Remember when smartphones first emerged and game developers were excited to create mobile companions for their popular franchises? While some early attempts felt like blatant cash grabs, many truly enhanced the gaming experience by offering intuitive and helpful functionalities. These apps showed how mobile devices could genuinely complement traditional console and PC gaming.
But then, almost as quickly as they appeared, these valuable companion apps started fading away.
Much like the decline of features such as Kinect support or the unique DualShock 4 touchpad functions, the mobile companion app quietly became a relic of the past. It’s a loss keenly felt in modern titles like Battlefield 6. I particularly miss the old Battlefield Companion app, which allowed players to check stats and customize loadouts on the go. Without it, precious in-game time is wasted fine-tuning gear, forcing players to either leave matchmaking or frantically adjust settings during the opening moments of a Conquest match.
Battlefield 4, despite its rocky launch, famously offered a tablet-specific commander mode. This feature gave mobile players a strategic, top-down view of the battlefield, allowing them to issue commands while console and PC players engaged in the thick of the action below. Though perhaps not essential, it was an undeniably positive and unique addition to the game – a feature that, unfortunately, no longer exists, likely due to budget and resource considerations.
Visual content here would likely showcase typical in-game action from a Battlefield title, illustrating the fast-paced nature where time spent in menus is a disadvantage.
Call of Duty’s companion app offered similar benefits. While full-fledged mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile and the now-defunct Warzone Mobile are popular, they often provide a separate, yet similar, gaming experience. True companion apps, however, don’t aim to replace the main game; they’re designed to enhance it. Who hasn’t pondered how to optimize their favorite sniping loadout away from their gaming rig? Instead of jotting notes in a basic app, imagine making those critical adjustments instantly from your phone.
This useful trend wasn’t limited to competitive shooters. Action-adventure games and RPGs also explored companion app possibilities. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag delighted players with an interactive map and, my personal favorite, unlockable sea shanties that could be played anywhere. Mass Effect 3: Datapad allowed players to delve into the game’s codex on the go and even manage their squad for the final mission through its ‘Galaxy At War’ component. I cherish memories of strategizing on my bus ride to school, a convenience new players can no longer enjoy.
Further visual content would likely depict intense sports gameplay, highlighting moments where strategic playcalling is crucial.
The decline of companion apps is particularly noticeable and detrimental in sports gaming. Take Madden, for instance. Despite a limited integration with Xbox’s SmartGlass app in the past, we still rely on an honor system for local competitive play. With powerful smartphones readily available, it’s baffling why phone-based playcalling isn’t a standard feature. This wouldn’t be a mere gimmick; it would offer a demonstrably fairer and more realistic way to play competitive football by giving players access to their full playbook discreetly, rather than guessing which limited on-screen options their opponent might choose.
Ironically, the widespread adoption of smartphones might also be a reason for this decline. With the advent of cloud-gaming services, many titles are now fully playable on mobile devices. Why use an app for stats or loadouts when you can play the whole game on the go? While there are many valid reasons to still prefer companion app functionality, this perspective doesn’t seem to be a priority for game developers. Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming even extend gameplay to consoles and smart TVs, blurring the lines further. If the goal is truly to make games accessible on more devices, as platforms like Microsoft advocate, then thoughtful companion app integration should be a part of that vision.
Of course, not every companion app has been a triumph. Nintendo’s decision to separate voice chat from games on the Switch, forcing players to use the separate Nintendo Switch Online app, serves as a cautionary tale. This clunky solution resulted in low adoption and a fragmented experience, effectively curbing potentially vulgar language for younger players, but also alienating older ones who simply desire seamless communication.
It’s entirely possible that the industry pendulum will eventually swing back towards embracing widespread companion app support, once the current obsessions with AI and metaverse integration subside. Regardless of whether they can regain their ‘cool factor’ amidst these new trends, companion apps genuinely deserve a comeback. Let’s not lose the simple joys: blasting a sea shanty from Assassin’s Creed in a coffee shop to flaunt your in-game achievements, or effortlessly tweaking that obscure under-barrel foregrip attachment at 2 AM after a sudden burst of inspiration. That, ultimately, is what enriches the true gaming experience.