HellOw,

I would like to give you a bit more context about this update.

Why did we change the app?

The goal was not simply to change how the app looks.

For several years, we regularly received feedback about the limits of the mobile version. Some features were missing, some events could not be played on mobile, and there was a significant difference between the mobile app and the web version. For many of you, the app was mainly used as a companion to your desktop gameplay. However, for players who mostly play on a phone or tablet, these limitations were much more noticeable.

One of our goals was therefore to reduce this gap and offer an experience closer to the web version, with more features available on mobile. Many members of the team are players themselves. Looking at the game from the perspective of a mobile player, we felt that a major update to the app was needed. We know that many of you did not expect this change or were happy with the previous version of the app. We completely understand that point of view. Clearly, the conclusion we reached is not necessarily the same as the one reflected in some of the feedback we are reading today, and that is exactly why we are taking the time to review it carefully.



Why was this also important for the future of the game?



We also wanted to make the game easier to discover for new players.
Today, many people discover games through mobile devices. However, when someone discovered Howrse through the app, they were not getting the same experience as players on the web version.
We know some of you may feel that we prioritized attracting new players. The reality is a little more complex.
Our goal was never to choose between current players and new players, but to find a balance between both.
An online game needs new players to continue growing and staying healthy over time. The players discovering Howrse today are also the players who can help keep the game alive in 10 or 20 years.
We truly believed that a more complete app would benefit both current players and future players.



Why was the update released at this time?



We had a release window that gave us a chance to be featured on the Apple and Google stores, which influenced the release schedule. At the same time, until the last few days before launch, we were still fixing a blocking issue on iPad. Until that issue was resolved, we could not know exactly when the app would be approved and released. This is also one of the reasons why we were unable to communicate a precise release date earlier.

Did we know that such a major change could create strong reactions? Yes. Did we believe that the benefits of this new version would outweigh the drawbacks? Yes, we did.

A lot of testing was carried out before launch, and we were genuinely confident in the result. Looking back, we can clearly see that some of these changes have been received much more negatively than we expected.

If we had to do it again, we would have spent more time testing and gathering feedback beforehand. This would have helped us better understand how these changes would be received by players. We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to report issues after the release. Thanks to your reports, several major problems have already been identified and fixed, including issues with accessing the app and notifications. If you continue to experience technical problems, please let us know so we can pass them on to the teams working on them.



Where do we stand today?

We know that many of you are looking for answers about what happens next. On some topics, we have already started working on improvements.

The header, which has been mentioned regularly in your feedback, is one of the elements we are currently reworking. Several versions are being considered, and we plan to ask you to vote on Discord and on the forums by the end of the week to help us choose the one that suits you best.

This won't address all of the concerns raised over the past few days, but it is a first step, and more changes will follow.

For the rest, we prefer to be honest: we do not have all the answers yet. What we can guarantee is that your feedback is being read, shared, and discussed. As soon as we have more concrete information to share, we will do so.

Ow and the Howrse Team