Android and iOS client-side release dates

[topaz moss]

Updates across different platforms seem to have been a long‑standing pain point for quite some time now. The gap between updates for players on two different platforms sometimes reaches several weeks, if not more (I haven’t counted precisely). It may sound like it’s not that critical — but I completely disagree. After all, this applies not only to bug fixes or cosmetic improvements, but also to major updates.

One of the latest major client‑side updates that were also released with delays on iOS were the ones related to land capture. Perhaps Anguish 2.0 was delayed too (I don’t remember exactly).

At the time of writing this thread, the game version on Android is 3.20.10, while on iOS it’s still 3.20.5.

I understand that all this might be due to different platform checks: Apple might reject something that Google approves, and vice versa. I also understand that developers want to release updates as early as possible — and that’s commendable.

Still, it sometimes feels like we (iOS players) are being forgotten, as I’ve noticed that certain versions are simply skipped.

But perhaps we could still consider reducing this gap? I don’t know how the update publication process is organized, but I hope there’s a point that simultaneously guarantees the update’s release for the iOS platform and leaves a time buffer for publishing it on the Android platform.

Alternatively, there’s another option: releasing the update first on iOS and then on Android — especially considering that updates always reach Android users on time.

Let’s keep this thread free from platform holy wars — which one is better. Avoid such messages, please.

[neon light]

While I have a very small experience with this - afaik it's the case for pretty much all apps, even the biggest ones and the team/devs pretty much can't do anything here unfortunately

[static rover]

Unfortunately, Apple just doesn’t make rapid updates easy - the current quest tracker has needed a few patches and will be released in iOS when bug-free and ready for Apple’s review process.

For gameplay updates, such as Anguish 2.0, we already ensure that both platforms get the update at the same time (or as close as possible). For non-essential updates such as the current one, going through Apple’s process may not be an immediate priority

[static rover]

Correct, yeah, this definitely isn’t limited to Orna

For numbers sake:

Google’s average time to review and release an Orna update: 40 minutes

Apple’s average time to review and release an Orna update: 48 hours

[lusty arch]

It would be nice to have feature parity regarding push notifications. Android has sound and vibration for push alerts while iOS notifications are delivered silently regardless of system settings.

[pure geyser]

What prevents you from submitting updates that are not automatically enabled after publication but are “waiting” for a command from the server? So that you can wait for the release on both platforms — and only then enable the update for all users at the same time?

[pure geyser]

Well, when the new conquest system was introduced, Android users got such a huge head start over Apple users that it's still relevant today

[static rover]

That’s exactly what we do, in the Anguish example above

[static rover]

For public beta, yes, as Apple’s rules do not allow our public betas.

Production release was the same for both platforms

[green hedge]

From what I understand the app review process for apple can be a bit unpredictable at times. I've read about situations where it has taken 5 days or more for other developers. Not to mention them being more strict and quick to deny things.

I can understand the concept of building content in advance and setting it to toggle on exactly at x time but that would also take away from some dev time and you gotta remember that northern forge studios is not big. I think that is much more feasible with larger studios who have the extra manpower to get the tweaks and what not rushed in.