The tech behind the scene
In recent years, mobile gaming has seen significant improvements, but it still doesn’t quite match up to the experience on consoles and PCs. The high standards set by gaming engines and the demands they place on system resources, especially for mobile devices, have been major factors limiting the mobile gaming experience. However, the introduction of Apple’s M-class silicon and its gaming capabilities has brought about serious technical advancements.
Apple’s iPad Pro, with its desktop-class silicon upgrade, has opened the door to demanding apps and games previously only available on traditional computers. One game that stands out in terms of execution is “Resident Evil: Village.” The port of this horror game to iPadOS is nothing short of excellent.
This achievement is made possible by Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit and the Metal API. The Game Porting Toolkit allows developers to bring unmodified Windows games to the Apple platform, converting existing game shaders to Apple’s native Metal architecture. Metal, Apple’s hardware-accelerated graphics API, handles graphics rendering, audio, and HDR, among other things. Together, these tools create a seamless gaming experience on the iPad Pro.
What’s it like gaming on an iPad?
Capcom’s success in porting “Resident Evil: Village” to the iPad lies in its ability to replicate the graphics and visual fidelity of current-gen consoles and powerful gaming PCs. From the opening cinematic to mid-combat visuals, everything feels smooth and beautifully rendered for depth and shadows.
Adjusting the graphics settings allows players to find the right balance between visual quality and performance. With some tweaking, the game can comfortably reach near-60 fps or near-30 fps, depending on the player’s preferences.
However, it’s important to note that playing AAA games on the iPad Pro can be limited by the device’s screen resolution and on-screen controls. The iPad Pro’s larger size and weight make it challenging to use with a single hand, and the on-screen controls can feel cramped. To fully enjoy the game, it’s recommended to use external controllers.
The ecosystem conundrum
While Apple promotes the idea that the iPad is a computer, the lack of mouse and keyboard support for games like “Resident Evil: Village” on iPhones and iPads is a limitation. The on-screen controls can take away from the game’s visual appeal, and external controllers become a necessity for a better gaming experience. It’s important to consider the additional cost of purchasing a suitable controller.
The absence of support for the Apple Magic Keyboard is also disappointing. While the trackpad works for cursor movement, it has no role in controlling the in-game characters. Capcom and other game studios partnered with Apple should address this issue and support external keyboards for gaming.
The accessories situation
Playing AAA games on Apple’s smartphones and tablets often requires the use of external controllers. While Apple offers recommended controllers, they come at a significant cost, adding to the overall expense of playing these games. The need for controllers adds an extra financial burden, especially when considering the price of the games themselves.
Furthermore, with solutions like Xbox Remote Play available, allowing players to enjoy console-quality gaming on their phones without restrictions, the added cost of controllers for iPad gaming may not be justifiable.
An uncertain glimpse into the future
Playing “Resident Evil: Village” on an iPad is an impressive achievement for smartphone technology. It showcases Apple’s technical prowess and demonstrates the potential for AAA gaming on mobile devices. For those who don’t own a laptop or console, the iPad may be a suitable alternative. However, as of now, the number of games available for this experience is limited.
While the iPad Pro offers a glimpse into the future of gaming, it still has some limitations compared to the native console or PC experience. Reflections over dynamic surfaces, depth rendering, and ray tracing may not be fully optimized on the iPad yet. Additionally, some players may notice frame drops during intense gameplay situations.
Overall, playing “Resident Evil: Village” on an iPad is a wonderful experience, but it is not superior to the gaming experience on consoles or PCs. For those who already own an iPad, diving into the world of AAA gaming on a mobile device is an exciting prospect. However, for PC or console purists, the current iPad gaming experience may not be enough to entice them to switch platforms.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the introduction of Apple’s M-class silicon and its gaming capabilities has brought about serious technical advancements in mobile gaming. The iPad Pro’s desktop-class silicon upgrade has allowed for demanding apps and games previously only available on traditional computers. The achievement of porting “Resident Evil: Village” to iPadOS is excellent, replicating the graphics and visual fidelity of current-gen consoles and powerful gaming PCs. However, limitations such as screen resolution, on-screen controls, and the need for external controllers may hinder the gaming experience. The future of AAA gaming on mobile devices is promising but still has limitations compared to console or PC gaming.
