Gears Pop!

{{Infobox video game

| title = Gears Pop!

| image = File:Gears_Pop_header.jpeg

| developer = Mediatonic
The Coalition

| publisher = Xbox Game Studios

| series = Gears

| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|Android|iOS}}

| released = August 22, 2019

| genre = Real-time strategy

| modes = Multiplayer

}}

Gears Pop! was a mobile real-time strategy video game in which two players battle using Funko Pop!-stylized characters from the Gears fictional universe. Its gameplay was modeled on that of Clash Royale. The game was released on August 22, 2019, on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms, about a month in advance of the next major entry in the series, Gears 5. The game was developed by UK-based developer Mediatonic along with The Coalition.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-21-how-mediatonic-is-bringing-gears-of-war-to-mobile|title=How Mediatonic is bringing Gears of War to mobile|first=James|last=Batchelor|work=Gameindustry.biz|date=January 21, 2019|accessdate=September 16, 2019|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829100924/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-21-how-mediatonic-is-bringing-gears-of-war-to-mobile|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows-apps/gears-pop/credits|title=Gears Pop! credits list The Coalition and Mediatonic as the developers|accessdate=September 23, 2021|website=Mobygames|archive-date=June 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614042701/https://www.mobygames.com/game/134354/gears-pop/credits/windows-apps/|url-status=live}}

Gameplay

In Gears Pop, two players battle by playing tokens on a playfield, which spawned Funko Pop-stylized characters from the Gears of War fictional universe. The characters used cover points to advance on the enemy's two defense turrets and home base before the opponent accomplishes the same. Apart from its cover mechanics, its gameplay heavily resembled that of Clash Royale.{{r|VB Clash}}

The game was free-to-play and used microtransactions.{{r|VB Clash}} It was one of the few mobile games to feature Xbox achievement compatibility.{{r|GS achievements}}

Development

The game was announced at E3 2018 and was released on August 22, 2019, on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms, about a month prior to the next major release in the series, Gears 5.{{r|IGN showcases}}

The servers for the game were shut down on April 26, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/gears-pop-will-shut-down-its-servers-in-april-2021/|title=Gears POP! will shut down its servers in April 2021|first=Chris|last=Moyse|work=Destructoid|date=October 28, 2020|accessdate=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726132902/https://www.destructoid.com/gears-pop-will-shut-down-its-servers-in-april-2021/|url-status=live}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = iOS: 64/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/gears-pop/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Gears Pop! for iPhone/iPad Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240610105528/https://www.metacritic.com/game/gears-pop/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |url-status=live }}

| JXV = 14/20{{cite web |last1=gamecube |first1=Olive |title=Test Gears POP! : L'association de Gears et des figurines Funko POP fait-elle bon ménage ? |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1125492/gears-pop-l-association-de-gears-et-des-figurines-funko-pop-fait-elle-bon-menage.htm |website=Jeuxvideo.com |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=31 December 2021 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707154323/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1125492/gears-pop-l-association-de-gears-et-des-figurines-funko-pop-fait-elle-bon-menage.htm |url-status=live }}

| PG = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Aubrey |first1=Dave |title=Gears POP! review - "Good gears, bad pop" |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/gears-pop/gears-pop-review-good-gears-bad-pop/ |website=Pocket Gamer |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=31 December 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924061601/https://www.pocketgamer.com/gears-pop/gears-pop-review-good-gears-bad-pop/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Gears Pop received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Pocket Gamer gave the game three stars out of five, writing, "Gears POP! is a decent mobile strategy game, one which can keep your attention for hours thanks to online play, but it's not the best in its genre either."

Within a week of launch, Gears Pop had over one million users.{{Cite web |last1=Winslow |first1=Jeremy |title=The New Funko-Themed Gears Pop Game Is Off To A Strong Start |work=GameSpot |date=2019-08-29 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-new-funko-themed-gears-pop-game-is-off-to-a-st/1100-6469493/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2019-09-03 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903030611/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-new-funko-themed-gears-pop-game-is-off-to-a-st/1100-6469493/ |url-status=live }}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=James |title=Gears Pop! Releases August 22, And Will Offer 1000 Gamerscore - Here's The Achievement List |work=GameSpot |date=2019-08-20 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-pop-releases-august-22-and-will-offer-1000-g/1100-6469272/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2019-09-03 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903025501/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-pop-releases-august-22-and-will-offer-1000-g/1100-6469272/ |url-status=live }}

{{Cite web |last1=Bankhurst |first1=Adam |title=Gears POP! Gameplay Showcases Marcus Fenix, Cole Train, and Chainsaws - IGN |work=IGN |date=2019-08-22 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/23/gears-pop-gameplay-showcases-marcus-fenix-cole-train-and-chainsaws |language=en |accessdate=2019-09-03 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903025931/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/23/gears-pop-gameplay-showcases-marcus-fenix-cole-train-and-chainsaws |url-status=live }}

{{Cite web |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |title=Gears Pop is Clash Royale with cover mechanics |work=VentureBeat |date=2019-08-23 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/23/gears-pop-is-clash-royale-with-cover/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2019-09-03 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825014924/https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/23/gears-pop-is-clash-royale-with-cover/ |url-status=live }}

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