Android Game Vs iOS Game Development – What Should a Developer Choose?
When it comes to choosing a smartphone, you generally have to choose between mobile devices that are compatible with two main platforms: iOS and Android. The other operating systems have not been included in the calculation, as they form a very small part of the equation. So, with the tremendous growth in the mobile gaming industry, future developers are faced with the big question of choosing between iOS and Android game development. Both platforms have their pros and cons when it comes to game development. Let’s take a look at the differences between these two platforms in this regard.
1.Development
Android takes longer than iOS. One of the main reasons for this is the testing process. While iOS games have to be tested on a small number of devices (iPhones and iPads), Android games have to be tested on a wide variety of devices and this is time consuming. Again, after the test, when the bugs have been found and fixed, the test should be run again for all those devices. As a result, Android game development requires a considerable amount of time compared to iOS game development.
2. Devices compatible with the operating system
One has to consider the devices supported by these platforms before making the decision which platform to use for game development. If you’re into Android game development, you should think about developing for the vast number of Android devices available on the market. There are many companies that make Android devices and all these devices come with different specifications regarding the hardware used, screen size, screen resolution, etc. So when one develops an Android game, one must ensure that the game works on a multitude of devices.
Apple, on the other hand, produces a limited number of devices and therefore iOS game development is not that complicated as you have to consider a much smaller variety of devices compared to Android.
3. Income generation
A mobile app generates revenue in various ways, including app purchase, in-app purchases, advertising, subscription, etc. It has been found that the App Store (the app distribution platform on iOS) generates more than double the revenue generated by Google Play (the app distribution platform on Android). This is because most of the apps and games available on the App Store are premium and users have to pay to download and use them. However, when it comes to the number of downloads, Google Play scores over iOS due to the option to download free apps and games, as well as the huge number of Android users. This is not to say that there are no premium games available on Google Play; however, they are much less compared to iOS. Revenue generation in Android apps is mainly due to app purchases, cost per install, ads, and by offering a paid version of apps with more features.
It is totally up to the developer how he wants to make money from the game. However, for faster ROI, iOS seems to be the ideal platform for game development.
4. Design
When it comes to games, the more real they look, the more immersive they are. And this is one area where Android excels over iOS. While games on iOS devices look flat and you feel like playing “another 2D game on a flat surface”, Google’s UI elements provide seams, shadows, and edges, ensuring the game looks smooth. more authentic.
5. Investment
iOS games require one to use the XCode IDE with the iOS SDK. XCode IDE runs only on MacBooks and to develop an iOS game, one would need to buy a MacBook with a fairly high configuration, which will turn out to be an expensive affair.
Android games require one to download Android Studio and start coding the app. Android Studio is compatible with almost all devices and you don’t need to spend a lot of money as an initial investment.
So after analysis, it seems that iOS has a slight advantage over Android as a game development platform. However, it is all up to the developer as to which platform to choose. Today, there are also cross-platform development tools available that allow Android and iOS game development on a single platform.
