Gun Bros

Just two soldiers, a pile of guns and a galaxy full of enemies made up the whole pitch for Gun Bros, one of Glu Mobile’s first big freemium hits. It came out on iPhone in October 2010, passed 2.8 million downloads within two months and had reached more than 6.8 million across iOS and Android by March 2011, shortly after the Android version arrived free on the Android Market.

What Is Gun Bros

It is a top-down twin-stick shooter. One virtual stick moves your soldier and a second one aims and fires, so you never get auto-aim help, which made the game harder at first yet gave you full control over where every shot went. You fight through planets one at a time, clearing waves of enemies, gaining experience and new skills, and collecting money for guns and armour between battles. Early Android builds had trouble with touch controls on the Nexus One and HTC Desire, which Glu fixed by moving the controls.

The Buddy System Behind Gun Bros’ Name

The title refers to its most clever idea. Once per day you could play alongside a friend’s character, and both of you received rewards for it, which gave everyone a reason to open the game daily and nudge friends to do the same. Having a second soldier at your side to help clear the hordes made the game feel busier than a standard solo shooter. In mid-2011 Glu added proper online co-op with new challenges, turning the buddy idea into actual shared play.

War Bucks, Haven And The $500 Gun

Gun Bros had two currencies. Regular money came from play, while War Bucks were the premium currency for the best gear. The 1.2 update late in 2010 widened what players could earn:

• A third planet called Haven, where War Bucks could be earned in play
• Holiday items
• New armour and new guns

Even so, the spending side of the game drew headlines in August 2011, when Glu released a weapon priced at about $500 in real money. That gun became one of the best-known examples of how far early freemium games were willing to push their prices.

Rough Edges At Launch

The iOS launch was not smooth. Glu’s chief executive publicly admitted to server problems in the first weeks and promised bonuses along with iPad and Android versions. The Windows Phone release in 2012 drew criticism for bugs as well. Once the servers settled, though, players mostly praised the pace of the shooting and the steady stream of new planets and equipment.

Is Gun Bros Still Available On Android?

No. The Google Play listing under com.glu.android.gunbros_free has been taken down, and Glu, which Electronic Arts bought in 2021, never gave a date or reason. Glu did release Gun Bros 2 as a separate sequel. Interest in the original has not quite vanished either. In September 2026, a fan named Rocroverss released an unofficial port of the Android version for modified PlayStation Vita systems, which shows that some players still care about it sixteen years on, though it is not an official release.

Tips From How Gun Bros Played

Keep moving in wide circles, since standing still in twin-stick shooters lets enemies surround you. Use the daily buddy slot every day, because its rewards added up faster than grinding alone. Put early money into armour as well as guns, as later planets punished soldiers with thin defences.