Your Retro Bowl on iOS is probably running in slow motion because of a known performance issue with newer iOS versions (often mentioned specifically with “iOS 26”) that affects Retro Bowl and Retro Bowl College on some iPhones, including recent models like the iPhone 15 series.

What’s really going on?

  • Players have reported that Retro Bowl suddenly runs in slow motion even after deleting and reinstalling the game, especially on newer iPhones and recent iOS updates.
  • Community posts share replies from New Star Games support saying that iOS 26 has several bugs and performance issues, and that their games slow down when the device gets notifications or when you switch apps quickly.

“We are actively monitoring the feedback regarding iOS26… notifications from other applications or quickly switching between apps can lead to noticeable slowdowns… We hope Apple will address this issue.” – Mark Baldwin, Community Manager, New Star Games (via email shared on a forum).

So the “slow motion” is not just your device being weak; it is very likely a compatibility/performance bug between Retro Bowl and your current iOS version.

Quick fixes to try on iOS

These are not perfect solutions, but they can reduce or sometimes stop the slow motion:

  1. Close all other apps
    • Too many apps in the background can worsen lag or slow motion in Retro Bowl.
 * Swipe away unused apps, then relaunch Retro Bowl.
  1. Turn on Do Not Disturb / Focus
    • Notifications popping up while you play can trigger slowdowns in this iOS bug scenario.
 * Enable Do Not Disturb or a Focus mode before opening Retro Bowl so banners and alerts don’t appear mid‑game.
  1. Fully restart your iPhone
    • A simple restart can clear temporary glitches and memory issues, sometimes making Retro Bowl run smoother again.
  1. Update Retro Bowl and iOS
    • Make sure Retro Bowl is on the latest version in the App Store, since devs often push performance fixes for new iOS releases.
 * Check if there’s a newer minor iOS update (e.g., 26.x) that might contain performance and bug fixes.
  1. Free up storage
    • Low storage can slow apps in general; some users report better Retro Bowl performance after clearing space.
  1. Avoid rapid app switching
    • The developer’s message specifically mentions that quickly switching between apps can cause noticeable slowdowns with the current iOS bug.
 * When possible, open Retro Bowl and stay in it instead of hopping in and out of other apps.

If nothing really fixes it

  • The game’s own community manager has essentially said this is on Apple’s side right now and that they’re “keeping a close watch” while hoping iOS updates resolve it.
  • You can still:
    • Send feedback to New Star Games via their support page (helps them prioritize and maybe add workarounds).
* Report the issue through Apple’s Feedback app or Support so they see it’s affecting popular games.

Mini FAQ: “why is my retro bowl in slow motion ios”

  • Is it only me?
    No. Other iOS users (including iPhone 15+ owners) report Retro Bowl and Retro Bowl College both running in slow motion after updating to iOS 26.
  • Is this a permanent bug?
    Likely not permanent; these kinds of issues are usually fixed in later app or iOS updates, but timing depends on Apple and the game’s devs.
  • Safest things to do right now:
    • Keep your app and iOS updated.
    • Use Do Not Disturb / Focus while playing.
    • Close background apps, restart your phone occasionally, and avoid heavy multitasking during games.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.