Mobile Gaming: AppsFlyer 2024 Performance Index

In the realm of mobile marketing, deciding where to invest is like playing chess. AppsFlyer analyzed 19 billion app installs of over 30,000 apps, and factored 9 metrics covering market reach, user value and cost of media, ad spend. Tier 1 Markets Dominate - T2 takes 45% of High-performing Spots App marketing is truly a global playground: 19 markets for games on Android, and 10 on iOS. T1 markets command 77% of UA spend, while T2 getting 21%. T1 controlled the top 7 spots by overall score on iOS with a significant 55% higher average score than tier 2 countries. On Android, reach plays a big role with three massive tier 2 markets in the top 5 (India, Brazil, and Indonesia) with a smaller 27% gap between T1 & T2. While T1 markets are the obvious choices in most cases, […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 29

Highlights

Brawl Stars: Revenue Soars 9x, MAU Doubles in 2024

Supercell just dropped some mind-blowing stats about Brawl Stars at GDC, and let's just say, it's been one heck of a ride. Revenue soaring 8.8 times higher than last year, with MAU doubling to 2.4x - Talk about leveling up!? But wait, it gets even better. Back in the day, early 2023, Brawl Stars hit a bit of a rough patch – retention and revenue were on the ropes. So, what did the Brawl team do? They went full-on superhero mode, tossing out loot boxes like yesterday's news and rolling in with a slew of new features. We're talking randomized rewards, special moves for the die-hard fans – the works! And guess what? It worked like a charm! Revenue went from snoozeville to superstar status, shooting up by a jaw-dropping 8.8 times from June 2023 to February 2024. Plus, Brawl […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 27

Journal

Casual Gaming in 2024: Insights for Developers Eyeing Success

2023 proved to be equally challenging for the mobile market as its predecessor, as user spending dipped by approximately 3.5%, following the declining trend observed in 2022. Despite this, key genres remained relatively unaffected, with download rates maintaining stability. Revenues decline was unevenly distributed across genres, with some experiencing more pronounced impacts while others thrived. Additionally, there was a noticeable decrease in both the quantity and success rate of new releases. AppMagic aimed to answer the following questions: When releasing a game in 2024, which genre should I choose to make the most of it? How do I operate an existing project in order to maintain and increase earnings? Countries and Genres Examined For the Research The study primarily delves into the performance of the mobile games market across Tier-1 West countries, encompassing nations such as the US, the UK, […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 21

Journal

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 […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 20

Journal

Game Over: Gaming Industry Hit by Layoffs in 2024

In 2024, layoffs in the gaming industry continue. With over 5,000 affected just in January, it's now around 10,000 already in Q1. Mobile gaming revenue continues to grow 50% year over year. The number of players has nearly doubled, then what's wrong? Bill Roper, Lunacy Games CEO, brings a unique perspective here. “I think that there’s just a humanity that has been lost in our industry, and it’s up to us to try to bring it back”. “I really think we’re going to see a onslaught of small companies starting up that are driven by this desire to create better workplaces in order to make better games.” After recently publishing Layoffs in Data.ai, we've already seen more to come... Microsoft Takes #1 in the Number of Layoffs - 1,900 IGN was the first to report on January 25 that Microsoft […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 20

Journal

Government Supports Growth: Turkish Game Studios Enjoy Tax Exemption

During his presentation at PGC San Francisco, Tuğbek Ölek, Head of Advisory Board of TOGED, sheds light on Turkey's tax incentives to support its rapidly expanding mobile gaming industry. Here's the speech from PGC: Zero Tax + Incentives: Turkiye's Bold Leap Into GameDev The Turkish mobile gaming industry thrives with big names like Dream Games, Peak, and Rollic. These studios showcase Turkey's global gaming prowess, with half of them based in Istanbul, making it Europe's second-largest gaming hub after London. Ankara also plays a significant role as Turkey's second-largest gaming hub. Are Turkish game studios exempt from paying taxes? Investing in gaming ventures enjoys the benefit of being entirely tax-free, courtesy of Turkey's absence of capital gains tax. Ölek elucidated that this translates to a significant advantage: in the event of a $10 million exit resulting from an investment, the […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 18

Journal

2024 – State of Mobile Gaming: Trends and Challenges by Data.ai

Get ready for a wild ride! 2023 was a bumpy journey for mobile gaming, with spending dropping for the second year in a row. Despite the hurdles, better days ahead! Navigating Turbulence: Market Dynamics and Challenges The mobile gaming market encountered several obstacles in recent years. According to the State of Mobile Gaming 2024 report, global consumer spending in mobile games dropped for the second year in a row, reaching $107 billion in 2023, while downloads also declined to nearly 88 billion. Spotlight on Success: Breakthrough Titles and Achievements Despite market challenges, individual mobile game titles managed to shine through. Seven titles surpassed $1 billion in consumer spending in 2023, with Gardenscapes achieving this milestone for the first time. Notable launches like Monopoly GO and Honkai: Star Rail also enjoyed rapid success, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of certain games […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 18

Highlights

Supercell’s Big Swap: Clash Mini Dies, Spark Shines

Supercell pulled the plug of Clash Mini, revealing the termination of its development after two years in beta. Despite significant improvements, the game did not meet Supercell's quality standards. However, Supercell remains committed to delivering the Clash Mini experience within Clash Royale, reflecting its dedication to fulfilling its ultimate vision. The move aligns with Supercell's launch of Spark, a new greenlight process for external teams, demonstrating the company's dedication to innovation in game development. What's the bigger picture? In an exclusive interview with mobilegamer.biz, Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen and former Hay Day lead Stephan Demirdjian shed light on an innovative process. A game-changing move from Supercell, the masterminds behind Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, Hay Day, and Brawl Stars. They're flipping the script with Team Lab, a fresh initiative that gives the green light to teams, not just game ideas. […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 16

Journal

InnoGames Unveils Salaries To Empower And Enlighten

InnoGames, the brainiacs behind Forge of Empires and Rise of Cultures, just shook up their salary setups to level up pay fairness in the gaming world. Back in 2022, this Hamburg hotshot was the pioneer among German game gurus, revealing their salary scales to spotlight who's earning what in which department. Now in 2024, they're dropping a fresh update, spruced up with new data and adjustments, and they're shouting it from the digital rooftops once more. Earnings of InnoGames Employees Junior QA engineers at InnoGames earn €38,000 to €50,000, while junior developers make €48,000 to €58,000. Senior QA engineers can earn over €85,000, and head developers receive €115,000 annually. For artists, salaries start at €34,000 and can exceed €80,000 for senior team leads. Community managers start at €34,000 and can earn over €85,000 in senior positions. "Regular" employees, who are […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 5

Journal

Turkish Gaming Revolution: Insights and Analysis from 2023

Published by Gaming in Turkey, Turkiye's gaming scene just got a juicy new report, a treasure chest full of secrets. Local Gaming Publishers: The report sheds light on the diverse array of local gaming publishers operating within Turkey, showcasing their contributions to the vibrant gaming ecosystem. Popular Game Genres: Through meticulous analysis, Gaming in Turkey identifies the most prevalent game genres within the Turkish market, offering invaluable data for developers and publishers seeking to tailor their offerings to local preferences. Player Behaviors: Understanding player behaviors is crucial for success in the gaming industry. The report provides valuable insights into the habits, preferences, and trends shaping the gaming habits of Turkish players. Investments in the Industry: With the gaming industry experiencing rapid growth globally, understanding investment trends is essential. Gaming in Turkey's report offers an in-depth analysis of investments within the […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 3

Journal

Decoding Gaming Salaries: Insights From 80.lv’s Research

Income gaps in gaming are no joke! US devs make bank, while UK and Spain folks struggle more due to local factors. The gaming industry is super dynamic, and understanding salary dynamics is crucial. 80.lv's report dives deep into mobile gaming salaries, revealing diverse salary brackets and regional disparities by providing valuable insights based on experience, proficiency, and location. Is it Fair? Salaries vary significantly across regions. For instance, in the USA, 36% of surveyed game development professionals earn over $150K, while the majority of respondents from the UK earn between $40,000-$60,000. 80.lv's report also analyzes salaries by job categories, offering insights for animators, artists, creative directors, and game designers. For example, nearly one-third of professionals in Poland find themselves in the $30,000-$40,000 salary bracket. Challenges and Opportunities Despite industry growth, the study uncovers financial challenges for some, especially junior […]

Ömer Yakabagi February 9

Journal

NewZoo: 2024 Gaming Market Trends

Newzoo's 2024 report on game trends is out, promising to revolutionize the gaming industry. It delves into the key factors shaping gaming in the coming year, from new releases to tech advancements. A Preview on Gaming Trends Here are some of the pivotal gaming trends for 2024, as forecasted by NewZoo, shedding light on the anticipated dynamics shaping the industry. Global games market to rebound in 2024: After a decline in 2022 followed by a slight recovery in 2023, the global games market is poised for a significant rebound in 2024. Key drivers include the expanding user bases of Xbox Series and PlayStation 5, alongside the growth in live-service games and back catalog sales. Despite privacy challenges, mobile gaming is also expected to see an upswing. Xbox's Strategic Entry into the Mobile Market: In 2024, Xbox is set to introduce […]

Ömer Yakabagi February 9

Ömer Yakabagi

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