Apart of Me.
Mobile support and desktop port
“This game has been developed with love. Code Wizards has been part of that; really believing in what we’re building. And that kind of love makes a difference.”
– Justina Forristal, Interim CEO, Apart of Me
Game & Charity.
Apart of Me is a therapeutic game created, by a charity of the same name, to help young people through grief and loss. It offers a safe, reflective space where players can explore feelings, learn coping skills, and connect with stories from others who’ve experienced bereavement.
The app has already helped thousands, but as schools and charities looked to introduce it into structured environments like PSHE lessons and classroom sessions, it became clear the mobile-only build was limiting its reach.
The Challenge.
The team at Apart of Me came to us with two core needs.
First, the mobile app was in danger of being delisted from app stores. Built in Unity 2020, it no longer supported the latest iOS and Android versions — making future updates, analytics, and user support increasingly brittle.
Second, the charity was starting to work more closely with schools, where mobile phones are often banned during lessons. If the game was to be used in classrooms, therapy groups, and other structured environments, it needed to work on desktop and in-browser — not just phones.
With a small, part-time team and limited resources, the charity needed a partner they could trust to handle the technical lift while staying true to the soul of the project.
Enter the Wizards.
We were brought in to port the game from mobile to desktop and in-browser, as well as supply a full technical refresh for the mobile version — stabilising the app, refactoring its analytics infrastructure, and ensuring the codebase was clean, modern, and future-ready.
So we did! Our Wizards:
- Assisted with build submission to both the App Store and Google Play
- Upgraded the Unity project from 2020 to 2022 LTS to ensure platform compatibility
- Replaced deprecated packages and updated all core SDKs, including Firebase and Unity Analytics
- Refactored analytics code to work with the latest APIs, ensuring tracking continuity
- Carried out clean installs and managed plugin dependencies to avoid upgrade conflicts
- Implemented platform-specific fixes to support WebGL and desktop environments
- Rigorously tested in development environments prior to release
The Outcome.
The work ensured Apart of Me stayed live and discoverable on both iOS and Android; avoiding delisting and enabling continued mobile access. Just as importantly, the game now runs smoothly in-browser and as a downloadable desktop version, massively expanding its use in classrooms, group sessions, and homes without smartphones.
The refactored analytics also allow the team to better understand how the game is used — supporting future funding, development priorities, and impact reporting.
What We Learned.
- Clean installs save time. Avoid upgrade conflicts by starting fresh when needed, and always install dependencies in the correct order.
- Test before release. Changes were always validated in a development environment before shipping — reducing hotfix cycles and saving time.
- Commit frequently. Incremental progress and regular versioning help avoid bigger rollbacks.
- Get external eyes. In sensitive projects especially, outside testers spot things the core team may miss.
“Code Wizards have been super generous and supportive. It’s been a whole team effort, and the enormous generosity of spirit is hugely appreciated.”
– Justina Forristal, Interim CEO, Apart of Me
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