Antti Kananen

Why Rovio Entertainment Could be Poison to SEGA—and How They Can Fix It. Rovio’s golden days with Angry Birds are gone. A look at AppMagic reveals the story: churning downloads, revenue, and MAUs. Latest bets on high-risk, high-cost titles—e.g., Angry Birds Journey and Bloom City Match—are poorly positioned to catch emerging trends or gain traction in competitive genres like puzzles.The Problem: Stuck in the Past.Rovio is slow to adapt to fast-paced mobile games market. They aren’t leaning on commercial or scientific processes to evaluate opportunities in new, high-potential genres. Instead, they continue to 2x on categories where e.g., King, Playrix, and Dream Games dominate.Take Bloom City Match. It’s dropped into the most competitive puzzle games segment, crowded with competition. It’s a high-risk bet in a category with high CPIs, churned-out cohorts, and a shrinking ROAS profile. And while Angry Birds […]

Thinking about making a Nuts & Bolts game? Think again! 🧩🎮 The market may look appealing, but you should really rethink! Quick analysis from AppMagic paints a clear picture; the genre has seen its peak, and is now on a downward trajectory:From Q4/23 to Jul-Aug/24, the market saw fast growth, peaking in downloads and revenue. Now the story is different:➕ Downloads: A steep decline, driven by a churning retention profile, rising CPIs due to saturation, and a weakening ROAS profile.📉 Retention: Significant drops as competitive pressure and squeezed monetization strategies leave players disengaged.📊 DAUs: Daily Active Users have seen a dip, as retention and monetization strategies falter.💰 Revenue: Revenue has slowed across the segment as all compounds.Issues with Current Strategies:Games like Wood Screw Puzzle have ridden the wave but are now paying the price for short-term strategies. Aggressive Ad Monetization […]

Creating "(Shareable) Moments of Joy": The New Formula to Viral and Socially Engaging Game Design? 🎮✨ In future's gaming landscape, simply delivering a high-quality game isn't always enough. With players craving more shareable, social experiences, developers need to consider how to foster “moments of joy”—gameplay that not only excites players but also encourages them to share, stream, and engage in a more community-driven way.Here’s where emergent gameplay and social mechanics come into play:📸 Encourage Shareable Moments:Players love to showcase unique, fun, or funny moments, especially in games that emphasize co-op or PvP elements. Designing gameplay that lends itself to unexpected, high-stakes, or humorous scenarios can help spark these moments. Imagine scenarios where players can collaborate or compete in ways that lead to share-worthy outcomes, encouraging organic social sharing.🤝 Create Cooperative and Social Experiences:Rather than pushing individual achievements, fostering co-op gameplay […]

The Future of Web Games: Beyond What We Know Today 🚀 For the past 10–20 years, web gaming has not evolved and it's been on repeat, with little innovation beyond what we saw a decade or more ago‼️ The future of web gaming doesn’t just lie in improving what already exists and it isn't on instant games, current portals, etc.—it’s in reinventing how we think about gameplay, social experiences, and cross-platform potential. 💡The next unicorn and even decacorn companies in gaming will come from those who think beyond current models and explore new territories, such as:👌 User Experience Innovation: Creating fluid, immersive experiences that feel fresh and intuitive. 🤝 Social Gameplay 2.0: Combining the best of social media and gaming mechanics to build deeper, meaningful connections and in-game interactions.🕹 New Forms of Play: Expanding our ideas of “play” and “habit” […]

📉 Overcoming Stagnation in Mobile Games: Moving Beyond ROAS & Funnel-Driven Strategies 📉 Many live-operated mobile games are struggling as post-IDFA realities set in. With dwindling engagement and rising churn, games that once thrived on high ROAS and funnel-driven tactics are stalling. To reignite growth, it’s time to shift from squeezing monetization to building genuine engagement. 🧠 1. Focus on Psychology & Physiology for Long-Term GrowthToday’s players, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha, value authentic gameplay that prioritizes connection over competition. On top of them, older generations might have just consumed already, or not resonated with, some of your content -- therefore, it's time to re-think your strategies.-> Use PNS-Led Design: Move away from “fight or flight” triggers, which lead to fatigue. For example, invest in a gameplay that fosters social bonds, creating moments and spaces where players can connect.-> […]

🚀 *Big Opportunities in F2P Re-Engagement & Retargeting Strategies!* 🚀 In free-to-play games, the untapped potential for re-engagement lies in understanding the game’s economy and the player equity built over time. Many UA, Marketing, and Product Marketing teams are missing the mark by not leveraging this.When players invest time and effort, they’re building a “virtual equity”—assets like characters, resources, and in-game achievements. This emotional and financial value can be a game-changer in driving effective re-engagement and re-targeting strategies.**Here’s one example:** Imagine a campaign that highlights the specific assets players have accumulated and unlocks potential next steps in their journey. For instance, if a player has spent hours leveling up a character, a re-engagement message could remind them of how close they are to a new milestone or offer a special challenge to leverage that character’s strength. It’s a reminder of […]