It has been long established that mobile gaming is becoming more popular and successful year over year, and now we’re seeing mobile games included in more cross-platform game development projects. This growing trend is driven by various reasons including players’ desire for flexibility, market reach, and technological advancements.
Though mobile games are included in cross-platform development projects more frequently, this doesn’t guarantee success, and there are multiple steps development studios can take to ensure their mobile versions are as well received as other platforms.
Choosing the Right Game Engine for Cross-Platform Development
One of the earliest critical decisions as part of any cross-platform game development project is deciding what game engine to use. Part of the decision-making process is dependent on what platforms your game is aiming to launch on. If you’re considering cross-platform development for console, PC, and mobile platforms, then you need to consider what languages are required to build games on those platforms and what game engine can best accommodate them.
Unity game engine is a prime example of a versatile game engine that can support cross-platform game development projects. Unity is often selected by game developers who aren’t focusing on extremely high-fidelity visuals and is popular among mobile game developers. It boasts support for over a dozen platforms, including PC, consoles, Android, iOS, and more, making it a sensible choice for cross-platform development projects.
Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is another solid choice for cross-platform game development projects. Unreal Engine is one of the most advanced game engines on the market, suitable for development projects of any kind. Its latest iteration, Unreal Engine 5, is loaded with advanced features for creating second-to-none visuals, including the World Partition tool for creating worlds more efficiently, the Nanite geometry system, and Lumen dynamic global illumination. Though Unreal Engine is more commonly used for large-scale console and PC projects, it can support mobile fully as part of cross-platform game development projects.
Reaching Wider Audiences with Cross-Platform Game Development
Cross-platform development projects present an opportunity to promote a game and all its versions equally. By simultaneously releasing a game on all target platforms, marketing can be unified into one singular effort as opposed to constructing several different marketing strategies for staggered releases. The advantages of this approach are manifold, including reduced overall costs for the game’s marketing efforts, cohesive messaging across the board, and positioning of each platform as equal and viable ways to play the game.
The wide breadth of platforms is an invaluable tool to inform the game’s further development as well. By analyzing data, developers can learn players’ playing and spending habits, if the latter is applicable. By understanding the areas of the game that players engage with the most and least, studios can identify areas of improvement and the most resonant parts of the game that should be fortified with new content. The game, across all platforms, will benefit from receiving new content that continues to engage existing players and attract new ones.
Leveraging New Technologies for Cross-Platform Development Projects
A distinct advantage of cross-platform game development projects is how they can leverage modern gaming technologies. Cloud systems can be helpful for players who choose to game on different platforms. Using cloud saves, players can easily transition between mobile, console, and PC without losing any of their saved progress. Additionally, cloud services are becoming popular for streaming games directly to mobile platforms, as seen with AAA titles like Resident Evil Village and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. This can effectively bypass the need to develop a native mobile version of your title if your studio has the infrastructure and resources to develop a cloud version.
Starloop Studios is your one-stop solution for all your game development needs, for all platforms including cross-platform game development projects. From full-cycle game development to game porting and co-development, we bring your gaming projects to life to high quality. As part of Magic Media, we offer countless expert services for gaming, entertainment, and tech projects. Contact Starloop Studios today!
