When the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were announced to support AAA titles from Capcom, such as Resident Evil 4 Remake, Resident Evil 7, and Resident Evil Village, it set the mobile gaming community abuzz. The prospect of experiencing games originally designed for high-end PCs and consoles on a handheld device was tantalizing. Imagine diving into the horrors of Resident Evil while on a lengthy flight or during your daily commute. However, a recent move by Capcom has introduced a significant limitation that might disappoint many iOS gamers: these games now require an online connection to start.
This revelation emerged on the iOSGaming subreddit, where user Hall_Such posted a screenshot showing a new limitation message from Capcom: “Due to changes to the startup process, an internet connection is now required when starting this app.” This has understandably sparked frustration among the community, especially since other platforms like Steam and Epic Games allow offline gameplay for such titles.
The impact of this decision could be severe, considering Resident Evil 7 had already struggled on iOS, reportedly earning less than $30,000 in sales. This was surprising given the game’s critical acclaim for returning to its survival horror roots. With this new online requirement, it’s likely that gamers will be even less willing to invest in these titles, potentially leading to a surge in refund requests.
The issue could be particularly problematic for iPad users, who might have been relying on these games to pass time during long flights or extended commutes. Now, they’ll need to look for alternative entertainment options. For Capcom, reversing this decision might be worth considering, as the ability to run such games on powerful iOS devices is rendered moot if players cannot access them without an internet connection.
The key takeaway here is that while technological advancements have made it possible to run complex games on mobile devices, user-friendly policies and accessibility are crucial for their success. As the gaming community expresses its discontent, it remains to be seen if Capcom will respond to these concerns and make the gameplay experience more flexible for its mobile audience.
