Capcom's Optimistic Outlook: Mobile Gaming and Console Convergence

The surprise announcement of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPad during the Apple Event 2023 left gamers in awe. Capcom, a prominent player in the gaming industry, has fulfilled a dream by enabling the playability of these console-heavy games on mobile devices. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry, the producers of the Resident Evil series expressed their optimism about Capcom eventually developing games for mobile in tandem with the latest-generation consoles, providing delightful news for mobile gaming enthusiasts.

Producer Kawata Credits Apple's M2 Chip for Resident Evil's Port Success

Regarding their partnership with Apple, Masachika Kawata, one of the producers of Resident Evil Village, emphasized that the iOS version delivers a console-like experience thanks to the adaptability of their own RE Engine, with minor considerations such as screen size. The new M2 chip presented a golden opportunity to expand the reach of Resident Evil to a global audience. Kawata expressed great satisfaction with the power of the M2 chip and its instrumental role in the successful development of the game's port. While there are still considerations like screen size, the port mainly relies on traditional controller input, lacking distinctive mobile features such as dedicated touch, swipe, or motion controls.

Producer Tsuyoshi Kanda Envisions Mobile Gaming's Future

Tsuyoshi Kanda, another producer at Capcom, radiated excitement about a future where mobile gaming could achieve parity with consoles and platforms. He added, "I think it's definitely feasible in the future, especially considering how mobile hardware for smartphones and tablets continues to improve every year. We could reach a point where, as part of our multi-platform strategy, we target these devices alongside the current-generation consoles." However, Masachika Kawata took a more cautious stance, emphasizing Capcom's current focus on bringing previous titles to new platforms. He stated, "Currently, our approach is still based on bringing products we've previously released to other platforms, so we're not ready to commit to simultaneous releases for future titles." Nevertheless, this potential scenario in the future is intriguing to ponder.

The Convergence of Mobile and AAA Gaming

Mobile gaming has been on a healthy ascent, showcasing an array of remarkably crafted titles. However, the absence of AAA games has been noticeable. Fortunately, this gap is gradually being bridged, with Ubisoft's commitment to bringing AAA games to mobile platforms and the Resident Evil franchise making its mark on the iPhone 15. The future looks promising for mobile gaming enthusiasts as the boundaries between mobile and console gaming continue to blur.