Does Asphalt 7 still work?

As a long-time Asphalt gamer and content creator, one of the most common questions I still get asked is: does Asphalt 7 still work in 2024? With the game being over a decade old now, many wonder if the servers are still online or if you can even download it anymore.

In this complete guide, I‘ll give you an definitive answer while comparing Asphalt 7 to the more recent titles. I‘ll also provide statistics on its peak player base, revenue generated, and availability over time since originally launching in 2011.

The Short Answer

Yes, Asphalt 7 does still work and function on devices that already have it installed. However, support and future updates for the game were ended in 2017 across all platforms except BlackBerry. And multiplayer was discontinued except for local play between devices.

So while you can technically still race alone offline, the Asphalt 7 community and experience is a shell of what it once was. I‘d only recommend playing it now for the nostalgia or if you still have it installed on an older device.

Asphalt 7 Launch and Success

Let‘s start with some history! When Asphalt 7: Heat launched in June 2011 on iOS and Android, it quickly became a top downloaded arcade racing game. With over 60 high-performance cars, 16 stunning global tracks from London to Hawaii, and console-quality graphics, it built upon the success of past Asphalt titles while optimizing for mobile.

According to Gameloft, within the first month Asphalt 7 had already been downloaded over 5 million times across the iOS App Store and Google Play. Based on SensorTower data, it went on to have over 35 million downloads in its first year – making it the top racer that year by a wide margin.

Asphalt 7 ultimately brought in over $100 million in player revenue for Gameloft in its first two years. And it had a peak of over 1 million monthly active players just on iOS in 2013 based on Gameloft financial reports.

So in its heyday, Asphalt 7 was massively popular as the ultimate mobile arcade racing experience with graphics and gameplay rivaling consoles. It outperformed all previous Asphalt games with an Metacritic rating of 86/100 averaging iOS and Android.

The Decline and Eventual Retirement

With the launch of Asphalt 8: Airborne in 2013 along with a new generation of smartphones and tablets, Asphalt 7 downloads and revenue started to decline. While still popular, many players migrated to the newer Asphalt titles with improved graphics and features.

By 2016, Asphalt 7 only had around 300,000 monthly active players across mobile platforms. And by 2017, revenue had dropped to less than $5 million annually.

So in the summer of 2017, facing shrinking players base and revenue, Gameloft officially retired Asphalt 7 from most app stores and discontinued support. However it did remain available on BlackBerry mobile devices that had it pre-installed.

Current State of Multiplayer in 2024

One of the most loved aspects of Asphalt 7 was the online multiplayer mode where you could race against up to 5 real people anywhere in the world. At its peak, over 500,000 players were racing online each month.

Unfortunately, when Gameloft ended support in 2017, it shut down the Asphalt 7 multiplayer servers. So online play is no longer available in any form.

However, local multiplayer does still work between devices that have Asphalt 7 installed. So you can race a friend or family member offline using WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity assuming you both have access to the game.

Gameplay and Graphics Compared to Newer Titles

Being over 10 years old, it‘s no surprised that Asphalt 7‘s graphics, gameplay, and features pale in comparison to newer entries like Asphalt 8 or Asphalt 9: Legends.

Having maxed out the graphics on recent devices, Asphalt 7 looks very dated at only 720p resolution and 30fps. The lighting, textures, and overall visuals feel like a game from the early 2010s rather than a modern racer.

And while the actual racing mechanics are solid, vehicles handle more rigidly than later titles with less fluid drifts and nitrous bursts. Customization is also lacking compared to deep progression systems in the likes of Asphalt 9.

So unless you have major nostalgia for Asphalt 7, opting for the much slicker and modern-feeling Asphalt 8 or Asphalt 9 is probably the choice for most gamers.

Asphalt 7 vs Asphalt 9 Key Stats

Current Availability of Asphalt 7 in 2024

Since its removal from major app stores in 2017, Asphalt 7‘s availability has become extremely limited:

• iOS App Store: No longer available
• Google Play Store: No longer available
• Microsoft Store: No longer available
• BlackBerry World: Still available on select devices

So unless you own a relatively modern BlackBerry device, you won‘t have the ability to download or reinstall Asphalt 7 if you‘ve uninstalled it previously.

Your only current option would be finding an old device where you still have it installed, provided it meets the hardware requirements to reasonably run the game. Needless to say, its difficult to recommend most users attempt this just for access to Asphalt 7.

My Perspective as an Asphalt Series Fan

As you can see from the history and data above, Asphalt 7 clearly remains functional in limited offline capacity based on previous installs. So I can definitively say yes, it technically "still works" as of 2023.

However, having been in the Asphalt community since the early days with Asphalt 6, I simply wouldn‘t recommend most gamers spend time seeking out and playing Asphalt 7 at this stage. Without updates or an online community, it‘s largely just nostalgia.

The Asphalt franchise has made leaps in graphics, gameplay, and depth that far exceed what Asphalt 7 can provide. And with over 180 million downloads, Asphalt 9: Legends represents the future with continued support plus a thriving player base even 5 years after release.

For any mobile gamer getting into arcade racing now, just start with Asphalt 9 and don‘t look back! But I‘ll always have fond memories of groundbreaking titles in the franchise like Asphalt 6 and 7 that made it all possible.

So in summary:

• Asphalt 7 does technically still function
• Only original installs work at this point
• Multiplayer and updates are discontinued
• Mainly for diehard fans seeking nostalgia
• Asphalt 9 is the far superior current option

I hope this complete guide on whether Asphalt 7 still works in 2024 helps clarify its status for the community! Let me know your thoughts or own experiences with Asphalt 7 as well.