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GC Wars
iOS to PC/Steam Porting for a Unity-Based PvP Strategy Game
GC Wars is a Unity-based PvP strategy game originally built for iOS. Juego Studios supported the title's move to PC/Steam, reworking the game's mobile-first architecture to meet the expectations of a competitive desktop audience. The result was a stable, platform-validated release on both iOS and Steam.
Project Overview
GC Wars was built from the ground up as a mobile-first PvP strategy experience. Every layer of the game, from its input handling and UI layout to its build configuration and platform integrations, was designed around iOS. Expanding to PC/Steam required rethinking each of these layers for a desktop context where player expectations, screen real estate, and input methods are fundamentally different.
The core challenge was not simply running the game on a new platform. It was making it feel native to that platform.
- The control scheme was built for touchscreen with no keyboard or mouse equivalent
- UI layouts were fixed for mobile screens with no support for variable desktop resolutions
- The iOS build pipeline was incompatible with Steam’s technical and storefront submission requirements
- Performance characteristics diverged significantly between mobile and PC hardware profiles
Our Role
Juego Studios served as the technical partner for the end-to-end porting effort. We began with a full audit of the existing Unity build to identify platform-specific dependencies and accurately scope the work.
Our team's responsibilities included:
- Build audit and platform gap analysis
- Controls redesign for keyboard and mouse input
- UI and resolution system adaptation for desktop
- Build pipeline migration and Steam integration
- Performance profiling and optimization across PC hardware configurations
- Platform-specific QA and pre-submission validation
Not sure if your title is a good candidate for porting?
Schedule a Technical ReviewProduction and Live Readiness
Porting a live PvP strategy title carries real risk. The process must protect the existing iOS player base while building confidence in the new platform. Our approach was structured around three priorities:
- Stability first: We stabilized the core PC build before addressing control feel or UI, reducing the risk of regressions on either platform.
- Parity with iOS: Every significant change was validated against the iOS version to ensure both builds remained functionally consistent.
- Phased delivery: The work moved through distinct stages: core build, controls, UI responsiveness, and Steam hardening, so issues could be caught and resolved before moving forward.
Outcome
The GC Wars port to PC/Steam delivered a stable, platform-ready release. Key results included:
- Successful Steam submission with full compliance across technical and storefront requirements
- Adapted keyboard and mouse control scheme validated for competitive PvP strategy play
- Scalable UI system supporting variable desktop resolutions
- iOS version maintained and unaffected throughout the porting engagement
- Clean PC build pipeline ready to support ongoing updates
What This Demonstrates
The GC Wars engagement shows Juego Studios’ capability to take a live, mobile-first Unity title and bring it to a new platform without breaking what already works. For publishers and developers considering a platform expansion, this project demonstrates:
- Experience managing platform risk on live games with active player bases
- Proven process from technical audit through Steam submission, handled as a single engagement
- Cross-platform Unity expertise across mobile and PC/Steam ecosystems
- Ability to own the full porting scope with minimal demand on the client’s internal team
- QA methodology validated for competitive multiplayer titles
If You Are Building a Live PvP Strategy Game
We can help with:
If you are a publisher or developer with a live PvP strategy game that needs to move to PC or Steam, Juego Studios can own the full porting engagement. We work alongside your team or independently, protecting your live game while we build for the new platform. Our process starts with a technical audit so you know exactly what is involved before any work begins.
- Full technical audit and scoping before any code changes
- Input system redesign for competitive PC play
- UI and performance adaptation for desktop
- Steam integration and storefront compliance
- QA validation across target platforms
- Parallel iOS and PC build management throughout the engagement
Ready to bring your title to PC? Share your project details, and we’ll respond within 48 hours.
Share Your Project DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
1 We have a live mobile game. How do you ensure the iOS build is not affected during porting?▲
We run iOS and PC builds in parallel throughout the engagement. Platform-specific changes are isolated so regressions on either side are caught before they compound. We do not consider a change complete until it passes on both platforms.
2 Our in-house team does not have bandwidth for a porting project. How embedded do you need us to be?▲
We are structured to operate with minimal demand on your core team. After an initial kickoff and build handoff, we run autonomously and check in at defined milestones. You stay informed without being pulled into day-to-day work.
3 Do you handle Steam submission, or is that on our side?▲
We handle it end to end. That includes technical compliance such as controller support, overlay compatibility, and build signing, as well as storefront requirements including achievements, age ratings, and store assets. You review and approve; we manage the submission process.
4 How do you scope and price a porting engagement?▲
We start with a technical audit of your existing Unity build. This gives us a clear picture of platform dependencies, required changes, and realistic timeline. We provide a fixed-scope estimate after the audit so there are no surprises.
5 Can you port games built in older versions of Unity?▲
Yes. Our team has experience working across Unity versions. Depending on the source version, the audit may flag upgrade requirements as part of the porting scope, which we will identify and communicate upfront.
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