For mobile gaming news this week, World of Tanks Blitz gets a Reforged update, mobile RPG Gods & Demons has launched, and HoYoverse partners with SIDE Global.
Mobile Gaming has had another busy week to ring in the New Year. This week, World of Tanks Blitz, the cross-platform free-to-play tank warfare title gets a reforged update, bringing a new chapter for fans to roll into. A brand new idle RPG has launched this week from the minds over at Com2uS, and it’s called Gods & Demons, giving players a new title to build the ideal party of characters in. Lastly, HoYoverse has announced a new partnership with SIDE Global to work on the English voice recording for Genshin Impact, adding a new level of quality to the English voice acting cast set in Teyvat this week in mobile gaming.
This Week in Mobile Gaming For January 18
World of Tanks Blitz‘ Reforged Update Brings New Visuals With UE5
MS-1 Studio unleashed the next update for mobile gaming MMO, World of Tanks Blitz, this week bringing new visuals and a new chapter to the forefront of the battlefield. The Reforged Update brings Unreal Engine 5 visuals, enhanced gameplay physics, and notably, a redesigned progression and Commander system.
The redesigned Commander system gives players access to a myriad of new leaders complete with unique backstory lore and abilities to control the battlefield. MS-1 also promises player progress attained before the update will translate into the Reforged Update. Further, the new progression system organizes vehicles into themed groups to give players an easier time with organizing their vehicle hangar, streamlining building upon tank collections.
General Manager at MS-1 Studio and Wargaming, Thaine Lyman calls Reforged “a big milestone for the World of Tanks Blitz community,” continuing with “Over the past two years, the entire MS-1 team has worked hard to deliver an update that transforms the game, opens new possibilities for innovation, and delivers a modernized, visually stunning experience while staying true to what players love most. We’re excited to invite everyone to be a part of this new journey!”
Fans can sign up for an exclusive first look at the new features on the official website. The first mobile gaming Ultra Test (the World of Tanks Blitz equivalent of ‘Beta Access’) is set to begin on January 24, so fans can test out the new digs then.
The New Idle Mobile RPG Gods & Demons has Arrived!
The publishers of mobile gaming’s Summoner’s War, Com2uS and developers MOYE TECHNOLOGY, has unleashed their newest mobile gaming offering this week. An idle RPG called Gods & Demons is here, and Com2uS promises “unique strategic depth” hidden behind the easy-going nature of idle RPG gameplay. Gods & Demons boasts a compelling narrative tucked behind collecting, combining, and developing a diverse array of Heroes.
The objective begins as easy-going as possible, players will have to select six of the available heroes to form their ‘starter deck’, and afterwards, players will be tasked with building their team with the help of four main character classes that will ring a bell for any RPG fan: the Tank, Offense (DPS-equivalent), Magic, and Support. Forming good synergy while juggling the available classes is the key to success in Gods & Demons, and like most other mobile idle RPGs (looking at you, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes), players are encouraged to ‘break the game’ with excellent team synergy.
Heroes can be levelled up, evolved, and equipped with gear to enhance their stats and skills. Fans will be treated to special events that grant the opportunity to recruit limited-edition characters giving players a powerful advantage in battle. The ‘idle’ designation comes from MOYE TECHNOLOGY’s desire to reduce repetitiveness during a grinding session, adding one tap play feature to the equation. This lets the player focus on levelling, team building, competition, PvP, and the story-driven scenario mode. Fans can find out more about the release on their official website where a free download page can be found to jump in to Gods & Demons today.
SIDE Global and HoYoverse Join Forces to Bring Genshin Impact a New Voice
This week SIDE Global — a provider of audio services for the global entertainment market — has announced a new partnership with HoYoverse to bring voice production to Genshin Impact, breathing life into the world of Teyvat’s characters. The announcement was made on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, and it appears that SIDE Global has been helping with production before version 5.2 launched.
SIDE Global have a large resume, having worked on massive AAA titles such as Alan Wake 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West, with experience working on titles similar to Genshin Impact, providing the voicework for the mobile gaming anime-inspired title Wuthering Waves.
It’s worth mentioning HoYoverse has had issues with their billed voice production company, Formosa, in the past with Voice Actors claiming they have had to struggle with their bills due to unpaid wages in 2023. Namely, the VA that plays titular character Paimon, Corina Boettger. An X post from July 2023 can be seen below, outlining the issue.
Since July 26 (two weeks later), SAG-AFTRA union members have gone on strike to combat these issues, and they remain on strike today to protect their voices against AI-related theft and the inability to reach a deal for 18 months of ongoing negotiation. Genshin Impact has been affected by this strike since, with some voice lines for actors in-game going mute due to the voice actors involved with the strike. SIDE Global notably operates in the UK, avoiding the US strike-related issues.
On top of the voice production announcement, game developers for Genshin Impact, Cognosphere has found itself on the wrong side of the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations. The FTC alleged that Cognosphere continuously marketed their gacha-style loot boxes to users —of all ages— without properly disclosing odds of getting specific items.
Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levine said “Genshin Impact deceived children, teens, and other players into spending hundreds of dollars on prizes they stood little chance of winning,”` continuing with “Companies that deploy these dark-pattern tactics will be held accountable if they deceive players, particularly kids and teens, about the true costs of in-game transactions.” While this feels like a similar scenario to the $520 million Epic Games lawsuit, Cognosphere has agreed to pay $20 million and to block children under 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent to settle allegations.
[UPDATE: Jan 20]: Shortly after this article went live, HoYoverse reached out to CGMagazine with a statement regarding the FTC’s claims against Genshin Impact. HoYoverse published their settlement statement on their website, it can be read here.
In the statement, HoYoverse says “Animation-style games and shows are well-received by global audiences and players across various ages. Genshin Impact is a popular free-to-play, anime-style game designed for older teens and adults. While we believe many of the FTC’s allegations are inaccurate, we agreed to this settlement because we value the trust of our community and share a commitment to transparency for our players. Under the agreement, we will introduce new age-gate and parental consent protections for children and young teens and increase our in-game disclosures around virtual currency and rewards for players in the U.S. in the coming months.”
Even with the settlement in place, it remains inconclusive if the original voice actors will return due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, but at least character voices will have a new production studio to lead them.
That just about wraps the mobile gaming news for the week of January 18. Mobile gaming enthusiasts can check out CGMagazine’s article showcasing five great games to play on iPhone 16 for more mobile gaming content.
