So, Ratchet & Clank is going mobile, with a new game called Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble — a “mobile, multiplayer arena shooter” — being released exclusively for tablets and smartphones in a “soon” release window.
Fans of the original games might approach this while on their backfoot, since longtime developer Insomniac Studios is not directly involved with this project: according to the video announcement below, development is being handled by French studio Oh BiBi. I can’t say I’m particularly known about the company, but a quick Google search tells me they’re specialized on mobile games and are the ones behind titles like FRAG PRO SHOOTER, B.E.A.S.T., GO GO MAGNET!, SUP Multiplayer Racing and Motor World: Car Factory.
These all have some kind of online component, which seems on par, given the fact that the Ratchet & Clank mobile game is of a multiplayer nature. Here’s the video:
This is, however, a Sony-owned IP, therefore Insomniac and the PlayStation maker are overseeing the project and making sure it comes out worthy of the Ratchet & Clank brand. Last one actually worked by the both of them was Rift Apart, which came out in 2021 and it was a solid experience, so it’s good to see the brand still breathing, somehow.
Still, Insomniac might have its hands full with Marvel’s Wolverine development, so it makes sense to outsource this one…
According to the trailer above and the screengrabs below, it all looks very…well, Ratchety and Clanky, to be honest. Gameplay seems solid, like if Crash Team Rumble and Overwatch had a baby but parenthood was uncertain since Marvel Rivals was a mistress.
Given that it’s coming for mobile, Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble might introduce the brand to a new, younger and more connected audience. And if you need a new timewaster on your phone, this might be a solid choice.
Now, this is nowhere to be seen on the overall announcement, trailer or game site, but we’re going out on a limb here and guess this will come out free to play with optional, cosmetic transactions and/or a lot of ads for non-paying users.
