It’s no longer accurate to say mobile gaming is bigger than ever. With over $100 billion in revenue, there are more gamers on mobile devices than any other platform. But that’s never been a fair comparison. Mobile games have always been distinct from their console and PC counterparts since mobile games cater to a different audience. But maybe that’s no longer the case?
At a recent showcase for games coming to Apple devices, I got a peek at what looks to be the next evolution in gaming on mobile: bringing console and PC games straight to your iPhone and iPads.
Alongside new Apple Arcade exclusives, developers like Ubisoft, Capcom, and EA were in attendance to show off console-level experiences running on the latest Apple machines, ranging from iPhones and iPads to Macbooks.
Among the games we saw were Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the newest in Ubisoft’s popular open-world adventure series running flawlessly on an iPhone. This isn’t 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 effectively a scaled-down remake of Final Fantasy 15 for mobile devices.
Mirage was running in full on iPhone, and combined with Ubisoft’s online account system, your save from the console version can transfer over to your iPhone version seamlessly, though you’ll have to purchase a separate version on your iPhone.
Mirage follows the heels of Capcom games like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village. As it happens, Capcom was also there to show off their most recent release, Resident Evil 7 which was running on iPhone and iPad, but is also available to play on Macbook as well.
Like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 7 on iOS and Mac is the full experience, rather than some made-for-mobile port. Between these two games and titles already on iOS and Mac like Death Stranding, it appears that the next device to run console quality games is already in your pocket.
As far as performance goes, I didn’t notice anything particularly egregious. There were a few framerate dips when I played Assassin’s Creed Mirage, but overall these games ran silky smooth. Graphically, these games also impressed. While I wasn’t able to drill down on a proper pixel count, the smaller iPhone screens means whatever loss in detail is covered up by the smaller screen real estate. But even then, games like Resident Evil 7 in particular looked mighty impressive.
Apple supports something called Universal Purchase, meaning if you buy a game to play on iPhone, you’ll also be able to play the game on iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro if they support it. But no luck for customers who’ve already purchased games like Resident Evil 7 or Assassin’s Creed on PlayStation or Xbox, which makes sense. But considering a game like RE7 has been out already for several years makes purchasing a full-priced new copy a somewhat bitter pill to swallow.
There’s also the matter of playing these games. During my experience with the fully ported console games, a phone controller like the Backbone is almost mandatory. I’ve heard younger gamers who grew up on mobile gaming are quite good at touchscreen controls, but my old dumb hands require tactile buttons. And considering the Backbone retails for about $100, though there are certainly cheaper alternatives, is an added cost to get into full-fledged console gaming on mobile.
It feels to me like mobile gaming is entering new territory. For the longest time, mobile games were smaller affairs, designed to distract you on your commute while finding ways to charge you a few dollars here and there (and generating massive profit doing so), culminating in a world-dominating hit like Pokemon Go. A new era began with the rise of console-lite experiences like Genshin Impact which combined console-quality visuals and gameplay with the gacha mechanics that defines mobile gaming.
All the while Apple tried a new approach. Taking notes from services like Netflix, Apple launched Apple Arcade, a subscription-service with quality, ad-free games available to subscribers for a monthly fee. This service is home to several, quality indie games as well as huge hits like Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
And it seems that between Apple Arcade and full AAA game ports, Apple’s found a winning formula for games going forward. Apple Arcade is still in full swing, with hit, mobile-forward games like Vampire Survivor+ slated to arrive for the service, but for gamers looking for something more advanced, there’s a steady stream of AAA games heading to Apple devices.
Not everything will run on every Apple device. At the event we got hands-on with the upcoming Frostpunk 2 and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, but those were only playable on Mac. Though Prince of Persia was also released on the Nintendo Switch, I can’t help but think this title will also make its way to iPhone, even if Ubisoft hasn’t officially announced anything.
It certainly feels like we’ve entered a new frontier of mobile gaming. While consoles like Steam Deck and Switch have pushed the envelope of mobile console gaming, Apple’s latest moves into pure mobile gaming is certainly worth a deeper dive. There are some lingering questions, like whether Apple will begin offering new games day and date with other platforms, or Apple customers should just expect to get games much later than everyone else.
But for millions of iPhone and iPad owners around the world, suddenly getting a stream of quality, AAA games right onto devices they already own feels like a surprise revolution.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
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