Did you know that the iOS and Android version of the Ace Attorney Trilogy is an entirely different game to the one on 3DS, Switch, PlayStation, and PC? Initially released for mobile in 2012, Ace Attorney Trilogy HD is just a high-definition remaster of the original games, whereas the console version (which dropped the HD) also features an overhaul of the UI, higher quality assets, multiple save slots, and improved examination/investigation UI to bring the old games more in line with the later ones.
In the interest of keeping things simple, Capcom will be removing the mobile-only version of the game from stores, and replacing it with the console version on iOS and Android as of June 9th, 2022.
What does this mean for you if you already own the games? Much like any game that you downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, you'll still have access to it — but after June 9th, you won't be able to purchase any further DLC. You will be able to re-download the games and DLC as long as you have already purchased them, except for the Android version, which will only let you re-download DLC if it was purchased before February 13th, 2015.
This "old" version of the trilogy will also not receive further updates, so it will be incompatible with future versions of iOS or Android. Anyone who owns the "old" trilogy will not be offered a free upgrade to the "new" one, and saves and progress will not be carried over.
You can check out the full Q&A (in Japanese) over on Capcom's Japanese website.
Does this discontinuation affect you? Will you be re-downloading the HD version, or waiting for the console version to come out this Summer? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 29
Well since I'm not sure how much different the two are, I'm guessing this is a good thing right? Its better then them just removing it off the app store right?
Its always so annoying when they release a newer version and stop supporting the original, it usually means the next iOS update you’d have to purchase the newer version…
Why is this Nintendo news? I'm just curious is all.
I think people forget how bad game "ownership" is on mobile devices.
@mike_intv Ha! I will never forget how bad it is. It's worse than "own" games on Steam.
@mike_intv Yeah Moonlighter just got removed from the iOS store with no real explanation from the developer.
Suppose it was bound to happen, with how ugly the old version looks on current devices.
@Link41x because the AA series was primarily a Nintendo series (GBA/DS/3DS) until it started appearing on other formats in the 2010s
Hopefully making this kind of move is a step toward porting 4 through 6 to consoles. Wish that'd have happened before GAA honestly.
@Snatcher the original mobile version of the trilogy has ugly borders, characters lack frames of animation, and the graphics scale weirdly on most modern devices, making the text and images look really ugly.
The AA trilogy on consoles has been the superior version then? I have this on the Switch & 3DS already. Would never play it on iOS anyway, tbf
Oh neat, let's hope they skimp on the security so I can side load them.
@mike_intv I think you forget how easy it is to install mobile games; easier than roms and the sites aren't targeted for take down non stop.
When are we getting TRAUMA CENTRE trilogy on Switch?!
@Link41x it isn't!
@Eel So its a good thing! Thanks.
@Snatcher It’s good if you haven’t bought them yet and want to play them on your phone. If you already own them, then they’re basically going to become unplayable at some point when your OS updates.
I have played AA 1 & 2 on my phone - and thought it was a perfectly fine way to play them. I bought AA3 ages ago but not got around to playing it yet. This means I could at some point soon get locked out of playing it.
Admittedly, I’ve had about two or three years to do so. Guess I’m going to take it on now.
Well my first time playing the trilogy was on Switch so I'm grand. Shame both can't coexist, but then again it would be extremely redundant to have them both there.
Can't wait for the Stop Skeletons From Fighting video on this in like 3 years time btw.
Is there a big difference between the two? I didn't even know. Interesting.
@Clyde_Radcliffe : Aww... man! I would love that, though it should be considered a tetralogy as there is a fourth distinct entry in the series, titled Trauma Team (which was sadly exclusive to Japan/USA).
I've only played New Blood, and it was terribly difficult with the Wii Remote/Nunchuk. A game like this demands the use of a touch screen.
I thought the Wii U would have been perfect for the series and could have made awesome use of the TV/gamepad set-up, but sadly, we didn't get anything. Even the DS/Wii installments were never released on Wii U. (if memory serves)
"...it will be incompatible with future versions of iOS or Android."
One of many reasons why I no longer buy games on mobile.
No free upgrade is a scumbag move from Capcom imo.
Yeah they should at least offer a discount or something for owners of the old version.
@Silly_G well, it's not all that different from a Game Boy game being incompatible with a Nintendo DS. There will still exist devices compatible with the old version even after the OS outgrows it, so it won't be completely lost to time for now.
The game was updated and received compatibility patches for a decade. So it's not like they did some sort of rug pull.
@Eel : That isn’t a fair comparison at all. The situation with mobile devices is such that an updated OS will render existing software on that device incompatible unless the developer steps in and updates the software themselves, and considering the sheer volume of software on mobile storefronts, this isn’t remotely feasible.
My phone and tablet are quite old now (both released in late 2013) and much of the paid software that I have bought over the years no longer work on account of the system firmware being updated. This isn’t a matter of upgrading to a new model and my old software no longer working, which would be understandable enough, but to be rendered incompatible on the same device?!
A fairer analogy would be that of a scenario where older Switch games no longer function on the same hardware following a system update (and shifting the onus of compatibility to developers), which of course would be ludicrous.
@Silly_G maybe your personal phone can’t use the software anymore, but that doesn’t stop people with phones running older OS versions from using them. Gaming systems don’t really evolve in the same way phones do, with them, the software updates are directly tied to the hardware, with phones, the software keeps evolving way beyond the hardware, and sometimes things do change in a significant way that prevents old software from staying compatible.
I’m not sure how it’s handled on android, but on iOS I’m fairly certain there’s times when these compatibility updates are done automatically with little input from the developer.
We can’t directly compare both types of devices either direction to be honest. However, I’m willing to bet your smartphone from 2013 is no longer receiving major OS updates, and as such is compatible with many games that newer phones (and their own developers) have already left behind. (It’s in a way, their “Game Boy”)
I've never gotten into these games, which ones would be best to start with?
Wouldn't the reason why they are getting replace was cause those games sucks and the console versions are the better ones which is why they are getting replaced with those.
@SwitchVogel if you want to play for the story, then I do suppose the trilogy would be the best place to start.
I’ll always have a soft spot for the first Ace Attorney game and Ghost Trick on iOS. I don’t think it was the trilogy of Ace Attorney, just the first one, so must have been an earlier release that’s long since been de-listed.
Anyway, it was these versions that got me into these games before I owned a DS or 3DS, and I now own all Ace Attorney games on DS (as well as Ghost Trick). They’re such great games, and they work well on smartphones so makes sense they’ve released them there. I definitely recommend Ghost Trick on iOS to anyone who can’t play it on DS or isn’t willing to fork out the price on the second hand market.
@SwitchVogel Personally, I would start with the Ace Attorney/Pheonix Wright Trilogy. Interestingly though, my two youngest kids (young teen gamers) got into AA a little bit from playing Professor Layton vs Pheonix Wright. They were Prof Layton fans.
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