Feral Interactive, the UK-based porting specialist that’s been bringing AAA games to new platforms for nearly three decades, hosted an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit’s r/Games community on December 18, 2025. The timing couldn’t have been better. Just days earlier, they announced Tomb Raider 2013 is coming to iOS and Android on February 12, 2026, and GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition is racing to Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026. For a studio that typically operates behind the scenes, this rare glimpse into their process revealed why Feral has earned a reputation as the gold standard for premium game ports.
From Mac Ports to Mobile Powerhouse
Feral Interactive started in the late 1990s with a simple mission: bring PC games to Mac users who were starving for quality titles. Back when gaming on Apple computers meant settling for inferior ports or nothing at all, Feral carved out a niche by delivering professional conversions that actually worked. Over the years, their expertise expanded to Linux, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch, always focusing on bringing established AAA titles to platforms where they didn’t originally exist.
Their portfolio reads like a greatest hits collection of gaming. Total War series ports across multiple platforms, Alien: Isolation on mobile devices, Company of Heroes on iPad, GRID Autosport on Switch, and dozens more. Unlike quick cash-grab ports that barely function, Feral’s releases consistently deliver performance and visual quality that respects both the original game and the target platform. When you see their logo on a port, you know it’s been expertly adapted rather than hastily converted.
Tomb Raider Makes the Leap to Your Pocket
The biggest news from the AMA period is Tomb Raider’s mobile debut. Not some stripped-down mobile spinoff, but the complete 2013 Crystal Dynamics reboot that relaunched Lara Croft for a new generation. Launching February 12, 2026, for $19.99 on both iOS and Android, this port includes the full campaign plus all 12 DLC packs. That means bonus outfits, skill upgrades, weapon packs, and the Tomb of the Lost Adventurer challenge tomb, all included in the one-time purchase price.
Feral describes it as complete and uncompromised, which matters because mobile ports often sacrifice content to fit smaller screens and touch controls. This version supports touch controls with a customizable interface, but also works with controllers and even includes gyroscopic motion-aiming on supported devices. You can pre-order now on the iOS App Store or pre-register on Google Play. Performance presets let you prioritize frame rates or visual fidelity depending on your device capabilities.
Why Tomb Raider 2013 Works for Mobile
The 2013 Tomb Raider reboot follows 21-year-old Lara Croft during her first archaeological expedition, which goes disastrously wrong when a shipwreck strands her on the mysterious island of Yamatai. The game blends exploration, environmental puzzles, combat encounters, and cinematic storytelling into a tightly paced adventure that redefined what Tomb Raider could be. It earned critical acclaim for its character development, gorgeous visuals, and satisfying progression systems.
For mobile, the structure works perfectly. Campaign missions provide natural stopping points for shorter play sessions, and the gameplay loop of exploring, fighting, upgrading gear, and tackling optional tombs translates well to touchscreen controls. The fact that it’s a 12-year-old game means even mid-range mobile devices should handle it without melting. Feral’s track record with ports like Alien: Isolation and Company of Heroes on mobile suggests they’ll nail the technical implementation.
GRID Legends Races to Switch 2
The other major announcement is GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026 for $39.99. This follows GRID Autosport, which Feral successfully brought to the original Switch years ago. GRID Legends represents a significant upgrade, featuring improved visuals, expanded career mode, story-driven racing campaigns, and 10 different motorsport disciplines across 24 locations.
The Deluxe Edition includes all downloadable content, adding Classic Car-Nage destruction derby mode, Drift and Endurance challenges, new career events, and additional cars and tracks. Feral promises pin-sharp visuals and great performance on Switch 2, taking advantage of the new hardware’s capabilities. For racing fans who enjoyed Autosport but wanted more content and polish, Legends delivers exactly that while maintaining the accessible, arcade-style handling that made GRID popular.
The Porting Philosophy
During the AMA, Feral’s team members Edwin, Craig, Gerard, and James answered questions about their process, philosophy, and challenges. One recurring theme was respect for the original developers’ vision while adapting games for new platforms. They don’t just dump a game onto a new system and call it done. Instead, they rebuild interfaces for different input methods, optimize performance for vastly different hardware architectures, and ensure the experience feels native rather than ported.
Mobile ports present unique challenges. Touchscreen controls need to be intuitive without cluttering the screen. Battery life matters, so aggressive power management is crucial. Device fragmentation means supporting dozens of different specs and screen sizes. Cloud saves, controller support, and preserving visual quality while hitting performance targets all require specialized expertise that Feral has developed over years of practice.
The Linux Question
One interesting topic that came up in past discussions about Feral is Linux support. The studio used to be one of the leading proponents of native Linux game ports, bringing titles like Total War and GRID Autosport to the platform. However, after Valve launched Proton, their compatibility layer that lets Windows games run on Linux, demand for native ports dropped significantly.
In 2021, Feral cancelled the Linux port of A Total War Saga: Troy, stating there was generally less demand for native titles since Proton’s launch. They continue to support existing Linux games but assess feasibility on a case-by-case basis for new projects. It’s an honest acknowledgment that technology and market conditions change, and sometimes the work required for native ports doesn’t justify the return when compatibility layers already provide decent solutions.
Why Premium Ports Matter
In an era dominated by free-to-play mobile games stuffed with microtransactions and energy timers, Feral’s approach feels refreshingly old-school. Pay once, get the complete game, no strings attached. Tomb Raider for $19.99 with all DLC included represents the kind of value proposition that used to be standard before the industry discovered predatory monetization schemes.
Their success proves there’s still a market for premium mobile experiences. Players who grew up with consoles and PCs appreciate having legitimate AAA games on their phones and tablets, especially when those ports respect the source material. Feral fills that niche better than anyone, consistently delivering quality that justifies the premium price tag.
The Track Record Speaks for Itself
Looking at Feral’s catalog reveals impressive versatility. They’ve ported real-time strategy behemoths like Total War: Empire to touchscreens, adapted horror games like Alien: Isolation to work with mobile controls, brought racing simulators to Nintendo handhelds, and made complex 4X games playable on tablets. Each port requires solving unique problems based on the original game’s design and the target platform’s constraints.
Total War: Rome Remastered on PC, their 2021 collaboration with Creative Assembly, showed they could enhance classic games for modern hardware while preserving what made them special. GRID Autosport on Switch demonstrated technical wizardry getting a demanding racing game running smoothly on modest hardware. Company of Heroes on iPad proved touch interfaces could handle complex RTS gameplay when implemented thoughtfully.
What This Means for Gaming
Feral’s continued success with premium ports represents something valuable in gaming. Not everything needs to be a live-service game with constant updates and monetization schemes. Sometimes you just want to buy a complete game, play it at your own pace, and move on when you’re done. Mobile platforms are perfectly capable of delivering console-quality experiences if developers take the time to do it properly.
The Tomb Raider mobile announcement coincides with renewed interest in the franchise following The Game Awards reveals of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst. Having the 2013 reboot available on mobile introduces new players to modern Lara while giving longtime fans a portable way to revisit her origin story. At a time when mobile gaming often means compromised experiences designed to extract money, Feral offers an alternative model that actually works.
FAQs
When does Tomb Raider release on mobile?
Tomb Raider launches on iOS and Android on February 12, 2026, for $19.99. The game includes the complete 2013 reboot plus all 12 DLC packs. You can pre-order now on the iOS App Store or pre-register on Google Play.
Will Tomb Raider mobile require a subscription?
No, Tomb Raider is a premium one-time purchase for $19.99. There are no subscriptions, microtransactions, or additional purchases required. You get the complete game and all DLC for that single price.
What is GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition?
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition is a racing game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026 for $39.99. The Deluxe Edition includes all DLC, adding destruction derby, drift mode, endurance races, extra career events, and additional cars and tracks.
Who is Feral Interactive?
Feral Interactive is a UK-based game porting studio that’s been bringing AAA games to new platforms for nearly 30 years. They specialize in Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch ports of established titles like Total War, GRID, Alien: Isolation, and Company of Heroes.
Does Feral Interactive still make Linux ports?
Feral Interactive reduced their Linux porting work after Valve launched Proton in 2018, which lets Windows games run on Linux through a compatibility layer. They still support existing Linux titles but assess new projects on a case-by-case basis as demand for native ports has decreased.
What other games has Feral ported to mobile?
Feral has ported numerous AAA games to mobile, including Alien: Isolation, Company of Heroes, Rome: Total War, GRID Autosport, Tropico, Hitman GO, and many more. They’re known for delivering complete console experiences optimized for touchscreens and mobile hardware.
Will Tomb Raider mobile support controllers?
Yes, Tomb Raider on mobile supports touchscreen controls, mouse and keyboard, and gamepad controllers. Supported devices will also feature gyroscopic motion-aiming for more precise targeting.
Is GRID Legends only for Switch 2 or will it come to other platforms?
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition is already available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Feral Interactive is bringing it to Nintendo Switch 2 as a new platform in early 2026.
Conclusion
Feral Interactive’s Reddit AMA offered a rare window into how one of gaming’s most respected porting studios operates. For 30 years, they’ve tackled the unglamorous but essential work of bringing great games to new audiences on different platforms. The announcements of Tomb Raider hitting mobile and GRID Legends coming to Switch 2 continue that tradition, proving there’s still demand for expertly crafted premium ports. In an industry increasingly obsessed with live-service models, battle passes, and extracting maximum revenue from players, Feral’s straightforward approach feels almost radical. Make a quality port, charge a fair price, deliver the complete experience, and trust that players will appreciate the value. Their three decades of success suggests that philosophy still works. Whether you’re a mobile gamer excited to play Tomb Raider on your phone during commutes, a Switch 2 owner looking forward to racing in GRID Legends, or just someone who appreciates craftsmanship in game development, Feral Interactive deserves recognition. They’re not creating flashy new IPs or chasing trends. They’re just doing the hard work of making great games playable on more devices, and doing it exceptionally well. For gamers who want premium experiences without predatory monetization, that’s exactly what the industry needs more of right now.