The gaming landscape is changing. Ten years ago, mobile platforms were considered by many to be the birthplace of basic mini-games and lesser experiences, but in just a few years they have become the largest sector of the gaming industry, and it continues to grow. Long-standing console game brands have taken notice and are starting to shift more of their production to mobile. Companies like EA, Ubisoft, and Activision are already enjoying great success with smartphone titles based on Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed, and all have announced plans to further expand their mobile offerings in the coming years. To learn more about the rise of mobile gaming, we spoke to two of the developers at King, the company behind Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, which is the first Crash game for mobile and the latest console icon to give the leap to smartphones. . They explained what it was like to adapt Crash for mobile devices, and why console gamers might, despite their reservations, find something they love in their app store.
Same old crash in a new way
When you think of the free mobile versions of your favorite franchises, you expect a drastically reduced experience. Mario Kart Tour has surprised many fans with its lack of multiplayer at launch, and games like Kingdom Hearts: Unchained X have traded in 3D RPG for simple 2D turn-based combat. Stephen Jarrett (Creative Director) and Chui (Lead Designer) explained that from the very beginning, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run was designed to resemble the games people have fallen in love with on console in terms of aesthetics. "We wanted the visuals and sounds in the game to be like a Crash game," Jarrett said. "We've given each location in Crash Bandicoot: On the Run unique music, bosses, mechanics, and gameplay for this reason." There is much more to a game than meets the eye. Chui played Crash a lot with his family growing up, and wanted On the Run to recreate the emotions he was feeling. “I know a lot of people used to play Crash with their loved ones, so we translated that 'let's play Crash together' experience as well,” he told us. "The squad feature lets you play with friends, and this time you won't have to fight for control!"
Why more and more characters are moving to mobile devices
But why transfer the characters from the console to the mobile? If they are successful, why not leave them on the console? Well, mobile games are so important these days that you can't ignore them. In 2020, mobile games on smartphones and tablets accounted for around 50% (or € 86,3 billion) of the global gaming market, while console games accounted for only 30%. In 2010, mobile games only accounted for about 10% of the global market, so their growth was remarkable.
