Unlike previous years, there were no zingers in the world of mobile games during 2017.

That’s not to say nothing happened, of course.

Plenty did, but looking back, it was more a case of accelerating trends and future potential than headline-grabbing news such as Activision Blizzard’s $5.9 billion deal for King in 2015, or Nintendo’s first mobile game and Pokemon Go’s success in 2016.

So here are six of the year’s most significant trends; ones you’ll likely to see more of in 2018 too.

Mobile eSports

Is mobile eSports now a thing? Plenty of developers think so, and 2017 saw long term proponents such as Super Evil Megacorp finessing their activity. It’s just closed out the World Champions for its mobile MOBA Vainglory in Singapore, also previewing the 5v5 mode that will launch next year.

Similarly Finnish developer Critical Force announced 30 million downloads of its Counter-Strike-inspired shooter Critical Ops, adding eSports investor and Overwatch League team owner Kevin Chou to its board.

Critical Force’s Critical Ops on Android

But even if mobile eSport games don’t manage to stand out alongside the like of Overwatch, Dota 2 and League of Legends, plenty of regular mobile games with PVP modes – ranging from Clash Royale to Summoners War and Shadowverse – are claiming the eSport mantle as part of their regular in-game events schedule.

And that’s before we start to try an unpick what’s going on in China and what Tencent means when it says its $2 billion franchise Honor of Kings is an eSports title.

Nintendo 

Given the success of the Switch, the pressure is off Nintendo when it comes to its still-relatively-new mobile operations. And perhaps that’s a good thing.

Super Mario Run was the most downloaded new game on Google Play in 2017, and has racked up over 200 million downloads across Android and iOS, but Nintendo still labels it a financial disappointment. RPG Fire Emblem has performed much better, generating over $100 million of revenue, but Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has only troubled the top grossing charts in Japan.

In that context, it could be the case that in FY17, as in FY16, Nintendo will make more money from licensing the Pokemon IP to Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go ($160 million in FY16), than it makes from its own mobile games.

Smaller, more focused IPOs and M&As

While 2017 didn’t see any billion dollar acquisitions in the mobile game space, there was plenty of significant activity nevertheless.

Australian casino outfit Aristocrat dropped $500 million on Israel core developer Plarium, while Take-Two made a serious move into mobile with its $250 million acquisition of Spanish casual developer Social Point, and Korean publisher Nexon bought US studio Pixelberry for an undisclosed sum but one likely to be north of $100 million.

Aside from these ‘complete’ deals, however, another interesting trend were more focused acquisitions. For example, Zynga spent $100 million to buy Peak Games’ card and board game studio while Australian outfit Animoca Brands sold its casual games in two tranches so it could focus on other areas of its operations.

Netmarble’s Lineage 2: Revolution

This commodification of business – the mark of a maturing market – was also reflected in a healthy stream of mobile game companies floating on various stock exchanges. The largest by far was South Korean publisher Netmarble, which buoyed by the local success of its Lineage 2: Revolution game, raised over $2 billion from its IPO and is now valued at $15 billion.

Western activity was much smaller in terms of valuations, but Rovio (mcap $1 billion) and Next Games ($200 million) successfully listed in Finland, while Mag Interactive ($120 million) and Nitro Games ($10 million) listed in Sweden. Expect more in 2018.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

Although not as relevant as in the world of PC/console gaming, PUBG, and by extension battle royale, did cast a shadow over mobile games in 2017.

As with so many trends, this one was concentrated in China, which as well as providing the biggest audience for PUBG is also the biggest mobile game market. Unsurprisingly then, by the end of the year, app stores were awash with PUBG clones. NetEase released five, including a Terminator II-branded game, while Tencent scooped the official mobile version of PUBG, and then announced another official spin-off.

A mobile PUBG clone that prompts an important question: “Who runs Wheat Town?”

However, given touchscreens are not a natural environment for shooters, nor the length of each PUBG session a good match in terms of mobile usage, and not forgetting no-one has yet demonstrated a successful F2P battle royale game, it will be interesting to see whether this trend is one more about the ongoing rivalry between Tencent and NetEase for market share in China than fulfilling actual audience desire.

Death of ‘midcore’

It’s taken a couple of years but 2017 saw radical change at the top of the top grossing app store charts. Non-gaming subscription apps such as Pandora, Netflix and Tinder replaced the likes of Clash of Clans and Game of War, while the assault on now-aging midcore titles was reinforced by the rise of a new generation of casual games, particularly casual games more accessible for female audiences.

The most notable new release in this vein was Russian developer Playrix’s Homescapes, which swapped the match-3 garden-design setting of Gardenscapes for interior design and became a top 5 top grossing game across the west.

Playrix’s Homescapes

Turkish outfit Peak Games also built on previous success in the match-3 genre, with new game Toon Blast following the path blazed by Toy Blast, while Glu Mobile stretched the definition of what could be considered a ‘game’ with its PVP interactive interior design app Design Home. Together with similar experience Covet Fashion, the two games now generate over 40 percent of the company’s sales.

Also notable in this regard were Pocket Gems’ interactive story app Episodes, and Pixelberry’s Choices. Both were top 20 top grossing US games throughout the year, with Pocket Gems stakeholder Tencent rewarding the company’s performance with an additional $90 million investment, and Nexon acquiring Pixelberry for an undisclosed amount.

But the biggest surprise was the reinvention of King’s Candy Crush Saga, which despite declining player numbers saw quarter-on-quarter growth in revenues as King got serious about live ops, better engaging with and monetizing its players.

Augmented reality gains traction

2017 was the year almost everyone in the mobile space ditched VR for AR.

It wasn’t a difficult decision either. With no sustainable market even for a mobile VR ecosystem in which mobile-compatible headsets such as Google’s Daydream and Samsung’s Gear VR boasted an install base of millions, the release of Apple’s ARKit-containing iOS 11 created an AR install base of 100 million devices overnight.

The result was a wave of rather gimmicky and typically paid AR games and apps on App Store; something that’s likely to be repeated on the Google Play store when Android equivalent ARCore is released in 2018.

Nevertheless, with AR now given-away-for-free with every new smartphone purchase, at least developers know they have a potential market to sell into. The balance between fad app and killer app will, no doubt, take time to judge but this time no-one will be able to blame failure on a lack of devices.

The Entertainment Software Association has issued a statement in response to what the New York Times reports as President Trump’s description of Haiti and some African nations as “shithole countries.” 

The ESA, which sees itself as the voice of the US video game industry and counts many major game companies among its members, rebuked the President’s comments via Twitter, stating that the language used was ‘repulsive’ and undermines the fundamental values of the United States.

This isn’t the first time the ESA has spoken up in response to decisions or comments made by the current United States leadership.

The organization notably (and to the dismay of some developers) voiced its support for the GOP’s tax reform plan before it was signed into law late last year.

Before that, the Association warned the White House to “express caution” with last year’s selective travel ban, cautioning that the plan could have a negative effect on the U.S. video game industry and the economy. 

This latest statement, however, takes a noticeably stronger stance on this latest issue.

Our statement regarding President Trump’s remarks about immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and African Nations. pic.twitter.com/8O9blNmEVB

— The ESA (@theESA) January 12, 2018

I am super excited to finally see Albert & Otto make it on Xbox One. This game was my first entry into the world of video game development, so the mechanics and puzzles evolved over time rather than being designed from the start by an experienced developer, which I think gives it a unique feel. Originally a filmmaker, I was always fond of telling stories and I continue to be surprised at how similarly powerful the two mediums are when it comes to storytelling.

Albert & Otto is a puzzle platformer that is mechanically quite simple: run, jump, shoot, solve puzzles, burn sheep (more on that later), but has a complex and deep underlying story. It takes a lot of inspiration from films such as “Schindler’s List” and some of Tim Burton’s early black and white animated shorts.

The player must use both Albert and his magical bunny Otto in creative ways to solve puzzles and defeat scary monsters with the goal of finding his abducted sister, Anna, and discovering that not all is as it first seems. When the game begins the player can only jump and shoot, but this all changes when you find Otto who grants the player the ability to double jump and levitate objects. Furthermore, players can throw Otto into tight gaps and activate power switches to access previously unreachable areas.

The overall relaxed mood of the game and puzzles are punctuated by the occasional enemy and the larger than life boss battles that require the player to use all the skills they have learnt until that point.

Set in Nazi Germany, Albert & Otto deals with rather dark subject matter as you can imagine. I tried to offset that by adding funny moments into the game, such as when you throw a sheep around and use it as wolf bait or use it to set things on fire (some would argue that this had quite the opposite effect).

Since its original launch on PC, the game has been improved and streamlined based on community feedback, and it features some sweet collectible art that was not available previously, so it’s safe to say that this is a definitive version of the game and I am excited that it is finally coming to console, the place I feel that all platformers belong.

Making Albert & Otto was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life and I look forward to a whole new audience experiencing the game on Xbox One.

Nintendo is suing Japanese mobile games developer Colopl for allegedly infringing on five of the publisher’s patents. 

This lawsuit could be interesting for indie developers worried about copyright issues in their own work as well. As Siliconera reports, one of the patent complaints from Nintendo include “the special technology used to operate a joystick over a touch panel” which is featured in Colopl’s mobile title White Cat Project. The patent was supposedly originally filed in 2006 with regard to the Nintendo DS Wrist Strap.

Nintendo filed these complaints against Colopl back in 2016, but after insistence by the developer that no copyright infringement occurred they decided to take legal action. Nintendo is suing Colopl for 39.33 million yen (~$352,400) in damages.

New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition launches in stores on Jan. 26

On Jan. 26, an adorable New Nintendo 2DS XL system featuring Pikachu’s iconic face launches in stores at a suggested retail price of $159.99. The New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition system is just as electric as the Pokémon itself, with an eye-catching yellow design featuring a stylized close-up of Pikachu’s face. This special edition system is a must-have for Pokémon fans! As with all Nintendo 2DS systems, the New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition system plays Nintendo 3DS games in 2D.

“The New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition is a charming addition to the Nintendo 3DS line-up that is sure to delight Pokémon fans of all ages,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With a massive library of games, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems continues to deliver one-of-a-kind experiences for every type of gamer.”

There’s even more in store for Pokémon fans in 2018. Announced earlier today, the new video game Detective Pikachu will launch on March 23 in stores, in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and at Nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

In this new adventure, players team up with a witty, tough-talking Pikachu to uncover clues, solve mysteries and encounter familiar faces from the Pokémon world. For the first time in a video game, this Pikachu can communicate with the player. With the help of Pikachu’s surprising voice, players can interact with other Pokémon in a whole new way as they embark on an adventure through the streets of Ryme City.

Also launching on March 23 is a special edition Detective Pikachu amiibo figure. This extra-large amiibo can unlock cutscenes if tapped in the Detective Pikachu game, revealing a combination of hilarious content that might also provide a hint. This same content can be accessed in the game without the amiibo, but tapping the amiibo will allow players to unlock content more quickly. The Detective Pikachu amiibo figure will be available at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Fans who can’t get enough Pokémon can also download the classic 2D Game Boy Color game Pokémon Crystal when it launches in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26 for only $9.99. The game, an expanded version of the popular Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver games, was the first in the Pokémon franchise to allow players to choose between a boy or girl playable character, and was the first game to introduce animations during Pokémon battles. The Nintendo 3DS version of the game is updated with wireless battling and trading, and is compatible with the Pokémon Bank app (annual service charge applies). Pokémon Crystal is now available for pre-purchase in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS.

For more information about the New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition system, visit https://www.nintendo.com/2ds/buynow#new-nintendo-2ds-xl-pikachu. For more information about Detective Pikachu, visit https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/detective-pikachu-3ds.

Remember that the Nintendo 3DS family of systems features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

Games Rated:

Comic Mischief
Mild Cartoon Violence

Happy New Year, everyone! We’re back working hard on Sea of Thieves after the holidays and a December chock-full of announcements. We revealed March 20 as our launch date and made a star of an unsuspecting chicken with a swashbuckling trailer, kicked off pre-orders, revealed how you progress through the world of Sea of Thieves, and showed off our haunting Limited Edition controller. All that and we hosted our biggest ever Technical Alpha play session last month.

All hands are now back on deck here at Rare as we sail toward launch. We’ll have plenty to share, show off and celebrate before then, but we’re beginning 2018 with the announcement of our upcoming Closed Beta dates.

The Sea of Thieves Closed Beta will run from 12 p.m. GMT on January 24 to 8 a.m. GMT on January 29 (4 a.m. PST on January 24 to 12 a.m. PST on January 29), which gives pirates a full five days of sailing, shanties and shenanigans. We’ve crafted a bespoke experience for Closed Beta players that offers a true taste of the pirate life and a great chance to get your sea legs ahead of March 20! We won’t be testing the full game during this Closed Beta phase: we want to keep a good selection of things up our sleeves for players to discover at launch. So get your calendars out and get those dates pencilled in!

The Sea of Thieves Closed Beta will be accessible to anyone who joined the Sea of Thieves Insider Programme before December 1, 2017, and anyone who pre-orders the game. If you’ve already pre-ordered the game and want to find out how to download the Closed Beta client, visit our website.

One final thing: the Closed Beta will not be covered by an NDA, so players can stream, create videos, share clips, take screenshots or do anything else that their wonderful minds can come up with. Some of our favourites will no doubt be shared on Sea of Thieves’ social channels and website. I know a lot of players will be excited by this announcement – I am too! If you missed out on the Insider Programme, pre-order now to ensure access to the Closed Beta!

Want to be among the first to know when we have more news to share? Make sure you follow us on social media and keep an eye on Xbox Wire and the official Sea of Thieves site.

Official development for Nintendo 64 may have ended over 15 years ago, but that hasn’t stopped the impassioned modding community from keeping its library of memorable 64-bit hits alive with new updates and improvements. Rare’s influential shooter, GoldenEye 007, remains a huge fan favourite, so of course one talented user has created a mod that turns its Bond-based cast into Mario, Luigi and the rest of the Nintendo gang.

StupidMarioBros1Fan from GoldenEye Vault put this brilliant little mashup together, which enables you to play through both the single-player story and local multiplayer with all your favourtie characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. Ever wanted to run around Archives with dual PP7s while dressed as Mario? It’s time to turn that dream into a reality.

You can play it right now too, as long as you’ve got an EverDrive 64 flashcart. Just download the patch from here onto your cart, plug it in and Mario multiplayer with mines and slaps is yours. What do you guys make of this amazing mod? We’re already hankering for some retro splitscreen action…

Nintendo France’s Managing Director Philippe Lavoué has taken part in an extensive interview with Les Numériques regarding topics such as the console’s performance in that region and the degree of third-party support for the machine.

On the latter topic, Lavoué reveals that third-party games accounted for 26 percent of total Switch software sales in France during 2017, with Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle performing best with 150,000 copies sold. 

In comparison, FIFA 18 sold 73,000 physical copies in France but Lavoué insists that it was simply a “test case” for the publisher and that we should expect “more announcements on the Switch” in the future. Lavoué says that EA is expected to “double down” this year thanks to the 2018 World Cup, and the Switch’s portability will be instrumental in pushing the FIFA brand.

While many of us will have been anticipating at least one more FIFA on Switch – if not a yearly release for the lifespan of the console – it will be interesting to see which other titles the publisher plans to bring to the machine. The robust sales of Switch won’t have been lost on EA, nor will the fact that some of its rivals are profiting handsomely for supporting Nintendo’s machine early. 

What EA games would you like to see come to Switch? Let us know with a comment.