Feral News

Building Rome: The help function of ROME: Total War on iPad

Rome wasn’t built in a day – and for iPad it took a while. Here we describe our journey in a series of five enlightening dev diaries, from our first experiments with touch controls right through to completing the full and glorious experience of ROME: Total War on iPad.

When ROME: Total War reached the hands of testers who’d never played it before, some found it tricky to master Total War mechanics and touch controls at the same time. So we teamed up with the Advisor and set about making it easier.

First we took the help text displayed next to the Advisor and made it full-screen so it couldn’t be missed. We also implemented an archive feature, so you can swipe back through the help to refresh your memory.

After upping the accessibility of the help text, we implemented some extra crib-sheet style help for anyone needing a quick 'how-to' for their current predicament. As well as a manual in the pause menu displaying a list of controls, we added context-sensitive guides to show you what each on-screen element does. All you have to do to bring up these guides is hold your finger over the Advisor for a few seconds, anywhere in the game.

We made sure to keep veterans happy too, of course: the advice level can be lowered or switched off entirely.

ROME: Total War is now available for iPad on the App Store. Advance to the minisite for videos, screenshots, and tips on building and ruling your empire.

Make the Leap — Tomb Raider Out Now on iOS & Android

Witness the birth of a legend in Tomb Raider — now available on iOS & Android for $19.99 / £12.99 / €15,99.

A freak storm turns the expedition of a lifetime into a battle to survive for a young Lara Croft. Now, shipwrecked and stranded on a long-forgotten isle, the mystery that once shrouded its shores gives way to a grim reality...

If she is to survive the many trials of Yamatai and its murderous inhabitants, Lara must abandon innocence, overcome adversity and emerge as the Tomb Raider.

Hunt for materials and craft equipment to survive the elements. Battle Yamatai’s crazed cultists and ruthless mercenaries. Delve into the jungle and solve the puzzles within its ancient ruins.

Tomb Raider features intuitive touch controls, as well as full gamepad and keyboard & mouse support, alongside a raft of accessibility and quality of life improvements for the ultimate adventure on the go. This is the complete origin story of gaming’s most intrepid heroine, a blockbuster action-platformer, brought to mobile without compromise, and placed in the palm of your hand.

The wait is over. Dive into Tomb Raider now for $19.99 / £12.99 / €15,99.

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/tomb-raider/id6742988247

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feralinteractive.tombraider_android

The Origins of an Icon — Tomb Raider Ventures onto iOS & Android on February 12th

The complete and uncompromised Tomb Raider makes the leap to your pocket in 2026, launching on iOS & Android on February 12th!

Tomb Raider explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a young woman to a hardened survivor. Armed only with raw instincts and the ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance, Lara must fight to unravel the dark history of the forgotten island of Yamatai to escape its relentless hold.

Whether using intuitive touchscreen controls, mouse & keyboard or your favourite gamepad, soon you’ll be delving into Yamatai’s ancient ruins on the go, and fighting for survival against the cultists who prowl its depths.

Feast your eyes on the trailer below for a taste of the platforming, puzzling and gritty combat you can expect when Tomb Raider lands on iOS & Android. Then, pre-order on iOS for $19.99 / £12.99 / €15,99, or pre-register on Android, today.