Welcome to the 347th edition of Android Apps Weekly! Here are the big headlines from the past week:
- The beta version of the official Xbox app is now streaming games on your phone from your Xbox. It works the same as the Xbox Insiders Program, except that the Insiders Program has stopped working. This is a pretty big step towards game streaming with Xbox. Microsoft also made waves when it bought ZeniMax (parent company of Bethesda) for $ 7.5 billion earlier this week. Click on the two links to learn more.
- Amazon announced Luna this week. It's a new game streaming service that is similar to Google Stadia. People buy a controller, plug it into a Fire TV device, and stream games. The new service offers 50 games at launch, 1080p and 60fps games (with the premium version) and 4k streaming which will be available later. Luna also integrates with Twitch. This is a pretty good competitor in this space and should give Stadia a run for its money.
- Sling TV launched a new social distancing feature this week. The app now has Watch Party, a video chat service that allows you to chat with people while watching the same show on TV. Unfortunately, the feature isn't available on every platform you can get Sling TV on, but it's at least available in the app version. The new feature brings it into conflict with other streaming services with shared viewing experiences.
- The US has temporarily suspended the ban on WeChat and TikTok. TikTok found itself with Oracle and Walmart as buyers who should keep it from being left in the hot seat for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, a judge has prevented the United States from banning WeChat from app stores for the time being. The TikTok development is huge in that it was supposed to be sold to Microsoft and then it didn't. Trump said he approved the Oracle deal so this whole saga could finally be over.
- Epic Games and Spotify are teaming up to drive major reforms in the App Store. Both companies strongly oppose the 30% cut that Apple and Google are making in the App Store and Google Play, respectively, and want a bigger cut for themselves (and supposedly for other developers). Match (developer of most of the dating apps you know) and Tile also joined this new coalition known as the App Fairness Coalition. Click the link to learn more about their requirements.
Main battle tank2
Price: Play for free
Battle Tank2 is an arcade PvP game with a series of tanks. Players play three versus three battles against other players in real time using only their tank to ensure your safety. There are additional tanks and various upgrades that you can unlock as you progress. You're basically fighting the opposing team until someone wipes out the other side's main base. It's not an overly complicated or deep game, and it's pretty easy to get into. The game doesn't have too much tutorial and the fights are relatively quick. However, the game is a bit buggy and unpolished. We recommend waiting a bit to see if the developers fix it later, but it has a good foundation.
Kippo
Price: Free / $ 9.99 per month / $ 54.99 per year
Kippo is a dating app especially for gamers. The app will ask you about things like the games you like and other things like that. It then brings you together with people who play the same games and like the same stuff. It's not a difficult requirement, but it's a nice idea nonetheless. The app is free to use for basic things like profiling and basic matching. However, there is a premium subscription option with more features. It's kind of a gamer version of Tinder, but it goes a little deeper than just physical attraction. Either way, it's a decent option in the dating field for gamers.
BTS Universe Story
Price: Play for free
BTS Universe Story is a novel style visual simulation game. Players choose one of seven characters (all boys) and make various decisions to influence the outcome of their lives. You can also create your own stories, and to be honest, that's the real appeal of this app. The story creator is pretty decent and lets you do your own thing instead of what the game tells you. Some of the stories need to be purchased first, but this is a decent, laid-back game for life simulation fans.
Cubasis 3
Price: Free Trial / $ 54.99
Cubasis 3 (from the makers of Cubase) is an audio DAW that was launched a few months ago. The start was super buggy though and we wanted to give the developers time before we write about it. Cubase is one of the most popular DAWs on PC, so it's a big deal that it has an Android version. The trial version (linked via the button) gives you 30 minutes of demo time to see if you like it. You can restart the demo and repeat as many times as you want. In terms of features, this one comes full-fledged, with unlimited MIDI tracks, tons of features, and a sky-high price tag. We strongly recommend reading the demo first.
Harry Potter: Riddles & Spells
Price: Play for free
Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells is a new arcade match-three game from Zynga. It plays like most match-three games. You match different shapes together to remove them from the board until you win the level. There are the same old special abilities as in most of the games in the genre, but all of them are Harry Potter themed. The skills are upgradeable as you play and are collectibles that can help you in the game too. You can also relive old Harry Potter moments with the game. It's not overly resourceful, but it's a perfectly solid match-three game if that's what you're into.
Thanks for reading. Check out these too:If we've missed any major Android app or game releases, let us know in the comments!
