Not all mobile games land in every territory across the world simultaneously. Some developers like to play it safe and cautiously roll their product out in a select few countries to use them as testbeds, before flicking that switch to …
Not all mobile games land in every territory across the world simultaneously. Some developers like to play it safe and cautiously roll their product out in a select few countries to use them as testbeds, before flicking that switch to set it live on a global scale.
This practice is known as soft launching and it allows studios to work out any bugs, glitches or teething problems before shipping their latest release to the masses. Although it can be frustrating when an eagerly-anticipated game is only available in some obscure territory, players can take solace in the knowledge that it will arrive in their neck of the woods with any niggling technical issues already weeded out.
Moreover, when a mobile game enters soft launch, it’s usually an indication that its global release is just around the corner and there’s plenty we can learn about the finished product based on how it was received overseas. So, here are the iOS and Android titles currently in soft launch that you should be super excited about.
Publisher: Gameloft
Available On: iOS (Philippines)
Gameloft is best known for creating games that dubiously resemble popular console titles, but everyone is totally okay with that, because in most cases, they end up being the closest thing we have to said console game on mobile. Asphalt 9: Legends is the studio’s latest answer to the Need for Speed franchise, and its engine is already running over in the Philippines. iOS users in the territory are currently enjoying more than 50 vehicles, 70 tracks complete with realistic weather effects, and a car editor for adding personal touches to their fleet.
Publisher: Oasis Games
Available On: iOS & Andriod (Philippines, Australia, New Zealand)
Square Enix is getting plenty of mileage out of Final Fantasy on mobile these days, but fans should be bracing themselves for more. The studio has licensed the property out to Oasis Games so it can undergo the action-RPG treatment and offer a faster-paced experience. Final Fantasy Awakening boasts a huge cast of characters comprising many familiar faces from the legendary series and also features online play. Android and iOS users in the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand can download the soft-launch edition now.
Publisher: Ubisoft
Available On: iOS & Android (Philippines, New Zealand)
Seminal cloak and dagger series Assassin’s Creed is getting a mobile makeover, which basically means cutesy, colourful visuals and gameplay reimagined with tablets and smartphones in mind. Assassin’s Creed Rebellion is a strategy-RPG which places its focus on brotherhood building, tasking players with assembling a squad to take the fight to the Templars. Plenty of series legends are recruitable, including Ezio, Aguilar and Shao Jun. iOS and Android owners in the Philippines and New Zealand can take a stab at it now.
Publisher: Sad Puppy
Available On: iOS (Philippines)
Most retro gamers will have fond, and maybe a tad traumatic memories of Lemmings, the puzzler which tasked you with escorting a band of tiny critters from A to B without them dying horrible deaths. Sad Puppy has reimagined the game for iOS, complete with swanky visuals and a touchscreen interface, and players in the Philippines can download it now.
Publisher: FoxNext Games
Available On: iOS & Android (Canada, New Zealand)
Marvel fans assemble! A new mobile game based on the bestselling comic books and phenomenally popular movie series is on the way, and it will let you make like Nick Fury and build your own version of the Avengers. The idea is to put together a crack team of Marvel superheroes and villains and pit them against other teams in 5v5 strategic brawls. The fate of the world is hinging on these battles, and players in Canada and New Zealand are already fighting their own personal infinity wars.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Available On: iOS (Canada)
Players delivered all kinds of ingenious creations when they were given the tools to build their own Super Mario levels, so it will be interesting to see what the community comes up with when Pac-Man gets the same treatment. Pac-Man Maker basically does everything it says on the tin: lets players create their own mazes for the pill-popping hero to explore, complete with ghosts and random pieces of fruit. The end results can be shared online so you can laugh your ass off while others die more times than in a Dark Souls marathon, trying to beat your creation.
Publisher: Madfinger Games
Available On: iOS & Android (Netherlands)
Generally speaking, Madfinger Games has a reputation for making first-person shooters that look beautiful but aren’t exactly brimming with substance. Its latest offering Shadowgun Legends is more ambitious than anything its churned out to date, promising the same glossy, Unity-powered visuals but this time with something meaningful underpinning them. Shadowgun Legends is a console-quality shooter with a spattering of RPG mechanics to add depth to the gunplay, and a real-time PvP arena for those who prefer killing other players to alien monsters. This is one of the most eagerly anticipated mobile games on the horizon, and if you live in the Netherlands, you can take an early look at it now.
Publisher: Gameloft
Available On: iOS & Android (Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand)
Gameloft’s derivative handiwork again, and this time the studio has combined your classic zombie apocalypse with MMORPG values in Dead Rivals. The game is action-driven and set against a vast, open-world backdrop where players are forced to band together with other survivors to discover the cause of the outbreak. Players in the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand are already battling the undead.
Publisher: Ubisoft
Available On: iOS (Canada)
Ubisoft’s Rocksmith straddles the divide between Guitar Hero and actual music tuition, challenging users to play along with songs and learn from the bum notes they hit. The iPad edition, which comes bundled with four free tracks, is currently on soft launch in Canada. There are interactive lessons for guitarists and bass players and more songs can be downloaded through in-app purchases.
Publisher: thatgamecompany
Available On: iOS (Philippines)
From Flower to Journey, thatgamecompany’s titles are always works of art and its latest offering Sky looks set to be no exception. Currently in soft launch on iOS devices in the Philippines, this aesthetically stunning social adventure will find players exploring a world up in the clouds with friends and family, bringing light to its darkest corner and solving puzzles as they go. It’s all about togetherness, collaboration and artistic expression.
Publisher: Next Games
Available On: Android (Philippines)
The Walking Dead: Our World is essentially Pokemon Go with a twist, the twist being that you slaughter hordes of zombies instead of capturing weird and wonderful creatures. The game uses AR technology to bring the Walker slaying to the real world (sort of) and pits players against weekly challenges. Characters from the popular AMC TV series also show up, and players in the Philippines are getting acquainted with them right now.
Publisher: Warner Bros
Available On: iOS (Philippines) Android (Thailand, Denmark, Finland, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden)
AMC isn’t the only TV network bringing one of its hit shows to the world of mobile games. HBO’s Westworld is also winging its way to iOS devices, and its already soft launched in the Philippines, Thailand and Scandinavia. The robot cowboy series has been adapted as a build-em-up, in which players are tasked with constructing their own Wild West-themed amusement park. You’ll spend your time upgrading the AI, keeping the guests happy and preventing the main attractions from gunning everyone down.
Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios
Available On: iOS & Android (Australia)
Players will take control of mythical warriors and pit them against one another in 5v5 showdowns in this MOBA title from Hi-Rez Studios. Paladins Strike is an action-heavy, multiplayer-centric battler which gives players an enticing fantasy world to explore and the chance to take control of more than 15 Paladin characters within it.
Publisher: Hugo Games A/S
Available On: iOS (Canada, Denmark, UK, Australia, New Zealand)
Pro skater Nyjah Huston could become the Tony Hawk of the mobile generation if his new skateboarding sim Nyjah Huston: #Skatelife is a smash hit. It’s currently in soft launch for iOS devices in Canada, Denmark, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and has already been given a full, worldwide release on Android. Like the Tony Hawk games of old, the object of this one is to grind, kickflip and shred your way around obstacle-filled courses and pull off as many monster combos as you can.
Publisher: Warner Bros
Available On: Android (various)
The magic of JK Rowling’s wizarding world is coming to Android devices with Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, an adventure game with old-school point-and-click elements, RPG components and narrative-based puzzles. Players will learn everything there is to know about witchcraft and wizardry from some of the best teachers in this business. Just try not to get on the wrong side of Professor Snape. And stay out of the Chamber of Secrets.
