What’s New in Mobile Gaming? The Top Stories of December 2023
Hello, and welcome to Enjoy the entertainment and engagement of the new games 🎮, updates ⬆️, events 🎉, and awards 🏆 that captivated gamers in December 2023
Mobile gaming is also a dynamic and innovative industry that continues to evolve, offering new experiences, challenges, and rewards for players of all ages and skill levels. This month saw a variety of new products, enhancements, and events. We’re here for you. We’ve summarized what’s happening and what to look out for. Whether you like action games 🎯, adventure games 🗺️, strategy games 🧠 or puzzle games 🧩, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and discover.
Ready to dive into the world of mobile gaming? please! 😁
New Releases
December 2023 saw the launch of several new and exciting mobile games, ranging from casual to hardcore, from indie to AAA. Here are some of the best new mobile games of the month, according to Pocket Gamer:
Drinft Runner(Android)
👉 Calling all drift fans! 🚗 Crave street racing without real-world fallout? 😎 Get excited for Drift Runner, a lifelike blend of arcade thrills and simulation, coming soon to app stores, courtesy of Road Burn Games — makers of Burnout Masters. 🙌
Picture ruling the road in your speed car, finding secret drift locales, challenging rivals, and experiencing city and countryside alike. 🌆🌄 An ever-changing weather system ensures variety in each drive, making it excitingly unique. ☀️🌧️❄️
Customize your car using unique models, colors, decals, wheels, and interchangeable parts. 🚘 Experience how these changes impact your car’s performance! 💯 Beyond being a game, Drift Runner fosters a community. 🤝 Connect with fellow drifters, join online tournaments, create or join crews, display your drift skills, share content, and enjoy the camaraderie. 🥳 Climb the leaderboards, earn rewards, and engage in special events! 🏆 Prepare for the 2024 launch by pre-registering on Google Play Store and QooApp Game Store. 📲 If drifting isn’t just a sport but a lifestyle for you, Drift Runner is a must-play. 😍 Ready to light up the roads? 🔥
Battle Stars : 4v4 TDM & BR(iOS, Android):
👉 Do you like shooting games? 🎮 Do you want to play with your friends online? 🙌 Then you should try Battle Stars : 4v4 TDM & BR, a new mobile game by SuperGaming. 😍 It is a fun and fast-paced game, where you can choose from different modes, such as 4v4 Team DeathMatch, 3-player Squad Battles, and Battle Royale. 🔥 You can also customize your hero, your weapons, and your skills, and compete with other players around the world. 🌎 Battle Stars : 4v4 TDM & BR is available for download on the Google Play Store and the App Store. 📲 Don’t miss this exciting game, and join the battle today! 💥
CAPTAIN TSUBASA: ACE (iOS, Android):
👉 Do you love football and manga? ⚽️📚 Do you want to play as Tsubasa Ozora and other famous characters? 🌟 Then you should try CAPTAIN TSUBASA: ACE, a new mobile game by Program Twenty Three. 😍 It is a realistic and exciting game, where you can use special skills and techniques on the pitch. ⚡️ You can also follow the original story and scenes from the manga and anime, with 3D graphics and animations. 🎥 You can choose from different game modes, such as Story Mode, Online Mode, and Event Mode. 🎮 You can also customize your team and players, and create your own dream team. 💯 CAPTAIN TSUBASA: ACE is available for download on the Google Play Store and the App Store. 📲 Don’t miss this amazing game, and join the football adventure today! 🙌
Updates
Many existing mobile games received major updates in December 2023, adding new content, features, and improvements. Here are some of the most notable updates of the month:
PUBG Mobile Version 3.0 Beta Update Announcement
- Improved Beta Match Environment: The topic describes the improved strategy for combatting malicious behavior in the beta, such as imposing strict penalties on cheaters, to ensure a fair game environment for all beta players.
- Basic Experience Improvements: The topic lists the improvements made to the character movements, bolt action sniper rifles, and vehicle driving for a smoother and more realistic gaming experience.
- Metro Royale: The topic introduces the new map, mechanics, bosses, enemies, items, and talent tree updates for the Metro Royale mode, which features a snowy environment, tactical alarm, advanced supply secret rooms, vertical ziplines, and more.
- New Themed Mode: The topic reveals the new “Shadow Force” themed mode, which includes new melee weapons and tactical items, such as the Shadow Blade, Skytether Hook, and Shadow Scout. The page also explains the new Respawn Battle mechanic, which gives eliminated players a chance to respawn and return to the main battleground.
- WOW Updates: The topic details the updates and adjustments made to the WOW mode, such as group editing, new devices and gameplay, and other feature improvements.
Genshin Impact Version 4.3 Update “Roses and Muskets”
This part introduces the new characters, equipment, domain, main story, and other update details of the latest version of the game. It also mentions the maintenance and issue fix compensation for the players.
- New Characters: This part describes the two new characters, Navia and Chevreuse, who are both 5-star characters with Geo and Pyro elements respectively. It also explains their skills, constellations, and specialties.
- New Equipment: This part showcases the new weapons and artifacts that are added in the new version, such as the 5-star claymore Verdict and the 4-star artifact set Nighttime Whispers in the Echoing Woods. It also tells how to obtain them through wishes or events.
- New Domain: This part reveals the new domain, An Ancient Ruined City, that can be unlocked by completing certain quests. It also states that the domain can drop the new artifact sets Song of Days Past and Nighttime Whispers in the Echoing Woods.
- New Main Story: This part announces the new story quest for Navia and the new world quest for the new version. It also gives the unlock criteria and rewards for completing them.
- Other Update Details: This part lists the various optimizations, adjustments, and fixes that are made to the game’s interface, functions, performance, and gameplay. It also includes some new features, such as the Artifact Auto-Lock and Filter Function, the Multi-Select Mode for the Serenitea Pot, and the Recommended Sets for Artifacts.
WILD RIFT PATCH NOTES 4.4D
- Ziggs Rework: This part introduces a rework for the champion Ziggs, who is now able to use his ultimate ability, Mega Inferno Bomb, more frequently and with more impact. The rework also changes some of his other abilities and stats to balance his power.
- New Skins: This part showcases new skins for some champions, such as Snow Day Ziggs, Winter Wonder Lulu, and Frostfire Annie. The skins are themed around winter and snow, and have new visual and sound effects.
- New Event: This part announces a new event called Snowdown Showdown, which is a seasonal celebration of winter and snow. The event features new missions, rewards, game modes, and shop discounts for players to enjoy.
- Balance Updates: This part lists the balance changes for some champions, items, and runes in the game. The changes are aimed at improving the game’s health and diversity, and addressing some issues or bugs.
Events
December 2023 was a festive month for mobile gamers, with many events, both online and offline, to celebrate the end of the year. Here are some of the most remarkable events of the month:
- DreamHack Atlanta 2023 (December 15–17): The largest digital festival in the world, where thousands of gamers, streamers, developers, and fans gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, to enjoy three days of gaming, esports, cosplay, music, and more. The event featured tournaments, exhibitions, panels, workshops, and concerts, as well as a mobile gaming zone, where attendees could play and compete in various mobile games.
- Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship (December 18–19): The grand finale of the global esports competition, where the best teams from each region battled for the title of world champions and a share of the $1 million prize pool. The event was held in Los Angeles and California also streamed live on YouTube and Twitch. The event was won by China’s Wolves, who defeated India’s Team Vitality in the final match also won $400,000 in prize money.
- Squid Game: The Finals (December 25–31): A special event based on the hit Netflix series, where players could participate in a series of deadly games inspired by the show, such as Red Light Green Light, Honeycomb, Tug of War, and more. The event was available in several mobile games, such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Among Us, and attracted over 10 million players worldwide. The winner was MAI, also known as player 287.
Industry News
December 2023 was also a month of significant news and developments in the mobile gaming industry. Here are some of the most important stories of the month:
- Versus Evil shuts down and lays off all 13 staff: The indie publisher, known for games such as The Banner Saga, Pillars of Eternity, and Guild of Dungeoneering, announced its closure and the termination of all its employees, citing financial difficulties and market changes. The publisher’s games will remain available on digital platforms, but their future updates and support are uncertain.
- Tencent and NetEase lose $80 billion in market value as China cracks down on game monetisation tactics: The two Chinese gaming giants suffered a massive drop in their stock prices, as the Chinese government imposed new regulations and restrictions on the gaming industry, such as limiting the number of online games, banning loot boxes and gacha mechanics, and capping the amount of money that players can spend on games. The move is part of China’s broader campaign to curb the social and economic impact of gaming addiction, especially among minors.
- Tilting Point, Hilfiger Ventures and Brandible prepare to launch AI fashion game: The mobile publisher, the venture capital firm, and the branding agency announced their partnership to create a new mobile game, where players can design, create, and sell their own virtual fashion collections, using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The game, which is expected to launch in 2024, aims to combine gaming, fashion, and social media, and appeal to a wide and diverse audience.
Conclusion
That’s all for this month’s newsletter. We hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something new about the mobile gaming industry. We wish you a happy and prosperous new year, and we look forward to bringing you more news, trends, and events in 2024. Until then, happy gaming!
