Photo credit: www.theverge.com
Apple’s App Store has once again allowed an unofficial mobile version of a popular game to be listed, this time involving Blue Prince. Shortly after this article was composed, the port in question vanished from the App Store.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the developers at Dogubomb and publisher Raw Fury acknowledged receiving alerts about iOS versions claiming to be Blue Prince. Presently, the game is only accessible on platforms like Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Before the listing was taken down, a simple search for Blue Prince led me directly to one instance of the game on the App Store, appearing as the first result. The game’s icon resembled what one might expect for a mobile adaptation, and it included screenshots that seemed genuinely from Blue Prince, alongside a description that matched the original on Steam.
However, the listed seller was identified as “Samet Altinay,” a name with no apparent connection to Blue Prince other than this app. Additionally, the copyright was attributed to “DogBomb,” notably missing a “u,” raising further questions.
I purchased the now-removed unofficial version of Blue Prince for $9.99 and installed it on my iPhone 16 Pro for a quick trial. Within minutes, it became clear that this version was only slightly altered from the authentic game, featuring modifications like a virtual joystick to enhance the mobile experience. However, I quickly encountered a significant glitch: attempting to walk through a door from the Entrance Hall caused my character to fall through the floor.
Apple has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment. Prior to its removal, this unofficial mobile adaptation ranked as the #8 paid app in the Entertainment category on iOS. At the time of the article’s publication, it garnered just one three-star review, which also mentioned experiencing a bug leading to a fall through the floor.
For individuals who purchased this unofficial version, seeking a refund may be advisable. Apple offers guidance on how to request refunds on its website.
Currently, Dogubomb and Raw Fury have not released details about an official iOS port of Blue Prince. They stated in their post, “We have no news about other platforms at this time, but if that changes we will make an official announcement. While we investigate, we would kindly ask that you do not purchase or download these apps.”
This incident is not isolated; Apple has previously permitted clones of popular games like Wordle and Palworld to populate its App Store.
Update, April 28th: The Blue Prince iOS clone that was identified has been removed from the App Store.
Source
www.theverge.com