There's an app for that?

April 29, 2022

This week saw multiple developers receive an email from Apple to let them know that they would soon be removing the games and apps they made from the App Store.

The email, titled "App Store Improvement Notice" warned those affected that their apps would soon be unavailable to download if they had not been updated in an unspecified amount of time. Before saying that developers had just 30 days in which to do just that.

One-man indie studio Protopop Games was one of the first to react to the news with an understandably exacerbated response, "I feel sick. Apple just sent me an email saying they're removing my free game Motivoto because it's more than 2 years old. This is not cool. Console games from 2000 are still available for sale."

Another developer with countless smaller iOS games under their belt also weighed in, "Apple is removing a few of my old games because they have 'not been updated in a significant amount of time.' Games can exist as completed objects! These free projects aren’t suitable for updates or a live service model, they’re finished artworks from years ago... It isn't viable for me to spend multiple days updating each of a few free small games I built in ~2014."

In some ways, the move is understandable; the App Store is home to countless millions of games and apps and there's simply no way to review compatibility and quality for each on a case by case basis. But in other ways, and certainly as far as games are concerned, the news is troubling. These are fully-functioning games - finished pieces of work - and updates simply aren't necessary. A large percentage of these game were created by tiny teams or even a single person years ago, and for many, the cost (and possible risks) of tweaking code and submitting an arbitrary update just isn't feasible.

Their work will disappear.

Perhaps more troubling, is that the games that obviously won't be affected by this policy change are the kind of live service games that make the App Store infamous in all of the wrong ways already, and something that Apple's own Apple Arcade service was designed to discourage. Could this be the end of the once-and-done, self-contained games the App Store was once so wonderfully good at? Classic titles like Peggle, Plants vs Zombies, and Drop 7 from the glory days (which have themselves in recent years been replaced - by their publishers it must be said - with free-to-play versions) could become a thing of the past.

As always, a workable solution that suits all parties would be impossible to achieve. But surely Apple's brute-force love-it-or-lose-it approach could be finessed just a little.

Are you a fan (or otherwise) of the App Store and mobile games? Are you a developer? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. As always, please just reply to this email directly or catch me on Twitter and I'll be sure to get back to you. You might even see your thoughts in a future issue.

Until next time!

NEWS

Oh, just a quick shout out Shigeru Miyamoto, who this week hijacked Nintendo's Twitter account to announce that he and "Chris-san", have decided to delay the Super Mario Bros. film into 2023. Great to see the main man is still pulling the strings over at Nintendo HQ.

NEW RELEASES:

This week saw the wonderful, mind-bending classic Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe release on all platforms (highly recommended if you've yet to experience it), as well as the long awaited return of Wii Sports - now under the imaginative new name Nintendo Switch Sports.

Next week is looking slow, but the gorgeous 'side-scrolling Ghost of Tsushima' Trek to Yomi is one to keep a close eye on.

(Switch) – April 26  – Read review

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) – April 27

(PS5, PC) – April 27

(Switch) – April 28  – Read review

(Xbox, Switch) – April 28  – Read review

(PC) – April 28

(Xbox, PC) – April 28

(Xbox, Switch, PC) – April 28

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch) – April 28

(PS4, PS5) – April 28

(Switch) – April 29

UPCOMING RELEASES:

(PS4, PS5) – May 3

(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) – May 5

GAME OF THE WEEK

A randomly selected game each week! Any and all games are eligible for selection regardless of age, platform, popularity, or otherwise.

This week, the honour goes to…

Luigi's Mansion (2001)

Met with disappointment upon its release at the launch of the GameCube for not being the Mario game that many expected, Luigi’s Mansion was nonetheless a technical wonder that has since gone on to develop a cult following.

It has spawned two sequels so far; 'Dark Moon' on Nintendo's 3DS handheld, and the probably-best-in-the-series Luigi’s Mansion 3 for Switch. A wonderful series for kids and adults alike.

GAMING ANNIVERSARIES

Another round of video game anniversaries to make you feel old... Sorry!

Click through the links to see what people had to say about them...

The divisive GTA IV was released 14 years ago!

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask was first released 22 years ago!

Super Smash Bros. released in North America 23 years ago!

Star Fox 64 celebrated 25 years since its initial Japanese release!

Super Bomberman was first released 29 years ago!

Kirby's Dream Land celebrated a big birthday this week, marking 30 years since the introduction of everybody's favourite pink whatever-he-is!

The ZX Spectrum celebrated its 40th birthday!

RECOMMENDED READS

This week’s recommended articles see Eurogamer's Martyn Carroll talk to six of the original ZX Spectrum team, Ars Technica bag a rare interview with Monkey Island's Ron Gilbert, Keith Stuart explains why Sega is having "a moment", and Christopher Dring of GIBiz explains why Switch Sports is as important as Breath of the Wild 2.

Martyn Carroll - Eurogamer

Eurogamer talk to six of the original ZX Spectrum team to discuss the legendary console's 40th anniversary

Kyle Orland - Ars Technica

In a rare interview, Monkey Island designers tell Ars Technica's Kyle Orland about the long awaited return of the series with the upcoming Return to Monkey Island.

Keith Stuart - The Guardian

What is driving the box-office success of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, reboots of classic games such as Crazy Taxi and even talk of a Sega Cinematic Universe?

Christopher Dring - GamesIndustyBiz

As Wii Sports returns (this time under the imaginatively titled Nintendo Switch Sports), Chistopher Dring argues that it is just as important for Nintendo and the industry at large as Breath of the Wild 2.

CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS

PuffPals: Island Skies

By Fluffnest - campaign ends May 7

A wholesome life simulator where you can collect, farm, customize and explore new lands with cute and fluffy PuffPals!

A Handheld History

By Lost In Cult & Retro Dodo - campaign ends May 9

A high-quality, explorative jaunt through the systems and games that defined the legacy of portable systems.

Gold Project - A karma based Metroidvania

By Dreamirl - campaign ends May 19

The God of Light and the God of Gold are facing off in this dark fantasy metroidvania game, which side will you choose?

Perfect Organism: An Alien: Isolation Companion

By Andy Kelly / Unbound

Calling all Alien superfans! This is the ultimate unofficial guide to Alien: Isolation, considered to be part of the Alien franchise canon

VITURE One - Game & Stream Anywhere, Anytime

By VITURE - campaign ends May 25

Next Gen XR Glasses that enable you to play AAA games or watch movies anywhere, anytime on a 5G/Wifi connection.

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...and that's it for this week!

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Week in Games!

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Thanks again, and I hope to see you next week!