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‘Rocket League’ will soon be free to play on all platforms
Good news for gamers who are quarantined and cash-strapped: Rocket League will soon be free to play on all platforms where it’s offered. The forthcoming update is Rocket League’s “biggest one yet,” according to Psyonix.
The first ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ update aims to even the playing field
Call of Duty: Warzone is the long-running franchise's attempt to jump on the free-to-play battle royale bandwagon, and according to critics and players, it's probably worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre -- the game has over 30 million players already. There are some issues, though, and a new patch should take care of a few of them. Namely, custom loadouts will be harder to obtain, meaning players will have a more even selection of weapons -- or will have to play better to gain the advantage of using their favorite guns.
‘War of the Visions’ is a mobile spin on ‘Final Fantasy Tactics’
It's been a while since we've gotten a proper Final Fantasy Tactics game, but the latest release from Square Enix may just scratch that itch -- as long as you're okay with it taking the form of a free-to-play mobile game. After first launching in Japan last year, War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is now available globally on iOS and Android.
Atari classic 'Missile Command' is coming back as a mobile game
Atari has been milking Missile Command nostalgia for a while with re-released games and even plans for a movie (not that it has materialized), but its latest may be appealing for its relatively straightforward appeal. It's developing Missile Command: Recharged, a slightly modernized version of the classic base defense game for Android and iOS. The touch input is the most obvious update, but you'll also see an upgrade system, power-ups, achievements and online leaderboards to keep things fresh. There's even an augmented reality mode -- you can play on a virtual cabinet in your room if you have memories of spending all your quarters at the arcade.
Nintendo adds monthly subscription to 'Fire Emblem Heroes'
Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH) is Nintendo's mobile money-maker. The free-to-play RPG has pulled in, according to SensorTower, $656 million since its release three years ago -- over $200 million more than all of Nintendo's other mobile games combined. That money train is running out of steam, though, and Nintendo wants to curb that with a $9.49 monthly subscription plan called Feh Pass. Despite being the company's most-successful mobile title in 2019, revenue was down significantly to $156 million, which is almost half that of the $295 million revenue from its 2017 launch year, and 23-percent down on the $205 million it made in 2018. This is a fairly normal pattern for a gacha title. Gacha games rely on a small number of high-value users spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on in-game currency (Orbs, in FEH's case). As the number of users playing a game drops, the number of high-value users typically drops in tandem.
Nintendo's 'Animal Crossing' subscription plans cost as much as $8
Earlier this week, Nintendo confirmed it would be adding two paid subscription levels to its free-to-play game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. The company has since announced more information about the costs and perks of each level.
Nintendo is adding subscriptions to 'Animal Crossing' on mobile this week
Mario Kart Tour was just the start of Nintendo's plans for mobile game subscriptions, it appears. The developer has notified gamers that it's bringing two subscription plans to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on November 21st, both of which aim to lighten the load. One plan will designate an animal as a "camp caretaker" that will provide help around your site. The other plan will let you receive fortune cookies as well as store your excess furniture and clothes in warehouses. The perks are slightly like Fallout 1st in that regard.
'NBA Now' game offers a quick basketball fix on your phone
If you're a big enough basketball game fan that you can't wait to get home before shooting hoops, there might be a solution in sight. Gamevil has released NBA Now, a game for Android and iOS that's designed to be played with one hand. Rather than take direct control of players, you serve as a general manager trying to create an all-star team and steer games from the sidelines. Accordingly, everything is designed to be played one-handed -- there's always a vertical view of the action with abstract on-screen controls. It won't be as involving as the latest console hit, but you can play while you're waiting for the bus.
'Mario Kart Tour' is a simple racer surrounded by free-to-play complexity
Mario Kart is a gloriously simple video game. Yes, there are some advanced techniques -- rocket starts, drift braking and the like -- that are borderline essential if you want to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online. For the most part though, it's an approachable racer for the masses. With Mario Kart Tour, the first installment for mobile devices, Nintendo has managed to simplify the control scheme even further. In this touch-friendly version, your racer drives forward automatically. Swiping horizontally will cause them to turn or drift, depending on the control scheme you've chosen, while dragging up or down will fire the item they're holding forwards or backwards.
'Mario Kart Tour' mobile racing is now available on Android and iOS
We've been waiting since January of last year to get a taste of Mario Kart on mobile devices, but it's almost here. After a few delays, Mario Kart Tour launches today on compatible Android (4.4 or higher) and iOS (10.0 or higher) devices, and many people are reporting it's already installed on their iPhones and iPads. The bad news is that you can't play until the servers open at around 4AM ET / 1AM PT / 10AM CEST.
'Gears Pop' brings cute combat to your phone on August 22nd
You won't have to wait until the September release of Gears 5 to get your Gears of War fix -- provided you're willing to pull out your phone. Microsoft has revealed that Gears Pop will reach Android and iOS on August 22nd following a limited "soft launch." As the name implies, this isn't the gritty cover shooter you know -- it's an overhead, predominantly multiplayer arena battler that has you pitting squads of Funko Pop-styled Gears characters against each other in real time. It's relentlessly cute, insofar as Marcus Fenix and Locust minions can be.
Amazon is co-developing a 'Lord of the Rings' game
Lord of the Rings fans have been patiently waiting for the long-promised Amazon series. While we still don't know when the show will debut or who will star in it, Amazon has more Lord of the Rings news. Today, Amazon Game Studios announced that it's working on a Lord of the Rings massively multiplayer online game.
Nintendo brings 'Dr. Mario World' to Android and iOS on July 10th
Earlier this year Nintendo announced that its Dr. Mario puzzle game would return in a new iteration for mobile devices, and now Dr. Mario World has a release date: July 10th. Set to appear on Android and iOS (and available for pre-order via either of those links), it's a free-to-play game with stages where you can either send or receive hearts to other players to exchange extra stamina, or battle online in versus mode. As one would expect, the goal is to eliminate viruses by aligning them with similarly-colored capsules. The different stages present new challenges, and players have a limited number of capsules. The part that costs money are optional "diamonds" that players can cash in for items, restore stamina or purchase new doctors with special skills instead of waiting for stamina to recover over time or to earn them in gameplay with coins.
'Destiny 2’ is now free-to-play, including its year-one expansion
Big changes are coming to Destiny 2. With today's announcement of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, developer Bungie has a new way to deliver content to its players. When the major expansion lands on on September 17th, the core game will go free-to-play, shifting to "expansion-level, standalone content" for Destiny veterans.
'Elder Scrolls: Blades' mobile game opens its doors to more players
Bethesda's free-to-play Elder Scrolls game for mobile is still in its Early Access testing period, but apparently things have gone well enough to ditch the invite requirement. The company announced that anyone with a Bethesda account can download the game and play, while it looks at player feedback and rebalances the "silver chest" that some had complained about. We weren't too impressed by our early look at Elder Scrolls: Blades, but that was last year, and it's had plenty of time to bake since then. If you've been playing, drop us a note about the experience, and if you've been waiting to dive in then just hit Google Play or iTunes and try it out.
Switch RPG 'Octopath Traveler' is coming to Android and iOS
Apparently, Square Enix doesn't believe Octopath Traveler is mobile enough. The developer has unveiled plans to bring the well-received Switch RPG to Android and iOS devices, in the form of a prequel, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. It'll preserve the signature mix of 3D environments with retro-style 2D characters, just with touchscreen-friendly controls. The team isn't shedding much light on the plot, but you'll play a 'Chosen One' who'll fight a horrific evil that has "fortune, power and fame."
'Tetris' is now a battle royale game exclusive to Nintendo Switch
Forget Apex Legends, there's another new free-to-play battle royale game now: Tetris 99. This version of the classic puzzle game is launching today on Nintendo Switch with 99 players trying to outlast each other. Players can attack each other with "garbage" that pushes you closer to the top of the screen and out of the game. You rack up "KO" badges for each opponent you knock out, and Nintendo promises there will be online events soon. Announced today during the Nintendo Direct stream, it's available exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members. Update: Check out our hands-on impressions here.
The 'Final Fantasy XV' mobile game is a mess, but at least it's free
Mobile games can make a ton of money, with titles like Clash of Clans making billions of dollars for their respective developers. Square Enix has been active in mobile gaming with titles based on its own popular role-playing games, with original free-to-play titles like Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius and premium ports of older titles like Final Fantasy IX. Now, the veteran publisher has just released another free-to-play game to Android and iOS, titled Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire. Square Enix may hope to bring new fans to the series it's based on while also encouraging fans of the console game to give it a go. It's just too bad the game is (so far) kind of an inscrutable mess.
Lead an army of cartoon heroes in Epic's latest game
Epic Games announced Battle Breakers, its new free-to-play title for mobile and PC, at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The game looks like a Saturday-morning cartoon, complete with larger-than-life characters and a huge, cinematic soundtrack to enhance the gameplay.
Russia's free, PC multiplayer Halo game has been cancelled
Remember that Halo game you heard about that wasn't launching in North America? Well, now it's not launching anywhere. Halo Online was originally intended to be a free, multiplayer game designed exclusively for the Russian market. Despite launching a closed beta in its target market, the project's staff has announced that Halo Online is no more. The game has been cancelled.
