Resident Evil Village: Revolutionizing Mobile Gaming Experiences

AAA games on smartphones have been viable for a few years now, with some limitations. Microsoft's cloud gaming enables Xbox games to run fairly well on mobile devices with a strong internet connection. However, the possibility of having a full-fledged blockbuster game on a smartphone, without compromising on technical aspects, is a question that arises. Currently, Apple is at the forefront of this, as they have introduced Resident Evil Village as a mobile port on their new iPhones, allowing players to experience the game fully on a smaller screen. Despite a few drawbacks, Apple is paving the way for an impressive future of handheld gaming.

As discussed by Tom Caswell on our website, his hands-on experience with Resident Evil Village on the iPhone 15 Pro revealed that the smartphone version is essentially the same as the MacOS version. The visuals are stunning, although performance may decline when all graphical settings are set to the maximum. By adjusting the settings to more moderate levels, Tom was able to successfully navigate Lady Dimetrescu's castle and proceed with the game.

The game on the latest iPhones is a technical marvel, but the touchscreen controls are lacking. Thankfully, there are alternatives like the Xbox wireless controller or the Backbone cradle controller, which transforms the iPhone into a high-performance gaming device similar to the Steam Deck. With a resolution of 900p on medium settings and a higher frame-rate, Resident Evil Village delivers outstanding quality, performance, and battery life on the iPhone 15 Pro. This is in contrast to the constant struggle faced by the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally in terms of battery life. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro can be connected to an external display, effectively turning it into a small console. However, the graphical limitations become more apparent when viewed on a large TV or PC monitor. The major downside is the price, as the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max with its larger 6.7 inch display comes with a minimum price tag of $1,200. Due to the high costs of smartphones, most people opt for contract deals to pay off these devices over several months.

The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a hefty price tag, particularly in a market where Apple constantly faces competition from Samsung, Google, and Sony. However, Apple has an advantage with its gaming aspirations. They have dubbed the iPhone 15 Pro the next "ultimate gaming console" and numerous notable games are set to be released on it in the near future. The highly anticipated remakes of Resident Evil 4, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage are among the confirmed titles, and Apple is actively developing new tools to simplify the process of porting games to their platform.

Editor's P/S

Resident Evil Village's release on mobile devices, particularly iPhones, marks a significant turning point for the gaming industry. The game showcases the potential of smartphones as powerful gaming platforms capable of delivering console-quality experiences. With stunning visuals, impressive performance, and the ability to connect to external displays, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a compelling handheld gaming experience that rivals dedicated portable consoles like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.

However, the high price tag of the iPhone 15 Pro may limit its accessibility to a broader audience. At $999 for the base model and $1,200 for the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max, the cost of entry is significantly higher compared to traditional gaming consoles. While contract deals can help mitigate the upfront cost, the long-term financial commitment may not be feasible for everyone. This exclusivity could hinder the widespread adoption of mobile gaming as a mainstream platform for AAA titles.