Real Racing 3 releases on February 28 for free on iOS, Android

One of the most ambitious racing games on smartphones, Real Racing 3, now has a release date. According to a forum post by a developer, Real Racing 3 will be released worldwide on February 28, and it will be released for free on Android and iOS devices.

The company boasts the game's unique multiplayer, dubbed the Time Shift Multiplayer feature. The multiplayer of Real Racing 3 allows you to play competitive multiplayer with anyone any time, and they don't need to be online with you at the same time.

The game is set to have 46 licensed vehicles at launch, covering three classes, a 22 car grid, real world tracks, eight event types, and more than 900 events. The company plans to add more free content with every update.

The company hasn't revealed anything about possible in-app purchases. If executed poorly, in-app purchases could absolutely destroy a game. Since the game is published by Electronic Arts (EA), it could follow the micro-transaction system of letting you buy any car in the game through in-app purchases. The effect this may have on the game's balance is yet to be seen.

Real Racing 3 will be out on February 28 for free

Much like other racing games, Real Racing revolves around racing around in cars. The first game was critically acclaimed with an average review score of 94 percent on Metacritic. The series is praised for its visuals and intelligent AI.

The second game was released in December 2010. It features a number of real cars, including the 2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe, the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, and the 2010 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500, among others. As with the first game, it features an extensive career mode, time trials, and online play.

Real Racing 3 will mark the first time that a game in the series will see a release on Android. Earlier games have been exclusive to iOS.

The previous game developed by Firemonkey was the mobile version of Need for Speed: Most Wanted. As you can see by reading our review, the game has solid mechanics, but fails to deliver on some aspects.

The accelerometer control scheme is responsive and detects your tilts and turns easily. You even get a sensitivity slider to fine tune how well you want your device to pick up your movements. The on-screen control scheme, however, isn’t pulled off that well. Instead of opting for an Asphalt-like option that lets you tap on either side of the screen to make the corresponding turn, the game gives you a tiny steering wheel on the left side of the screen. The wheel feels awkward and it’s easy to get it mixed up with the break, depending on where you touch the screen.

The execution of vehicle mods in Most Wanted also turned out to be disappointing. Instead of letting you get permanent upgrades for your car, mods work like temporary bonuses. You get to equip your car with up to two mods before every race. These mods can bequeath different bonuses on your car, and the better the bonus, the more expensive the mod. Mods range from decreasing the weight of your car, resulting in faster acceleration, to giving you a heavier body, which enables the car to take down other cars more easily.