It’s no longer true to say that mobile gaming is bigger than ever. With revenues exceeding $100 billion, there are more players on mobile devices than on any other platform. But that’s never been a fair comparison. Mobile gaming has always been different from its console and PC counterparts because mobile gaming is designed for a different audience. But maybe that’s not the case anymore?
During a recent showcase of games coming to Apple devices, I got a chance to take a closer look at what promises to be the next revolution in mobile gaming: porting console and PC games directly to iPhones and iPads.
In addition to novel Apple Arcade exclusives, developers like Ubisoft, Capcom, and EA were in attendance to showcase console games running on Apple’s latest devices, from iPhones and iPads to Macbooks.
Among the games we saw was Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the latest installment in Ubisoft’s popular open-world adventure series, which ran flawlessly on the iPhone. It’s not some watered-down demake like we’ve seen in the past. One game that comes to mind is Final Fantasy 15 Pocket Edition, which is basically a scaled-down version of Final Fantasy 15 for mobile devices.
Mirage ran fully on iPhone, and thanks to Ubisoft’s online account system, saves from the console version could be easily transferred to the iPhone version, though you had to purchase a separate iPhone version to do so.
Mirage follows in the footsteps of Capcom games like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village. As it happens, Capcom was also there to showcase its latest release, Resident Evil 7, which ran on iPhones and iPads but is also available to play on Macbooks.
Like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 7 on iOS and Mac is a full experience, not some port made for mobile devices. Between these two games and titles already available on iOS and Mac like Death Stranding, it feels like the next console-quality gaming device is already in your pocket.
Performance-wise, I didn’t notice anything particularly jarring. There were a few frame rate dips when I played Assassin’s Creed Mirage, but overall, those games ran silky sleek. Graphically, those games also impressed. While I couldn’t quite tell the pixel count, the iPhone’s smaller screens mean that any loss in detail is covered up by the smaller screen real estate. Even then, games like Resident Evil 7 in particular looked very impressive.
Apple supports something called Universal Purchase, which means that if you buy a game to play on iPhone, you’ll also be able to play it on iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro if it’s supported. But those who already bought games like Resident Evil 7 or Assassin’s Creed on PlayStation or Xbox aren’t so lucky, which makes sense. But considering a game like RE7 has been out for a few years now, buying a novel copy at full price is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow.
There’s also the issue of playing these games. In my experience with fully ported console games, a phone controller like the Backbone is almost mandatory. I’ve heard that younger gamers who grew up on mobile gaming are pretty good at touchscreen controls, but my ancient, dumb hands crave tactile buttons. And considering the Backbone costs around $100, although there are certainly cheaper alternatives, it’s an extra expense to get into full-fledged console gaming on mobile.
I feel like mobile gaming is entering novel territory. For a long time, mobile gaming was a smaller affair designed to distract you on your commute while finding ways to grab a few bucks here and there (and generating huge profits in the process), leading to a blockbuster like Pokemon Go dominating the world. A novel era began with the advent of console experiences like Genshin Impact, which combined console-quality graphics and gameplay with the gacha mechanics that define mobile gaming.
Throughout time, Apple has been trying novel approaches. Taking a cue from services like Netflix, Apple launched Apple Arcade, a subscription service with high-quality, ad-free games available to subscribers for a monthly fee. The service is home to several high-quality indie games, as well as massive hits like Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
And between Apple Arcade and full ports of AAA games, it seems like Apple has found a winning formula for gaming going forward. Apple Arcade is still in full swing, with hit mobile games like Vampire Survivor+ set to appear on the service, but for gamers looking for something a little more advanced, there’s a steady stream of AAA games heading to Apple devices.
Not everything will work on every Apple device. At the event, we had the opportunity to test out the upcoming Frostpunk 2 and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown in person, but they were only playable on Mac. While Prince of Persia also released on Nintendo Switch, I can’t support but feel that this title will also come to iPhone, even if Ubisoft hasn’t officially announced anything.
It certainly feels like we’ve entered a novel level of mobile gaming. While consoles like the Steam Deck and Switch have pushed the boundaries of mobile console gaming, Apple’s latest moves into purely mobile gaming are certainly worth taking a closer look at. A few questions remain, like whether Apple will start offering novel games on other platforms day in and day out, or if Apple customers should simply expect to receive games much later than everyone else.
But for millions of iPhone and iPad owners around the world, the sudden ability to get high-quality AAA games on the devices they already own feels like an unexpected revolution.
Matt TM Kim is a senior writer for IGN. You can contact him at @lawoftd.
