Ridge Racer Slipstream accelerates onto Android with a free-to-play model and wait timers

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Namco Bandai and Invictus's Gold Award-winning iOS arcade racer Ridge Racer Slipstream has just drifted onto Android.

That's all well and good, but we immediately noticed one significant difference between this Android version and its iOS counterpart.

This brand-new Android version is free-to-play.

Now, don't take that the wrong way. Even though the iOS version currently costs 69p / 99c, you see, there are IAPs available in it.

We've reached out to Namco Bandai for clarification on the matter, but we suspect that the publisher is just experimenting with a different business model on Google's platform.

Upon further investigation, we discovered that the Android version of Slipstream has wait timers and full-screen adverts.

So, yep, expect to have to wait for your new car to be delivered. Unless you want to pay up to skip the wait, of course. This might mean that the iOS version is a slightly more pleasurable experience than the Android version, then.

In our review of the game on iOS, we said: "An almost perfect distillation of the last great console Ridge Racer with spot-on handling and a stunning engine. Ridge Racer Slipstream is arguably the best arcade racer on iOS."