The new Crash Bandicoot mobile game, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! is up for everyone to pre-register as of today. The developer, King (known for their mobile titles such as Candy Crush and Soda Crush) opened the game up for pre-registration as well as gave us an in-depth description as to what we can expect in this mobile version of the beloved series. The description of the title in the “About this game” section of the Play Store says, “Crash Bandicoot is back, but this time he’s on the run and on mobile! That means high-speed battle runs across Wumpa Island to save the multiverse from the evil Dr. Neo Cortex; smash crates, avoid obstacles and run into your favorite characters…Not to mention battling your favorite Crash bosses, earning rewards, base building and weapon crafting – all with a customizable Crash”. The game has a playstyle akin to games like Subway Surfer and Temple Run, but promises its own spin and additions to make it unique. Besides the listed above additions, there will also be secret paths to hidden locations to unlock challenges and rewards. You’ll also be able to team up with old friends like Coco Bandicoot along the way to overcome specific challenges and missions. Multiplayer will also be another game mechanic that is sure to keep players coming back, as it’s something new to the formula. There is no release date as of yet.
As this is a mobile title and its being published by Activision, there are some points that I know need to be talked about. Microtransactions in games is one of the more notorious topics that most, if not all gamers agree, is a disease to the gaming industry. With that being said, mobile gaming is by far the biggest targeted platform when it comes to game companies capitalizing on the fact that they can, through sneaky practices, take advantage of people and their wallets. These companies strategize in ways of making their “free games” harder or more grindy, in order to make it seem worthwhile to spend a dollar here or there. In reality, people sometimes spend more than what’s within their means to be able to obtain the characters or levels they want, to complete their collection. Activision and King are some of the worst offenders when it comes to this, and the writing it seems, is already on the wall.
Pre-registering for Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, doesn’t just give you a notification or an auto download of the game on release day. By pre-registering, you’re also given a “pre-registration reward” in the form as King puts it, “A fantastic blue hyena skin for Crash”. What the developer is doing by giving people this reward, is planting a seed. Anyone who is in their targeted demographic of completionists or gamblers, will already, before playing the game, have it set in their mind that they want more. Customization is mentioned in much of the info of the game and does make it enticing, especially for die-hard Crash fans. It’s just really sad because Activision has tried ever since CTR: Nitro-Fueled to take advantage of fans’ love of the franchise, by stuffing microtransactions into places they don’t belong. There was an uproar when Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (developed by Toys For Bob) was announced just weeks ago (June 22nd), when there were rumors of microtransactions sneaking their way into a game they just don’t fit into at all. Those rumors were put to rest with an announcement from Toys For Bob (thankfully). This business practice is unnecessary, and very obviously just an attempt to grab more cash from the wallets of people that are vulnerable to their schemes.
This all just means that we as a community need to continue to stand together against the companies that want to cash in on our passion for their games. We stood up to EA’s practices and took back Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which means that our voices are heard. If we vote with our wallets, and we use our voices, they will not turn the franchises we love into gambling machines. Activision has been in the microtransaction game for a long time, but it will come to an end if they can’t figure out a middle-ground. Either way, we shall see when Crash comes to mobile.
Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! will be available through the Apple Store as well as the Play Store at launch (TBA).
