Summary
Capcom has now mandated an online connection for its threeResident Evilports on Apple devices. The sudden change toResident Evil4, 7, andVillageisn’t going down well with iOS, iPad, and iMac users, especially after these Apple ports recorded very underwhelming sales figures.
The launch of the iPhone 15 Pro lineup and its accompanying A17 Pro chipset last year brought forth enough horsepower to finally run AAA console games on a mobile phone. Many of these console-gradegames launched on the iPhone 15 Proin the months following its release, namelyDeath Stranding,Assassin’s Creed Mirage,The Division: Resurgence,Resident Evil 4, andResident Evil Village. More recently, Capcom also releasedResident Evil 7on Apple platforms, allowing users to experience more of the iconic survival horror series on their iOS, iPad, and MacOS devices.
Sadly, though, statistics have shown that theseAAA iPhone ports have commercially bombed, withResident Evil 7said to have recorded less than 2,000 sales a few weeks after it launched on Apple devices. Now, Capcom has implemented a controversial change to itsResident Evilports on iOS that has stirred contention among fans. First discovered by users on Reddit’s iOS gaming community, a recent App Store update to all threeResident Evilgames now incorporates anonline DRM check-in at startup, preventing players from booting into them without an internet connection.
Capcom May Have Forced DRM Check-In to Combat Piracy on Apple Devices
This means Apple users will face significant difficulties playingResident Evilgames on flights, or in areas that have spotty internet connectivity, such as underground train stations. Moreover, iPad users are at a bigger disadvantage, as many of them don’t opt for cellular connections, leaving Wi-Fi as their only option for internet connectivity. Capcom has yet to clarify the reasoning behind this restrictive online-only mandate for single-player titles, but fans reckon that it’s likely to combat piracy. Still, afterResident Evil 7’s pitifully low sales on iPhone 15 devices, it’s improbable that this update is going to help matters in any way.
The ability to play AAA games on the go with a mobile phone sounds tantalizing, but the situation with the iPhone 15 Pro ports has proven otherwise. Lackluster sales, high battery consumption, awkward touch control schemes, thermal and/or performance issues in some titles, and now DRM check-in at startup for theResident Evilports massively diminish the prospect of AAA gaming on mobile phones. Future iterations of Apple hardware could improve upon some of these problems, but for now, those looking for a satisfactory handheld gaming experience shouldconsider a Steam Deck or ROG Allyinstead.
