AAA games for iPhone and iPad are not very popular with users

Since the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro with the A17 Pro, Apple’s first chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the company has been encouraging major game developers to port their titles to iOS. Currently, AAA games such as Resident Evil Village and Assassin’s Creed Mirage are available on the App Store, but a new report suggests they haven’t been a big hit among iPhone and iPad users.

AAA games aren’t doing so well on the iOS App Store

Data taken from Appfigures ( Mobile Gamer) revealed that demand for AAA games (what are known as console-level games) on mobile devices is not as high as some had expected.

The report states that games made for iOS have “failed commercially” and speculates that Apple may have paid companies like Ubisoft and Capcom to port their titles to the iPhone as a way to promote its latest device’s hardware.

According to Appfigures, Assassin’s Creed Mirage has been downloaded more than 123,000 times since its launch on June 6. However, as of last week, fewer than 3,000 people had paid the $49.99 to unlock the full game. The report notes that the game’s average daily downloads are already less than 3,000. These figures are quite low compared to free-to-play mobile games.

By comparison, the mobile game Assassin’s Creed Rebellion achieved nearly 2 million downloads during the same period it was released, and generated 612% higher total revenue than Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

“Resident Evil 4,” released for iOS in December, has also struggled with downloads. The game has been installed 357,000 times, but only 7,000 people have paid $29.99 to unlock the full version. As for “Resident Evil Village,” about 5,750 people have paid $15.99 to unlock the full version.

Smartphone users may prefer simpler games

Andrei Zubov, head of content at Appmagic, believes smartphone users prefer casual mobile games because they are typically made with touch controls in mind and are “suitable for short periods of play.”

“When we look at the best-performing mobile premium games, we find that many of them began as indie titles. These games typically feature simpler controls, prioritize unique art styles over high-end graphics, and are suited to short play periods – common characteristics of successful free-to-play mobile games,” Zubov said.

AAA games are designed to be played with a game controller, touch controls are often weak and difficult to use, and even the largest iPhones have screens that are too small to play advanced games, making the experience less appealing to gamers.

But there’s something else to keep in mind: Due to hardware limitations, these AAA games are only compatible with the latest iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. As for iPad, they only work with M1 and newer models. This alone limits the number of people who can purchase these games on iOS.

Moreover, the prices of AAA games are much higher than what smartphone owners are willing to pay for mobile games, which also makes people hesitant to buy them. While it is certainly impressive to see such games running on an iPhone, users don’t seem to be all that interested, at least for now.