Steve Webkinz here, as we wind down 2017, I thought this would be a good opportunity to look back at the evolution of the Webkinz mobile app!
Several years ago, some select Webkinz arcade games were converted to work as standalone apps on the Apple App Store. Each of those games had to be completely re-written in a new code format (“Objective-C”) because the original version, coded for Adobe Flash Player, was too “memory heavy” to work on mobile devices. And because all of Webkinz.com was written in “Flash”, it wasn’t possible for it to work in mobile app web browsers.
By this time, it was apparent that Flash Player had a limited future, which meant that Webkinz had to change in order to survive. We began investigating Adobe’s mobile coding system called “AIR”, which would allow for an easier conversion of Flash programs.
In 2013, we launched the Webkinz Pet Care app, a companion app to Webkinz World which allowed players to interact with pets on their Webkinz.com account using a mobile device. This initial version was very limited, with the ability to feed and dress your pet outside of the room. It has its own mobile Wheel of Wow and a small arcade with just three converted games which could award KinzCash when it synched up to an account.
The following year, we added bathing, a mobile WShop, and even a new pet room that was able to show the pet and a limited number of room items.
From the beginning, the Webkinz Pet Care app was intended to be the first step in a larger evolution for the game. In 2015, on the 10th anniversary of Webkinz World, we launched “Webkinz X”. It introduced the new concept of the Pet Care Heart, Family Score and milestone prizes, along with Pet Requests.
It also involved moving the new mobile room engine onto web and creating a new Dock. This was a massive undertaking, which required every item on the site to be converted into the new code format. With tens of thousands of items already in existence, third party contractors were brought in to help convert everything. Unfortunately, due to the complexity and scope of the work involved, the process wasn’t as efficient as planned. Many items that were supposed to be fixed either didn’t work properly or weren’t even appearing.
Since then, our team of artists and programmers has continued to fix items while converting and adding more features into the Webkinz mobile app. Most recently, we’ve added a new bath and sink activity, along with a brand new Adoption Center. Our mobile Arcade now also features a large number of games that can be played on the go!
This past year, it was officially announced by Adobe that they would be discontinuing Flash Player for web browsers in 2020. For Webkinz, once that happens, the mobile version of Webkinz will be the only version of the game. For those that still prefer to play on desktop or laptop computers, in 2018 we will be launching a version of the Webkinz mobile app that can be downloaded onto your computer and played without using a web browser.
Over the next two years, we will continue to move features over to the Webkinz mobile app, so that as much of the current game as possible can be enjoyed for years to come. Keep watching Webkinz Newz for all the updates about the continuing evolution of Webkinz!
This has been Steve Webkinz reporting for Webkinz Newz! What would you like me to report on in 2018? Let me know in the comments below.
I was a bit frightened when i heard that flash will end in 2 more years… thankfully there’ll be a non-browser version of webkinz and mobile to play on!
I have played Webkinz since 2007 and my kids play as well. We have multiple accounts and have spent a good deal of money. I have read about the flashplayer end and there are other open formats that Webkinz could be merged too. HTML5, WebGL and WebAssembly according to Adobe are options that content creators can merge their content too. Surely this must be better than switching to solely mobile with an app you can download on your computer. Can Ganz really give us the same quality that we are used to with an app? For me playing Webkinz is therapeutic and playing on my cell phone would not be therapeutic at all. Trying to play on such a small screen would frustrate me. I would like to know more about the downloadable version they plan to offer for the computer. Is it going to be the same Wbkinz we all love? I highly doubt it. While I understand the end of flashplayer is not Ganz fault I just feel there is a better solution.
Thank you Steve Webkinz for this update and for being on top of this. I am happy that you are trying to find a solution so Webkinz can continue on. Some of the games my son plays are already this way. There is no way to get around this. This is not your fault. It is all about changing technology. We had to increase our internet package to avoid overage charges but game playing is much better I am told this way. Looking forward to the transition.
Webkinz isn’t answering our questions but maybe one of you can? For the app that we will download to play on the computer, does that mean that it will not need internet to run the game and if so how would that work? If I were to use the app on my phone to buy something at the Wshop would it still be transferred to the account on the computer? I am so confused.
It will work like the current Webkinz mobile app. An internet connection will be required to do most things.
I have found that the PC version is ok, but it does crash a lot. I don’t think Gantz or anyone affiliated with Webkinz really cares about the PC players.
On the contrary, the Webkinz Desktop App will be the only way (other than the mobile app) to access Webkinz World after browser support for Flash is discontinued.
I recently downloaded the desktop version and it still requires Flash. Will this be fixed before Flash is no longer supported?
The Flash plug-in will soon not be required for the Desktop App, yes.
From talking to some friends, I realized there might be another problem for some of us. PLEASE make it so that the app will run on Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. Some of the other games that are available on computers will only work with Windows 10, so a lot of us can’t get them :(
Is this computer app up and running now so I can download it to my computer now? My ancient android phone would never be able to handle webkinz. I have Windows 10 if that makes a difference. :-)
Not yet, they are in development I think. We still have Flash Player so they still have time to work on the change, I suspect we’ll see it probably in late 2019 or early 2020. Steve???
this is all very confusing. the only way I have played this for 8+ years and have hundreds of plush pets on multiple accounts is on my desktop. I do not have a mobile that can play games. however even if i had a mobile device the screen is much too small to pay for the estore items i cant see or appreciate. I use my desktop for all of my internet use everyday. if the game is going to be for use offline then how will it be for all the daily changes. i am more confused then ever and very concerned that we have spent hundreds of dollars for plush pets and deluxe membership only to end up not being able to play. I cannot find an the “app” for desktop use to even try to play it that way. a more specific explanation would be greatly appreciated and a link to the actual and correct app would also be wonderful. thank you
ok so I borrowed mobile and was kicked completely off line every time i tried to click on something and would also get the taking too long to load sign. it is so very small i cant even see a pet in the room. this is a big problem, that is the main reason I use a desktop computer. hahaha it was so funny, I quit trying to play. im sorry to say if this is the webkinz of the future (on a cel phone) im not buying anymore. why hasnt ganz come up with a “flash player” for games to work on the desk top computer?
Hi nettne2! From what Steve Webkinz wrote in his special report, there will be an app to download on our laptops and/or desktops. (I know what you mean–it’s a pretty small screen on those cell phones! I wouldn’t be able to enjoy WW on a cell phone, either.)
Hi Steve! Could you please add arrow buttons to the mobile dock like it is on the WW dock? It’s so hard to scroll through all my dock items without the arrow buttons!
Amen to that!