VAY Updated for 64-Bit iPhone/Apple TV/iPad July 10, 2024

Here’s a big surprised for you guys today! Most people don’t remember, but one of the very first CD-ROM RPGs was a little known title called VAY. Released in 1993 for the SEGA CD, VAY offered full RPG gameplay alongside full-motion video. While not a major success at release, other studios would come along and further refine the design, and herald in a new era of JRPGs.

However, VAY was not totally forgotten. In 2008, the iPhone’s App Store was first opened alongside the release of the iPhone 3G. Not a lot of studios were sure of what would work on this new type of handheld device, but I distinctly remember a port of VAY was one of the earliest titles released on it. However, as one of the first games released on the iPhone platform, it was coded for iPhone’s early 32-bit processors. Over time, starting with the iPhone 5s, Apple exclusively began to ship their smartphones with faster 64-bit processors, and eventually made the decision to completely end 32-bit application support with the launch of iOS 11. This meant a player would be unable to play a game like VAY, or any other programs that were no longer receiving developer support, on the more recent iOS platforms. Unsupported applications are incapable of surviving a device transfer, and cannot be purchased or redownloaded on modern devices. That’s what VAY had become, and remained like that for six years.

Four days ago, VAY reappeared in the App Store, with an all-new update bringing in a 64-bit game engine. More than that, any existing customers who purchased the game back in the day have found their ability to reinstall the game officially restored on their Apple device of choice including the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

VAY is out now (again) for iOS devices.