Vogel has stated in interviews that the return on investment (ROI) for Android ports is often negative for premium indie games. Piracy rates on Android are notoriously higher. Support requests due to the "thousands of screen sizes and GPU drivers" cost more in developer hours than the revenue from sales.
What could "exclusive" mean in this context? Not just "not on iOS"—because that would be financial suicide for a small developer. Rather, an exclusive feature set. Android has unique hardware. An exclusive Avernum could feature native stylus support for Samsung Galaxy S Ultras and Fold series. Imagine navigating the tactical grid with the precision of an S-Pen, or playing the game in "tablet mode" on a foldable’s inner screen, then closing it for quick inventory management on the cover display. 2. Native Chromecast & Save Syncing An Android exclusive could leverage Google’s ecosystem. Start a dungeon crawl on your Pixel phone during your commute, walk into your living room, cast the game to your TV (with Bluetooth controller support), and continue seamlessly. iOS has AirPlay, but Google’s low-latency casting SDK is superior for turn-based RPGs. 3. A "Play Anywhere" Deal with the Google Play Games PC Client This is the killer app. Google is aggressively pushing the Google Play Games beta for Windows PCs. An Avernum Android exclusive could mean: buy it once on the Play Store, play it on your Android phone, on your Android tablet, and on your Windows PC via the Google Play Games client. A true "exclusive" ecosystem lock-in that iOS cannot match. 4. Modding Support via Google Drive Android is inherently more open. An exclusive version could include a dedicated "Mods" folder accessible via Android’s file system, allowing players to install custom scenarios—a feature Avernum fans have craved for decades. iOS sandboxing makes this nearly impossible. Why No Developer Has Made the Leap If the idea sounds so great, why doesn't the "Avernum Android Exclusive" exist? avernum android exclusive
Let’s delve into the underworld. Before we discuss exclusivity, we must understand the game. Avernum is a series of open-ended, turn-based fantasy RPGs set in a massive subterranean prison empire. Think Fallout meets Game of Thrones , but everyone lives in caves and has a grudge against the surface dwellers. Vogel has stated in interviews that the return