: Monster Slayer	2021

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1. Valorant Mobile

The first upcoming mobile game we are going to talk about is Valorant Mobile . For those who don’t know, Riot Games’ Valorant is an extraordinary multiplayer FPS game. Valorant took the 5v5 concept of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and made it more exciting by introducing ‘Agents.’

In Valorant , you play in a team of five by selecting different agents with unique abilities. In short, it’s one of the most competitive video games right now.

In 2021, Valorant is one of the most popular games with millions of players worldwide. However, Riot Games wants to expand Valorant’s player base; well, that’s what numerous Valorant leaks and rumors say.

Officially, Valorant didn’t confirm anything on the development of Valorant Mobile. However, data miners have found several in-game files indicating that developers are working on a mobile port for Valorant. Nevertheless, it’s still hard to say when Valorant Mobile will actually be released. Hopefully, Riot will announce Valorant Mobile by the end of 2021, with a possible release date in 2022.

Release Date: 2022(Expected)

2. Apex Legends Mobile

Similar to Valorant, Apex Legends is already one of the best multiplayer games in 2021. Basically, it is a battle royale game available for consoles, PC, and Nintendo Switch. And Respawn Entertainment has already confirmed that it is working on Apex Legends Mobile . Unlike other battle royale games like PUBG and Call of Duty Warzone , Apex Legends has different characters, each with a unique set of abilities.

Initially, EA wanted to release Apex Legends Mobile by the end of 2021. However, COVID-19 impacted the game’s development; the reason why it got delayed . Now, according to several leaks, Apex Legends Mobile will release in the third quarter of 2021.

Interestingly, Apex Legends Mobile’s soft launch will begin in China in the next three to four months. You could say that it is one of the best upcoming mobile games to watch out for in 2021.

Release Date: 2021 (Expected)

3. PUBG: New State

Recently, PUBG Crop. announced a new PUBG battle royale game for mobile platform, PUBG: New State . Unlike other PUBG games, PUBG: New State is set in 2051. So, in the upcoming mobile game, players are going to see several futuristic weapons and vehicles. The game will feature drones, shields, and other technologically advanced gadgets. Moreover, in PUBG New State, players are going to see an entirely new map, TRIO.

Interestingly, PUBG Studios confirmed that they plan on releasing PUBG New State by the end of 2021. The alpha testing for the game will begin a little earlier than the global release.

PUBG is already one of the most popular battle royale games of all time, with millions of players worldwide. Nevertheless, the Korean video game developer is now inclined to seize more players with the third game under its umbrella. So, there’s no doubt that PUBG: New State is one of the best upcoming mobile games of 2021.

Release Date: 2021

4. League Of Legends: Wild Rift

Riot Games’ League Of Legends for PC is already an esports sensation. The Multiplayer online battle area game is considered one of the best games of all time. However, the game is only available for Windows, macOS, and Macintosh operating systems. Fortunately, in October 2019, Riot Games announced League of Legends: Wild Rift, the mobile port for League of Legends.

Sadly, League of Legends: Wild Rift does not have an official release date. However, Riot Games is already testing this game in selected countries. In March 2021, the open beta of League of Legends: Wild Rift will enter America. So, it’s safe to assume that Riot will release the MOBA game by the end of 2021, making it one of the best upcoming mobile games this year.

Release Date: 2021 (Expected)

5. Diablo Immortal

Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo Immortal is an upcoming multiplayer action role-playing game for Android and iOS. The mobile port is based on the PC and console versions of the Diablo series and is set between Diablo II and Diablo III. Blizzard announced Diablo Immortal in 2018 and conducted the limited alpha testing for the game from December 2020-January 2021. Blizzard confirmed that another alpha testing for Diablo Immortal would begin soon.

Unfortunately, Activision CEO confirmed that Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 wouldn’t be released in 2021. However, the studio affirmed that Diablo Immortal’s development is progressing well, and players might get to play the game in 2021.

Release Date: 2021

6. Pokemon Unite

Last year in June, The Pokemon Company announced Pokemon Unite, the first-ever Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game based on Pokemon. The game is developed by TiMi Studios, the Chinese studio that developed Call of Duty Mobile.

In Pokemon Unite, players can team up and play as a Pokemon of their choice. Between matches, players can perform interesting moves to conquer wild Pokemon in the arena. Players have to score points to evolve their Pokemon, and the team with the highest score is declared victorious.

For Pokemon fans, there are so many reasons to look forward to the release of Pokemon Unite. Officially, Pokemon Unite doesn’t have a release date yet. However, we could see Pokemon Unite releasing by the end of 2021.

Release Date: 2021 (Expected)

7. The Witcher: Monster Slayer

Last year, CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher: Monster Slayer Augmented Reality(AR) game for Android and iOS. The Witcher: Monster Slayer will work exactly like Pokemon Go. However, you will not be catching monsters in the Witcher mobile game. Instead, you have to kill monsters roaming around in the world.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered a masterpiece game of the last decade. The success of video games even inspired Netflix to work on The Witcher series starring Henry Cavill. So, considering the popularity of the Witcher franchise, it’s safe to say that The Witcher: Monster Slayer is one of the best upcoming mobile games.

Right now, The Witcher: Monster Slayer doesn’t have an official release date. However, you can expect the game to release in 2021.

Release Date: 2021(Expected)

Top Upcoming Mobile Games: Wrapping Up

That’s it; these are the seven best upcoming mobile games that you should be excited about. Of course, there are other mobile games under development as well. However, these are the best ones that deserved to be on the list. If you have more to add, feel free to comment below!

The post 7 Upcoming Mobile Games You Should Be Excited About (2021 & Beyond) appeared first on Fossbytes .