When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 series, one of the most exciting features was its support for AAA games. Mobile gaming has long been considered the lesser sibling to console and PC gaming, but this gap appeared to close rapidly.
Nearly a year has passed since that announcement, and several new AAA titles have been launched. Yet, these high-quality games still seem out of place on devices like smartphones and tablets.
Different Playstyles
Mobile gaming thrives thanks to the accessibility and convenience of smartphones. It's as easy as picking up your phone and playing. However, this simplicity doesn't transfer well to AAA games. While games like COD Mobile and PUBG Mobile have players who excel with small-screen controls, the deep, immersive experience found in console and PC games can be lacking.
Game developers spend years creating detailed virtual worlds, but players might miss these nuances entirely. Popular mobile titles often offer short, quick gameplay sessions rather than long, immersive experiences. This disconnect between player expectations and experiences is one of the reasons AAA games don’t flourish on smartphones.
Hardware Limitations
Smartphones have made incredible progress in performance, and it’s impressive that some AAA games can run on them. Despite these advancements, they still fall short of the processing power and graphic capabilities of PCs and consoles. Mobile-optimized games often sacrifice visual quality to ensure a playable frame rate.
Titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Resident Evil, launched on iPhone 15 Pros, showcase this issue. Unfortunately, Android users only get access to older AAA titles, leaving those without the latest iPhone unable to play these demanding games. Developers have to downscale many aspects of these games, which results in large downloads compared to typical mobile games.
No One is Buying AAA Games on Mobile
The mobile gaming industry is dominated by the freemium model, which has even gained traction in live service games for PCs and consoles. Essentially, mobile games are free, with revenue generated through in-game purchases like lootboxes or digital cosmetics. However, AAA games come with a price tag.
For instance, Resident Evil Village is priced at 15.99 US Dollars, while Assassin’s Creed Mirage costs 49.99 US Dollars. Despite their lengthy and costly development processes, mobile gamers are reluctant to spend this kind of money without a trial. Reports suggest that these AAA releases have not been successful, selling only tens of thousands or even just thousands of copies. Additionally, mobile ports require extra investments from studios and publishers.
Conclusion
While smartphones and tablets have become incredibly powerful, they still face significant challenges in delivering a genuine AAA experience. Apple’s announcement was a step in the right direction, but these are still early days. Hardware capabilities, gameplay, and business models need to evolve, and we might have to wait a few more years to see substantial progress.
