There is no universal winner. If you want the newer feature set and the TouchDrive control system, the later game, now called Asphalt Legends, is the stronger starting point. If you already like Asphalt 8: Airborne’s handling, content, or overall feel, staying with it is a reasonable choice. Gameloft’s own materials document the feature differences between the two, but they do not include controlled head-to-head testing, so no official source declares one game the better driving experience.
Why the name “Asphalt 9” needs a footnote
Readers searching for “Asphalt 9” will find the game under a different name today. Gameloft’s current materials call it Asphalt Legends, and the full name used at launch in 2018 was Asphalt 9: Legends. Use both names when you look for it in a store, because the listing and the official pages may show either one. The rebrand changes the name only; the game this article compares is the same title.
How the two games differ on paper
The table below sets out what Gameloft’s publisher materials state for each game. Where a source does not address a point, the cell says so rather than filling the gap with an estimate.
| Factor | Asphalt 8: Airborne | Asphalt Legends (Asphalt 9) |
|---|---|---|
| Headline control feature | Not stated in the sources reviewed | TouchDrive, a control approach Gameloft describes as intended to make play more accessible to casual players |
| Core modes named in current publisher materials | Not stated in the sources reviewed | Career events, tracks, and real-time multiplayer |
| Multiplayer matchmaking | Not stated in the sources reviewed | Elo rating, according to Gameloft’s stated system; inventory is not part of matchmaking |
| Spending | Not stated in the sources reviewed | In-app purchases can accelerate progress; Gameloft says players cannot buy boosters for an in-race advantage |
| Recent publisher activity | Not stated in the sources reviewed | A 2026 Gameloft newsroom listing reports an update and a themed season |
| Platforms | Not stated in the sources reviewed | Gameloft’s announcements include Nintendo Switch and Xbox/Windows; no complete current platform list was confirmed |
The gaps in the Asphalt 8 column reflect the sources, not a verdict on that game. The official pages reviewed focus on the newer title, so a like-for-like comparison of content and spending for Asphalt 8: Airborne would need its own current store and publisher listings.
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TouchDrive: what Gameloft says it does
TouchDrive is the feature that most separates Asphalt Legends from its predecessor. The 2018 announcement described it as “a fresh approach to driving controls that adds a layer of strategic decision to the sheer fun of the ride.” Later Gameloft materials frame it as a way to make play more accessible to casual players. Those two descriptions emphasize different things, and both come from the publisher.
Whether TouchDrive feels better than the controls in Asphalt 8: Airborne is a matter of personal taste. Before you commit, try the control settings available on your device and see which layout you can play comfortably over a session.
Content and updates
Asphalt Legends’ current official page lists Career events, tracks, and real-time multiplayer. A 2026 Gameloft newsroom listing reports an update and a themed season, which shows the publisher was still adding content at that point. Event schedules and season content change over time, so check the in-game event list when you start, since what is available today may not be available later.
Progression and spending
Gameloft says in-app purchases can speed up progress in Asphalt Legends. It also states that multiplayer matchmaking uses Elo rating rather than the player’s inventory, and that players cannot buy boosters for an in-race advantage. These are the publisher’s descriptions of its own system. They do not measure how long progress takes without spending, or how much a player would need to spend to keep pace with others, so treat them as the rules Gameloft states rather than as a cost comparison.
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Platform and region availability
Gameloft’s announcements document specific platforms, including Nintendo Switch and Xbox/Windows, but the sources reviewed do not establish a complete current list of platforms and regions for both games. Before you choose, open the store page for your device and region and confirm that the game you want is offered there.
Which game to start with
- Choose Asphalt Legends if you want the newer control scheme, the current Career and multiplayer features, and ongoing seasonal content.
- Choose Asphalt 8: Airborne if you already know its handling and content and prefer that feel, or if you want to keep a game you already play.
- Check your store first if you play on a device where one of the two is not listed. Availability decides the question before preference does.
What the evidence can and cannot support
The only franchise-level popularity figure in the official material is Gameloft’s 2021 statement of one billion downloads for the Asphalt franchise as a whole. It covers the series across platforms and does not show how many people downloaded either game individually, so it cannot be used to rank Asphalt 8 against Asphalt 9. No independent benchmark of handling, graphics, music, or multiplayer quality was found for either title, so comparisons of those qualities are personal judgments unless backed by current direct testing.
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The best way to decide is a short hands-on session with each game on your own device. Play a few events in each, note which controls and pace you prefer, and choose from there.
(The quoted 2018 TouchDrive description is publisher wording from the Asphalt 9: Legends announcement. The one-billion-downloads figure is Gameloft’s 2021 statement about the franchise.)
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Full wording of the sources is not reproduced here. Check Gameloft’s official Asphalt Legends page and newsroom for current event, platform, and pricing details.
Quick Recap
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