These are the games that should have been announced for Android this year.

 

The year 2023 proved to be a stellar one for Android games, with the introduction of impressive titles by Netflix Games and the emergence of cutting-edge gaming phones and controllers, elevating the mobile gaming experience to rival dedicated handheld consoles. Despite these strides in the Android gaming scene, iOS took the lead in mobile gaming, surpassing Google's comparatively modest efforts. iOS notably launched several AAA titles in 2023, with the promise of even more exciting releases in the coming year.

iOS will host multiple AAA games in 2024 

On October 30th, Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village were exclusively launched on iOS. While Apple has long provided a robust platform for mobile gaming, notably through its curated Apple Arcade library, the release of these high-profile AAA titles signaled a notable shift towards making such titles available on Apple devices. Adding to this trend, Assassin's Creed Mirage and Death Stranding are set to debut on iOS in early 2024, allowing Apple users to experience games that were previously exclusive to gaming PCs and consoles. This further widens the gap in gaming quality between Android and iOS, with these exclusive releases exacerbating the issue.

Compounding the situation is Netflix's contribution. While the Netflix Games library on Android has been praised for its quality, the company recently announced that its mobile port of the popular roguelike Hades would be exclusive to iOS. Despite the historical precedent set by Supergiant Games, which traditionally ported its games to iOS, Netflix has the means (financial resources) to bring such a game to Android, as evidenced by their publication of Into The Breach on mobile—a game that was initially not intended for a mobile release.

Android hardware isn't at fault; Google is 

While more people use Android phones than iOS, a significant portion owns budget devices that may struggle to run high-performance games like Resident Evil 4 without compromising on framerate. It might be understandable for developers of these demanding games to prioritize the consistent experience of iOS; however, the issue here is not hardware-related.

The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 chip boasts a powerful GPU capable of handling the most demanding Android games with ease. This chip is featured in new Android phones like the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro and is expected to be integrated into more Android phones throughout 2024. Paired with one of the preferred Android controllers, such phones offer the hardware needed to comfortably enjoy console-quality games.

The blame lies with Google. The unexpected abandonment of Stadia surprised many, and since then, the company seems content to let opportunities to leverage Android's top-tier hardware slip away. While Netflix and Apple secure exclusives, Google appears to be missing out on potential advancements in the Android gaming landscape.

2024 could be a dark year for Android gaming 

Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, and Resident Evil 4 would be an excellent fit for Android. Gaming phones and controllers equipped with high-quality hardware could easily support these games, and foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offer larger screens that showcase their details better than an iPhone ever could. However, unless you turn to streaming apps like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Remote Play, finding games on Android that match the offerings on iOS can be challenging.

As we enter 2024, some at AP can't help but feel apprehensive about the future of Android gaming. While Apple secures exclusive rights to some of the best AAA games available, Google appears content to let the Play Store become inundated with cheap, free-to-play titles designed primarily to empty your wallet. It's not to say that we didn't witness the release of plenty of fantastic games for Android in 2023, but they are often the exceptions rather than the rule. Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, and Resident Evil 4 deserve a place on Android just as much as they do on iOS. However, unless we see a shift in Google's reluctance to invest in Android's gaming library, more AAA titles may continue to be exclusives beyond the reach of Android gamers.