Category: Mobile Game Releases

Mobile game releases and development

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New update to Black Desert Mobile introduces the Grand Desert region

If you’re hankering for some more stuff to do in Black Desert Mobile, then it’s time to steel your blade, ready your bow, charge your magic, or feed your panthers. The next expansion to Black Desert Mobile is adding a new region called the Grand Desert.

Grand Desert is filled to the brim with mysterious temples and tons of treasure to discover. It’s also said that a Black Spirit lives there, but we’re not sure if Pearl Abyss means the stony goliath that’s featured quite heavily in the trailer. Still, at least the oasis towns look pretty!

Black Desert Mobile’s first anniversary event is also coming very soon. In an upcoming update, you’ll be able to participate in a special in-game event titled ‘Black Spirit Complete Guide’. This event will give players “special quests to level up quickly and unlock endgame content” according to the press release. If you’d rather do it yourself and not have everything spoon fed to you, you can check out our Black Desert Mobile guide to get started.

While these two features are the biggest, there are a few more things coming to Black Desert Mobile in the near future:

  • Crystal of Dimensions: A new attack and defence boost item. You can craft this at the alchemy workshop and is said to provide “players with a new form of character progression”.
  • Carriage Upgrade: Carriages now allow players to carry more goods.
  • Merchantry upgrade: A new SS rank for Merchantry will also be available. This makes it so that you get more resources in a single run.
  • Returning User-care System: A quest line has been created for returning players, which aims to get players who have lapsed up to the same levels as those who have played continuously, allowing them to access the new stuff sooner. These quests are apparently tied to silver rewards.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN-bfYMkjxM?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

While there is no date for when the Grand Desert expansion update will drop, but the first anniversary update will begin appearing on December 8.

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PUBG Mobile is returning to India with $100 million local investment

PUBG Mobile is set to make a triumphant return to mobile in India two months after being banned by the government. In September, the Indian government controversially banned PUBG Mobile and around 200 other mobile apps, including social media video app TikTok, due to their ties to China. The government said that the decision was made to protect its people’s privacy.

However, according to a report by TechCrunch, PUBG Corporation has severed ties with Chinese publisher Tencent, and agreed to migrate all player data to Microsoft’s Azure. This should bring PUBG Mobile in line with New Delhi’s strict rules on apps’ links to China. While this is exciting news, it could also be a glimmer of light for other apps looking to bypass India’s ban in the future.

Additionally, PUBG Corporation has announced $100 million of investment into jobs, infrastructure, and tournaments in India. It said in a statement: “thanks to overwhelming community enthusiasm for PUBG esports in India, the company also plans to make investments by hosting India-exclusive esports events, which will feature the biggest tournaments, the largest prize pools, and the best tournament productions.”

The company also said that India would receive a specially-created version of the game, however the ever-reliable Daniel Ahmad notes that this shares a lot of similarities with the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile.

As Ahmad notes, PUBG Mobile was the #1 grossing mobile game in India and had over 50 million monthly active users in the country, so it remains to be seen whether the ban impacts its popularity going forward, or whether players will flock back to the shores of Miramar.

With some major changes at both a publisher level and a gameplay level, as well as a promise of huge funding for Indian esports, PUBG Corporation seems intent on getting back into the market. However, these resources aren’t available to all developers, so it may be difficult for other, smaller apps to follow  PUBG Mobile’s footsteps in returning to the Indian market.

There is no release date yet for the new version of the game, but in the meantime you can check out the best mobile multiplayer games, or reacquaint yourself with the latest PUBG Mobile update while you’re here.

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Sam & Max Save the World Remastered is coming to Switch next month

Everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic detective duo are back, and this time they’re taking their mystery solving prowess to the Nintendo Switch in Sam & Max Save the World Remastered. If you haven’t played the Sam & Max games before, first of all: where have you been? The comicbook characters first hit our 90s screens with a cult LucasArts game, and again nearly 15 years later with Telltale’s episodic series in 2006.

It is this iconic episodic series, Sam & Max Save the World, that is being remastered by Skunkape Games. Seeing as Telltale Games shut down in 2018, it is unknown whether any of the former staff had any role in the remaster, or any say at all. We don’t yet know whether or not the further episodes, Beyond Time and Space, and The Devil’s Playhouse, will also be rereleased down the line.

However, this remaster hopes to rekindle players’ nostalgia, and nail the parody of American cop shows that the games did so well in the mid-2000s. Our six-foot hound and his hyperactive bunny friend form a freelance vigilante police force with a penchant for sarcasm and a complete disregard for the law.

Sam & Max Save the World Remastered Season One will be released on December 2 for Nintendo Switch and PC, via Steam and GOG. Whether you’re after a nostalgia hit or just want to see what you’ve been missing, this is the first time that this dog and bunny have ever been portable.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIajN-DDmIk?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Sam & Max will also star in Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual, a – you guessed it – virtual reality game that was announced back in August. There is currently no release date for that, and many people don’t have access to expensive VR consoles, so the remasters could scratch that pooch-detective-shaped itch for many fans of the series.

If you can’t wait a few weeks for the point-and-click adventure, try out some of the best Switch RPGs to get your exploring fix.

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Spending reaches $384 million in post-apocalyptic games this year

The latest Sensor Tower report has revealed that post-apocalyptic mobile games have performed exceptionally well this year. Despite the global pandemic currently plaguing the world, games featuring a post-apocalyptic setting have seen the fastest growth in the U.S. for Q1 to Q3.

Player spending in these games has risen by 106%, reaching approximately $384 million. The standout post-apocalyptic games that saw the fastest growth across all game settings were State of Survival from FunPlus and Last Shelter: Survival from Long Tech. If people are playing these games because of our current global climate, there’s almost no doubt this trend will continue into next year.

Plague Inc. became one of the top-selling iOS games in January when news about the coronavirus outbreak started to become more widespread. The game’s sales prompted Ndemic Creations, the developers behind Plague Inc. to release a statement: “We specifically designed the game to be realistic and informative, while not sensationalising serious real-world issues. However, please remember that Plague Inc. is a game, not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people.”

Unsurprisingly, the fastest growing art style during the same Q1 to Q3 period was Retro – Low Poly, accounting for games like Minecraft and Roblox. As two of the biggest games in the world, we aren’t surprised to see this category make large gains as these games continue to grow extensively.

If you’d like to brush up on your Plague Inc. skills, be sure to check out our Plague Inc. tips which highlights everything you’ll need on your virus spreading quest. Looking for something a little more strategic? Head on over to our best mobile strategy games list for all the tactical challenges you could ask for.

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Hori Flex controller improves accessibility for disabled Nintendo Switch players

The Nintendo Switch has come under a lot of fire from disabled gamers for its lack of accessibility options, but Nintendo is slowly adding aids to help more people play its flagship console. This year has seen the release of software updates that allow for button remapping – which will help many players who can’t push in the joysticks – and a zoom function to aid partially-sighted gamers.

While the software updates are certainly an improvement, Nintendo still trails behind Sony and Microsoft in many other accessibility areas. Both rival companies have screen reading software to aid partially sighted and blind gamers, and Microsoft released the Xbox Adaptive Controller – compatible with any console or PC, its interface aims to make gaming accessible for all.

This interview with a visually-impaired Pokémon player on Eurogamer highlights a lot of the issues he faces while playing, but Nintendo is continuing to improve, slowly but surely. The officially licensed Hori Flex controller is designed to help players with all manner of disabilities play on the Switch and PC. According to a translation of the Hori website, the Flex controller is “specially developed and sold for those who cannot use a controller with a standard shape.”

As such, it is suggested that you don’t buy one other than for its standard use i.e. if you can’t use a regular controller. As you can see, the Hori Flex has an array of large buttons and links to your Switch or PC via USB. You can also connect your current joysticks and other buttons if they are more comfortable. The Flex controller is currently only available in Japan and costs around $230 USD (£180), however we expect it to release internationally in the future.

All the buttons can be remapped with software, and the whole controller can be mounted on a stand by ¼ inch screw – the standard size for most tripods etc. In a statement to Motherboard, Nintendo explained that their “software and hardware developers continue to evaluate different technologies to expand this accessibility,” committing to further accessibility improvements.

For the Flex, Hori worked with “rehabilitation professionals” to create the controller, which also supports “eye-gaze” eye tracking technology, although you’ll need a Windows PC, eye tracker, and video capture unit to utilise this.

This is an important step forward in Nintendo Switch accessibility, but there is always more to be done. However, it seems like many players will be able to dive into the best Switch RPGs or one of the many Switch multiplayer games where they couldn’t before – which is definitely something to celebrate.

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Win a free copy of side-scrolling vehicular adventure, Far: Lone Sails!

There’s something kind of enchanting about side-scrollers, as characters travel along fixed paths towards unknown destinations, with every slide of the screen unveiling more of the world and its mysteries. It’s a formula that’s used to fantastic effect in indie games like Playdead’s Limbo and Inside, or even to some degree in Videocult’s Rainworld. But Far: Lone Sails adds its own twist to this famous formula, as you set sail on your landship and work to keep it running as you make the journey across a lonely, post-apocalyptic world.

If you look at our Far: Lone Sails review, you can see how much we enjoyed the game! So much, in fact, that we decided to partner with Mixtvision to give away some Android and iOS copies of the side-scrolling adventure.

So if hoisting up the sails, shoveling fuel into the engine, and watching the land roll by beneath you sounds like the easy life, be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win yourself a copy on your platform of choice.

In order to enter the giveaway, all you have to do is choose your platform, and enter in the appropriate box. Please do have a glance at our terms and conditions first, though.

ios

Far: Lone Sails iOS giveaway

android

Far: Lone Sails Android giveaway

Alternately, if you can’t wait to play the game, you can find Far: Lone Sails on Google Play and the App Store. The game is also on Steam.

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Explore haunted space ruins in EVE Echoes’ Halloween event

Grab your broomsticks and ready your cauldrons – Halloween may be over, but the spooky season is only just beginning for EVE Echoes. The mobile game is running a Halloween event, The Crimson Harvest, which sees players investigate themed Festive Anomalies which appear throughout the universe. Developer NetEase is also shifting module designs in this update thanks to player feedback, but most players will want to get their spook on in the limited-time mode.

While many games have finished their Halloween events, and many players are looking forward to Chr*stmas (it’s still too early to mention it in our house), Echoes is continuing the Halloween tradition for as long as possible. From October 31 to November 10, EVE Echoes players can stumble across Crimson Harvest Anomalies such as the Haunted Ruins and Carnival at Cemetery. It’s unclear exactly what these anomalies do, but finding out and exploring is part of the fun, right?

You’ll also be able to get your hands on Haunted Supply Boxes, which could hold Halloween-exclusive skins (some of which could be permanent) and new modules. Keep your eyes peeled for Haunted Supply Box III, as this will be the one that offers new storyline Modules and permanent Halloween Skins. The seven new modules will be available through regular methods from November 11, when the event ends.

There are also some Limited-Time Crimson Harvest skins available in the New Eden Store, which are available by any other means. There are also four new skin boxes, which offer discounts if you were after a few different options.

The skins themselves are pumpkin-inspired, as you can probably tell by the orange and black colours and the flame-like effect.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKXoMF3m6g8?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If Halloween isn’t your thing and you’re more interested in the module designs, the 7 new Electronic Warfare Modules are as follows: Interdiction Sphere Launcher, Warp Disruption Field Generator, Warp Scrambler, Sensor Dampening, Target Painter, Tracking Disruptor, and Guidance Disruptor. You can find the full details of what they offer on the EVE Echoes update blog.

If you’re just getting started – or want a refresher – here’s our guide to the best EVE Echoes ships and our tips for EVE Echoes mining. Of course, if you still need convincing whether or not to pick the game up, check out our review, where we said that it “succeeds in channeling the classic Eve experience, while also streamlining for new players.”

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Genshin Impact update adds more story missions and a melee-ranged hybrid character

Genshin Impact developer miHoYo today announced the first major update for the mobile and console RPG. The update, which hits phones (or console) on November 11, introduces a bunch of new features, characters, and events. We scored the game 7/10 in our Genshin Impact review, and forthcoming updates only look to bring more of the great exploration that we enjoyed so much.

First of all, we’ll get the finale to the Liyue chapter of the game through a bunch of brand-new quests and story beats. You can expect to explore the other five cities in Teyvat in future updates, too, so you won’t be short of new content for a good while.

As well as finishing the section of story set in Liyue Harbor, update v1.1 also adds Genshin Impact’s first seasonal event, which we can expect to see more of in the future. November’s seasonal offering is  called Unreconciled Stars, and sees players come together to stop a terrible catastrophe from destroying Teyvat as we  know it. The event goes on for two weeks, during which time you can  complete new quests, take on co-op challenges, and unlock  rewards – including 4-star character Fischl.

But that’s not all, as the update also introduces four new playable characters. The 5-star characters are Childe and Zhongli, who possess unique abilities and skills. ‘Childe’ is a hydro archer and can switch between two combat modes, melee and ranged. Zhongli is a  Geo polearm user with great defensive capabilities – oh and he can also petrify his foes.

We’ve got less information at this stage about the two new 4-star characters, Xinyan and Diona, but rest assured that they’ll be ready to diversify your party and unlock nifty combos as you adventure through Teyvat. We’ll have to wait and see where these four characters fit in our Genshin Impact tier list, but we’re excited to find out.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7xFSSu0-V8?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

The last major addition in the update is a new ‘Reputation’ system. This allows you to build up your standing in the regions of Teyvat, and the higher your prestige among the citizens of a certain area, the more rewards you get. There are region-exclusive items, customisations, and new tools to  aid you on your adventure. You can also get your hands on a portable waypoint, stove, and treasure compass via the reputation system, so keep your rapport with each region’s citizens in top form.

We’ve also got a great Genshin Impact guide if you’re just getting started – or if you need to look up something about the map, multiplayer or primogems. If you’re after a freebie, check out our list of Genshin Impact codes to make sure you don’t miss out.

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Win a copy of Action-RPG Torchlight III on Nintendo Switch!

We love Switch games, which is why we were so excited to start writing about them on the site last month. But this week marks something even more exciting: our first Switch giveaway! We’ve partnered with the lovely folks at Perfect World to give away some Switch copies of the recent installment in the popular RPG series, Torchlight 3.

One hundred years after the events of Torchlight 2, Novastraia is once again threatened by invasion, this time from the Netherim and its allies. You must choose your own hero, and become the land’s defender, fighting off fearsome foes, adventuring, and just generally exploring the wilderness with your friends, or by your lonesome. Torchlight 3 also features collectible animal companions, and even lets you build and upgrade your very own fort.

So if you’re hankering for a fun, fleshed-out RPG experience, Torchlight 3 might just be for you. So what do you need to do to get a copy? Well, just enter below and you’ll be in with a chance of winning when our giveaway ends on Thursday, October 5.

In order to enter, simply follow the instructions in the box below. Though, please do take a glance at our terms and conditions first!

Torchlight III Switch giveaway

If you can’t wait to play Torchlight 3, you can find the game on the Switch store and Steam. For more similar recommendations, see our list of the best Switch RPGs!

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Crash Bandicoot: On the Run somersaults onto mobile in Spring 2021

October 27, 2020: We now have a release date for Crash Bandicoot: On the Run.

The mobile game publisher, King, has finally revealed when we are likely to see the newest Crash Bandicoot game arrive on mobile. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run is set to release in Spring 2021, and if the App Store listing is anything to go by, March 25 is the likely release date.

We first heard about the new Crash Bandicoot mobile game back in February, when rumours appeared that it was in development by King, the famous publisher of Candy Crush. The game was later confirmed and named as Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, alongside a reveal trailer, and ever since then we’ve been waiting to hear news about release.

Fans of the original Crash Bandicoot games can expect this endless runner to involves sprinting, jumping, sliding, and just generally avoiding obstacles as you complete levels to earn rewards. There’s also set to be boss battles with some of the series most iconic baddies, such as Scorporilla, Nitrus Brio, Nina Cortex, Dingodile, and Fake Crash.

If you want to see what gameplay looks like, check out the brand new trailer below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKcFjfhfloM?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Crash Bandicoot: On the Run is available to pre-order now from Google Play and App Store, and if you do you get the exclusive blue hyena skin at launch, made famous by Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled. You can also stay up to date with the release schedule by following the official Crash Bandicoot: On the Run Twitter account.

If you just can’t wait to play On the Run, we’ve got some other great recommendations for endless runners in our lists of the best iOS games and the best Android games!