Monopoly GO Hits $2bn in Revenue: A Breakout Success Story

Scopely’s Monopoly GO has emerged as one of the most lucrative mobile games of 2023. Surpassing $2 billion in lifetime revenue since its launch in April 2023, consistently ranked among Top 3 worldwide.

Monopoly GO makes up 10.5% of ALL 2024 Global Revenue for casual games, no surprise?

Profitability and User Acquisition

Scopely co-CEO Javier Ferreira provided insights into Scopely’s UA spend, indicating that it accounts for less than a quarter of the game’s lifetime revenue, suggesting a spend of under $500 million. Moreover, he highlighted the game’s impressive marketing recoup rates, remaining below 120 days, and its profitability, comparable to more mature chart-topping games. He added that Monopoly Go! achieved the $2 bn milestone just three months after reaching $1 bn in lifetime revenue.

Monopoly GO boasts over 150M downloads and attracts over 10M daily players. With players logging in more than three times a day on average, the game demonstrates strong engagement metrics, further contributing to its profitability. Moreover, “We made Monopoly Go! with a fully distributed team from Day 1, MG generated $800M in Q4 2023”, says Michael Fitch, former Creative Director of Scopely.

Reaffirmation of Profitability at Google Think Games Event

During the Google Think Games event in Istanbul, Scopely Senior VP Jamie Berger reaffirmed the game’s profitability, emphasizing that it enables the company to invest substantially in UA. Berger emphasized that Monopoly GO is consistently profitable on an EBITDA basis, debunking any doubts regarding its financial success.

Addressing previous debates surrounding the game’s UA spend, Scopely reiterated its commitment to profitability and disciplined spending practices. Despite speculative statements regarding UA spend, Scopely emphasized the game’s organic appeal, engaging gameplay, and exceptional player retention.

Insights from GDC: Missteps and Lessons Learned!

Revealing at GDC, Scopely’s Massimo Maietti spilled the beans on Monopoly Go’s $2 billion journey. Turns out, their first attempt crashed and burned like a bad game night.

The “biggest and most embarrassing mistake”? Trying to force Monopoly into a game it didn’t want to be. Instead of playing nice with the Monopoly vibe, they tried to bend it. But hey, they owned it, learned from it, and didn’t try to sweep it under the rug!

Now, Scopely is on a mission to make Monopoly Go as sticky as possible. No skill required, just good old fashioned family rivalry and a sprinkle of capitalist chaos. But wait, they’re not popping the champagne just yet. More to be done, stay tuned for the next chapter of Monopoly Go!

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