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Razer’s Kishi is the Switch-style phone controller I've been waiting for
Razer's Kishi is an easy recommendation if you want a Gamevice-style peripheral. But if you're comparing the device to a full-size controller and phone clip, there's no clear-cut winner.
‘Minecraft Earth’ players can share their builds with just a web link
Microsoft is making it easier to share Minecraft Earth builds with just a link.
Call of Duty: Mobile's $1 million esports tournament starts April 30th
If you're ranked veteran or higher, you can compete for the 'Call of Duty: Mobile' world championship.
'Dead Cells' is coming to Android on June 3rd
Dead Cells at last has an Android release date.
Save the world from a pandemic in the next 'Plague, Inc.' update
Plague, Inc. lets you become a mad scientist. You design a pathogen and release it upon the world, trigger certain evolutionary traits and -- if all goes according to plan -- wipe out the human race. The game came out eight years ago, but the relevance of the game during real-life events like the current coronavirus pandemic and the ebola outbreak of 2013 keep bringing people back for more. To help make the game a little less morbid, Ndemic Creations will add a new mode to Plague, Inc. that lets you take on the opposite role and save the world from a global disease. The designers are working with the World Health Organization, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and other groups to create an informative experience. Though a release date hasn't been announced, the update will be free for all players.
'Gwent: The Witcher Card Game' finally arrives on Android
At long last, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game has made its way to Android after it debuted on iOS back in October. The Android release arrived almost a year to the day after CD Projekt Red announced it was working on smartphone versions of the free-to-play title.
'League of Legends' auto chess comes to mobile on March 19th
Riot Games is almost ready to launch its first-ever mobile game. Today, the developer announced that Teamfight Tactics, a League of Legends mode inspired by Dota 2's popular auto chess mod, will be coming to iOS and Android devices on March 19th. The mobile version will be free-to-play and crossplay compatible with the existing PC community. It will also ship with a brand-new tutorial, ranked play, and the space-themed Galaxies expansion announced last month. That includes the free Galaxy Pass and premium Galaxy Pass+ — a take on Fortnite's Battle Pass that, for a limited time, allows players to unlock special cosmetics with experience points.
'Dota Underlords' leaves early access with battle pass in tow
Dota Underlords, Valve's Defense of the Ancients-themed 'auto-chess' spinoff, has left early. You can now take part in the game's first season.
'Apex Legends' is the next big game to try to crack China's mobile market
During its earnings call last week, EA confirmed that a mobile version of Apex Legends is definitely in development. Executives didn't say when it's expected to launch, but they did mention they're building the smartphone version with a partner in China. Mobile games and China are two things you're going to hear about a lot as the video game industry heads into 2020.
New ‘Tetris’ apps are ready to replace EA’s mobile games
One day after EA announced that it's shutting down its mobile Tetris games, N3TWORK's Tetris app is available for download. For now, the free app comes with a traditional solo gameplay mode, but N3TWORK says it has "so much more in store." You can find the app in the App Store or Play Store -- outside of China and New Zealand -- and you'll be able to play both online and offline. Local high score tables are available now, to make sure things stay competitive, and players can choose from five themes and 50 avatars.
EA is shutting down its mobile 'Tetris' games
EA is giving up on its mobile Tetris games. Tetris 2011 and Tetris Blitz have disappeared from the Play Store, and in the App Store, EA left a note for fans explaining that it will retire its Tetris app on April 21st, that includes Tetris 2011, Tetris Blitz and Tetris Premium.
Mario Kart Tour's second multiplayer beta will be open to all
Still playing Mario Kart Tour? The development team has announced today that a second multiplayer beta is on the way. Unlike the last test -- which required an expensive Gold Pass subscription to enter -- this one will be open to all players. It will also allow you to race with competitors "in your immediate vicinity" for the first time. (You will, therefore, need an internet connection and location data enabled to play.) "If you weren't able to join the previous test and are interested in multiplayer, we're eager to hear your feedback during this one," one of the game's news bulletins explained.
'Dead Cells' is finally coming to Android later this year
While it's probably not fair to call it a delay, it's been a while since we've heard anything about the Android version of Dead Cells. The game's mobile release was initially announced by developer Motion Twin this past May, with the iOS version coming out as promised over the summer. Now it looks like Android owners will get a chance to play the tough-as-nails Metroidvania game almost a year after their iPhone-owning counterparts.
Niantic is adding gifting to ‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’
Taking a page from Pokémon Go, Niantic is adding gifting to Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. The next time you launch the augmented reality game, you'll be able to find different colored boxes at the game's inns, fortresses and greenhouses, and then send them to your friends.
Nintendo Switch sales should pass the SNES next quarter
Nintendo sold 4.8 million Switch consoles last quarter, bringing lifetime sales to 41.67 million. That's a 50 percent increase on the 3.19 million Switch consoles that were sold during the same period last year. Nintendo's hybrid console surpassed the N64's lifetime sales in April and now stands a good chance of eclipsing the SNES over the holidays. To be precise, the Switch needs 7.43 million sales to pass the iconic 16-bit console next quarter -- and last year it managed 9.41 million sales over the Christmas period. With two quarters down, Nintendo is also 11 million away from its fiscal year target (which ends in March 2020) of 18 million Switch sales.
Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass will be totally different stores
Google and Apple have just begun a public experiment. One that affects the daily lives of millions of people; specifically, anyone who plays mobile games. Apple launched Arcade on September 19th, charging $5 a month for unlimited access to more than 100 mobile games on its store. The company spent a reported $500 million to acquire high-profile titles like Skate City, Where Cards Fall, Grindstone, Assemble with Care, Sayonara Wild Hearts and Overland. This means Apple paid developers upfront for their games, even before some of them were finished. Think of it as the Netflix model of content acquisition.
Google plans certification program for Android gaming phones
Google is developing a Game Device Certification program to ensure that future gaming smartphones meet minimum standards and pack enough power to behave predictably for Android game developers. Google hasn't announced the program yet, but XDA Developers obtained documents outlining new requirements for manufacturers. In one section, Google details the new Game Device Certification technical requirements, which manufacturers will have to meet in order to declare an Android device is certified and game-ready.
'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.
Google's Play Pass app subscription service is now available
Subscription services have taken over music and movies, and now they're coming to games and apps too. In August we heard that Google was in the final stages of testing its new Android app subscription service called Play Pass, its equivalent of Apple Arcade. Today, Google's service has officially launched in the US and you can sign up now for unlimited access to a catalog of games and apps.
Apple Arcade is available early for some iOS 13 beta users
Apple Arcade won't officially arrive until this Thursday, but some folks are reporting on Twitter they already have access to it. As confirmed by Engadget, people who are using the iOS 13 beta on iPhone are seeing Arcade pop up on a tab in the App Store.
