Fortnite is Not Being Released on Google Play

Given its huge level of popularity at the moment, it’s no surprise Fortnite is getting released on Android later this year. After all, the game’s done hugely well in the last year or so, with 125 million players having experienced on across the various platforms it’s been released on, and the title became a household name virtually overnight as a result.

Having it available for the world’s most popular smartphone OS only seems like the next logical move here.

Above: Presumably it’ll look like the iOS version shown here

Except here’s the thing:

Fortnite is not being released on Google Play. Nope.

Instead, anyone who wants to play it from Android has to download the installer from Epic Games’ website, then add it to their phone from here. It’s nothing too complicated here (just a generic APK file that you run like any other ‘unofficial’ Android app), but it’s an interesting set up none the less.

This is because (according to Epic Games), Google’s 30% cut of the Play Store profits is too high for what they actually do, meaning it makes more business sense to distribute it independently and cut out the middle man.

It’s an interesting decision by the company, and one we’ve generally not seen app developers make before. But is it a good one?

Well to be honest, we’re not that sure. Firstly, how many people actually download apps from websites rather than stores nowadays?

We’d hazard a guess and say ‘very few’. Indeed, as a rule of thumb, most people tend to stick the app stores where apps for smartphones are concerned, with only a small percentage using unofficial app stores or sideloaded apps on their phones.

Continue Reading…

Niantic Hints that Generation 4 Pokémon Are Coming to Pokémon GO!

A couple of days ago, Niantic Labs released a new piece of artwork for Pokémon GO. Designed to promote upcoming events from the game and featuring various characters and Pokémon from throughout the title, the artwork initially seemed like nothing more than a random piece of marketing material.

However, it seems like it actually holds a few more secrets than that! Why? Because if you look at the art a bit more closely, you’ll notice a few things that are a tad out of place. Namely, the starter Pokémon from generation 4!

Above: The species highlighted in red are from the fourth generation

Yep, hidden among the various Pokémon featured, you can spot Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup, the three starters from gen 4! And well, given that generation 4 isn’t represented in Pokémon GO at all, that seems like a pretty good hint that it’s coming to the title very soon.

So, if you’re a fan of the Sinnoh region (or just wondering when future generations will make it to Go), you’re in luck. Niantic’s already including Pokémon from Sinnoh in the marketing materials, and it’s very likely they’ll be coming in the near future!

Source:

Memorable Pokémon GO Experiences (Tweet from Niantic’s Twitter Account)

Miitomo Has Now Shut Down

Well, it’s finally happened. Exactly when Nintendo said it’d happen, Miitomo has closed its doors for good, marking the end for Nintendo’s first foray into mobile app development.

Here’s the message Nintendo shared about the app’s closure:

We want to thank you for enjoying Miitomo so much. Miitomo’s service has come to an end as of Wednesday 9th May 2018, 16:00 (JST). We’ve come a long way since the app was launched, and once again we want to thank everyone who’s been involved. We hope to go on to even bigger and better things in the future with Nintendo, and we hope you’re there to share the fun. We hope to see you again soon!

Yeah, it’s pretty standard corporate speak, but at the end of the day, it’s something we all knew was going to come long before Nintendo’s official announcement. Miitomo may have done decently first, but really…

It died out pretty quickly for most people. There just wasn’t enough in the app to return to day after day, and the level of depth was low enough that it provided no purpose for most ‘players’. The whole thing was just a first attempt by a company unfamiliar with the market, and one whose profitability was quickly exceeded by the likes of Fire Emblem Heroes, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp and even Super Mario Run.

So, the writing was on the wall for the whole deal for months really. Still, Nintendo could have at least done one thing to make the shutdown better here.

Namely, keep the special Mii customisations introduced in the app. After all, Miis are still a thing for Nintendo, and they’re even planning on releasing a new Mii Maker sometime in the near future. So why not keep the extra clothing options and stuff? There’s no harm in having them around, and they let players make far more unique avatars than they could on the Wii, 3DS or Wii U.

They should have been kept around for future platforms too.

Ah well, it’s too late now, and Miitomo has now joined the Nintendo Wifi Connection and other canned Nintendo services of years past.

So, what do you think about it? Are you disappointed with the shut down? Do you wish the new Mii clothing options should have been kept around?

Tell us what you think in the comments below or on the Gaming Latest forums today!

Source:

Miitomo Has Officially Ended (Japanese Nintendo)

Castlevania Grimoire of Souls Announced for iOS

Ever since the reveal that Castlevania was getting a TV show, there has been much speculation about a new game being released for the series. After all, it’s laid dormant for a while now, despite having an obvious fanbase and a lot of demand, and the series has been brought back into the popular consciousness via its adaptation.

It only seems logical for a new title.

And guess what? As revealed just a few days ago, a new Castlevania game is coming out. Titled Castlevania Grimoire of Souls, the game appears to be another Metroidvania title in the style of the DS games, with all the gameplay elements and stylistic that implies. Here are a few nice screenshots showing it in action:

Plus, some neat official art from the official site:

As you can tell, it’s a decent looking game. Maybe not as artistically ambitious as some of the sprite-based ones sure, but decent enough none the less.

There’s just one problem:

As of this moment… it’s only been confirmed for smartphones. Yup, the next much awaited game in the Castlevania franchise is only coming to smartphones, not consoles like the Nintendo Switch that seem almost perfect for the title. It’s a shame really since something like this seems perfect for the system. After all most of the other games appeared there, from the NES era all the way to the present day.

Continue Reading…