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The genesis of mobile gaming was a beautiful time, a traditionally isolated activity combined with the interconnected cloud exploited by mobile devices; to say it changed how we approach gaming would be an understatement. The HTC Dream and the devices that followed opened a whole new world for game developers, using touch control interfaces to explore new angles of game design. True, mobile gaming had been around long before the Play Store, but the 2008 advent of modern mobile games changed the landscape forever.
Handheld consoles are leaving gaming phones in the dust
I can purchase a Steam Deck and a mid-range Android for less than a gaming phone
It is currently the best time ever to be gaming on your smartphone. Streaming apps like Xbox Game Pass let you play the latest AAA titles with only your phone, controller, and internet connection. At the same time, console/PC games like Civilization VI and Alien: Isolation are much cheaper on the Google Play Store without any loss in content. Things are even better on iOS, where Apple has signed exclusive deals to bring titles like Resident Evil 4 to the App Store.
This great Sonic console game is coming to Android next year
Everyone's favorite Hedgehog will be the newest member of Netflix Games
It's safe to say that many people were skeptical when the hit video streaming-service Netflix announced in 2021 that it was branching out into the world of gaming. Now, just two years later, the company is boasting 40 titles on the service, including fan-favorites such as Grand Theft Auto Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, Football Manager 24, and Storyteller. Netflix Games has even recently debuted two internally developed games of its own: Night School’s Oxenfree II: Lost Signals and the first installment of Netflix Stories: Love is Blind.
Microsoft wants Xbox on mobile as it seeks partners for a new gaming store
Microsoft may soon attempt to break into the mobile gaming space
Microsoft has taken notice of the ongoing drama surrounding Apple's and Google's app store practices. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, famously brought attention to the possibility of monopolistic patterns in two different lawsuits against the tech giants. In the wake of significant investments in its gaming division, including the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has recently hinted at an Xbox mobile store that would clearly compete with Google and Apple.
Netflix is bringing the long-awaited GTA Trilogy to mobile just in time for the holidays
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition will launch on December 14 for Netflix subscribers
While Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition was more or less a rehash of existing games, fans of the franchise understood the replay value. Now, one company is looking to tap into the potential of a relaunch, and surprisingly, it isn’t developer Rockstar Games. Streaming giant Netflix will reportedly allow subscribers to play the games through its app, just in time for the holiday season.
15 great Android games you can also play on PC
Dust off the mouse and keyboard for these amazing games
You would be amazed at the crossover between the Play Stores best apps and PC, given how antithetical the two platforms can seem. PC's processing and graphical capabilities coupled with complex physical controls seems to come from a different planet to your new and improved gaming phone. Mobile development has gained such power and popularity that their inclusion on other platforms was inevitable, from refined experiences like Downwell to the many many quality Vampire Survivors clones that take over your life for brief periods of time. We'd like to share our favorite Android games that have made the leap to PC, for their peerless dedication, graphical quality, and immense popularity among Android and PC gamers alike.
13 best Apple Arcade games and their equally awesome Android alternatives
Try these brilliant games available on Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade prioritizes quality over quantity, so subscribers are guaranteed a quality gaming experience. However, newcomers to the service may find it difficult to know where to start. We've picked out the best of the best to help you start with this fantastic service.
Microsoft's Xbox mobile gaming store may get here sooner than we thought
This might be the first step to breaking up Apple and Google's app store dominance
As part of the investigation surrounding its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft revealed it was planning an Xbox mobile store to rival Google Play and the App Store. According to a recent interview, this new store might arrive sooner than we thought.
Get an early-bird discount on the REDMAGIC 7S Pro gaming phone
This article is sponsored by REDMAGIC
The REDMAGIC 7S Pro is here, completing the release schedule for the 7-series gaming smartphones, and you can save yourself some dollar dollar bills y'all by way of the brand's early-bird offer.
REDMAGIC is well known for its prowess when it comes to mobile gaming, and July 26th sees the release of its most powerful smartphone yet—the REDMAGIC 7S Pro. And that isn't all; you can get yourself a nifty discount on the handset too.
Alchemy Stars brings the crossover of the summer to your smartphone with Persona 5
Join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they bring a new storyline and characters to Astra...
Alchemy Stars has just celebrated its first anniversary, and the mobile free-to-play RPG isn't letting up when it comes to delivering exciting content. This time, Tourdog Studio has teamed up with Atlus and P-Studio to bring Persona 5 to the Alchemy Star's world: Astra.
Apex Legends Mobile: 5 tips to help you win the phone battle royale
Level up your gameplay and start winning matches
Apex Legends Mobile has been available for a little while now and is already taking the world by storm. The game relies heavily on tactics and knowledge of its intricate systems, which can seem daunting if you're new to the game. Once you start playing, Apex Legends Mobile is easy enough to get the hang of, and you can give yourself a headstart by following these five Apex Legends Mobile tips to ensure victory.
Alchemy Stars celebrates its first anniversary with tons of free content
This post is sponsored by Alchemy Stars
Mobile gacha RPG, Alchemy Stars, is one year old, so with the birthday party in full swing, it is throwing out freebies like you've never seen. As you might guess, there’s some pretty cool stuff up for grabs.
The mobile games market is making more money than PCs and consoles combined
And China is leading the pack
For decades the video gaming market has been dominated by either purpose-built consoles or cumbersome computers. From the early days of Atari and Commodore to the modern era of Microsoft and Ryzen, most video games were played at home. But then, iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry changed the face of consumer electronics, and gaming, forever. Today, over 6 billion people own a smartphone, so it’s no surprise that mobile gaming now makes up over 52% of the market, bringing in over $90 billion in revenue in 2021.
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By now, you’ve seen our hands-on look at the new REDMAGIC 6S Pro gaming phone, and you’ve read our more in-depth piece about what makes it one of the “coolest” phones on the market. This week, one lucky Android Police reader will actually win a REDMAGIC 6S Pro to call their own. Jump down for details.
REDMAGIC 6S Pro's 165Hz display and advanced cooling system are enough to make even PC gamers drool
This article is sponsored by REDMAGIC
The mobile gaming market has been heating up lately, thanks in part to the emergence of cloud gaming, as well as dedicated handheld devices. Riding this trend, gaming phone companies like REDMAGIC have carved out their own unique space, offering devices that pull double duty as daily-use phones and optimized gaming machines. Starting today, you can get your hands on REDMAGIC’s latest mobile gaming powerhouse, the 6S Pro.
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There's no doubt that the Asus ROG Phone 5 is a beast — as a gaming phone, it packs all of the latest and greatest hardware, and that makes it a really chunky boy. Asus has a laser focus on gaming-centric features that will delight its core demographic, but the ROG 5 isn’t a complete nightmare to use outside of gaming either. The ROG Phone 5 offers stable everyday use with the added benefit of killer specs that can be tweaked and adjusted like a gaming PC. This is indeed a phone for gamers, but that means it lacks some popular features, and the software has some rough edges. It might be the right phone for the right person, but it’ll be a tough sell for most with an asking price in excess of $1,000.
Folks big into PC or console gaming might poke fun at mobile titles, but the numbers aren't in their favor. Over half of global gaming revenue right now comes from smartphones. It's such a big business that there's a whole sub-market of gaming-oriented Android phones that add extra features to improve the experience, like mappable capacitive triggers and improved cooling. But you don't need a gaming phone to play games on the go. There are Bluetooth controllers, accessories, and even the touchscreen on your phone itself. So how do you play games on the go — as in, do you use a controller, a specific gaming phone, or just your touchscreen?For some of us, this question will be a non-starter. I don't actually play almost any games on my phone anymore. Part of that is frustration at the average quality of titles and their controls, but by far, the biggest impediment is a simple lack of time.But smartphone-based gaming is big business, and most of our readers probably do enjoy a bit of mobile gaming. And in the case of many titles, you have a choice when it comes to controls. Some games are nicer with an external controller or something like the Razer Kishi; others are simple enough that a mere touchscreen will do.On top of that, you might use a portable console. It's a little less mainstream, but there are a handful of Android-powered devices, and even the Nintendo Switch, which you can toss Android on if you wanna.So, what do you use — if you use anything at all? Feel free to select all that apply when it comes to your mobile gaming habits.
ASUS unveils the ROG Phone 3 with the Snapdragon 865+ and up to 16GB of RAM
Time to replace your home computer
Gaming phones are chunky, overpowered beasts with outrageous aesthetics that most consumers don't need. But if you're someone who doesn't care about looks or weight, they pack incredible oomph. ASUS released its ROG Phone 2 last year, and it earned a place on AP's Most Wanted list. Now the company has unveiled its successor, and the ROG Phone 3 is probably more powerful than your home computer.
The healing power of video games has finally been recognized by the FDA
EndeavorRX is a mobile game meant to help treat kids with ADHD
Video games have long been associated with negative connotations about wasting time and killing brain cells, but a new game might just help to change that. The FDA has just cleared the first prescription-only smartphone game, called EndeavorRx, as part of a treatment program for children with ADHD.