Can one hit game transform the African games industry?
While the potential impact of a single hit game could be significant for Africa, relying exclusively on this strategy comes with its own set of risks.
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2025 Trends and Predictions 8-10
Part 4/5 - 2025 Trends and Predictions 8-10 Here are the final three of my yearly projections, probably the most unconventional ones or the ones most likely to be called b*llshit!8. Hybrid Casual Evolves Into CasualHear me out: back in January 2024, during the PGC Live Special with two & a half gamers Gamers, I told Jakub Remiar that hybrid is just a stepping stone to casual games. And I stand by it. From my own experience, the "hybrid" games I've been working on lately are arguably only a step away from being fully casual. They already include the bulk of casual features, player motivations, and economic drivers. Sure, they might lack full PvP functionality for now, but that could easily be added in the future. My prediction is simple: hybrid devs have learned the ropes of casual development and […]
Mobile Gaming: My 27 success proven tools list
My 27 success proven tools list is your must have for mobile game development. 🔄 Repost to help new developers! Mobile Games hold almost 50%,of the entire video games market.Thats +$90B a year.Check out the tools that guides you to success:↳Measurement Partners✦Adjust ✦AppsFlyer ✦Singular↳Mediation✦AppLovin ✦Unity Google ✦AdMob↳Game Analytics✦Dive ✦devtodev ✦Amplitude↳Market Intel✦AppMagic ✦Sensor Tower ✦GameAnalytics↳Ad Intelligence✦AppGrowing ✦SocialPeta Ltd ✦Apptica↳LTV Prediction✦AppNava ✦Voyantis ✦Sociaro↳Appstore Optimization✦AppTweak ✦MobileAction ✦ShyftUp↳User Acquisition✦adjoe ✦Mistplay ✦Gamelight↳Competitive Intel✦Playliner ✦GameRefinery ✦Apptopia Inc.Use them wisely!What do you use?Cheers! PS: I am still learning a new one every week! Special thanks to Yağız Gür and Ömer Yakabagi for helping me to put together this list. I will try to highlight these and similar companies on what they do so keep an eye for it! #videogames #mobilegames
Which game engine should you choose for your game?
Which game engine should you choose for your game? Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 game engines in 2024:1. Unreal Engine🔹 Complexity: High🔹 Price: $$🔹 Pros: AAA graphics, photorealistic rendering, robust tools.🔹 Cons: Steep learning curve, not optimized for low-end devices.🔹 Best for high-end 3D games on PC and consoles.2. Unity🔹 Complexity: Medium🔹 Price: $$$🔹 Pros: Versatile 2D/3D support, cross-platform deployment, huge asset store.🔹 Cons: High licensing fees, some features gated.🔹 Best for indie to mid-size games, mobile, and VR/AR projects.3. Godot Engine🔹 Complexity: Low to Medium🔹 Price: Free🔹 Pros: Open-source, lightweight, node-based architecture.🔹 Cons: Limited 3D features, fewer third-party tools.🔹 Best for indie developers, 2D games, and learning projects.4. GameMaker🔹 Complexity: Low🔹 Price: $🔹 Pros: Drag-and-drop interface, custom scripting with GML, great for rapid prototyping.🔹 Cons: Limited for complex games, paid export modules.🔹 Best for beginners, 2D indie […]
6 in-game currencies you MUST know
🤑 6 in-game currencies you MUST know ❶ Soft Currency• Low value• General-purpose currency• Can be obtained for free by playing or waitingExamples: Credits in Call of Duty Mobile, Coins in Royal Match or Polygun Arena❷ Medium Currency• Obtainable through grinding (like soft currency)• but it has some kind of limitation such as their usage or accumulationExamples: Gold or Elixir in Clash of Clans❸ Hard Currency• High value currency• Mostly you can get it through in app purchase meaning it's closely related to monetizationExamples: Gems in Polygun Arena or Brawl Stars or Clash of Clans❹ Energy Currency• Exchanged exclusively for playing time• Usually priced over every attempt or actionExamples: Heart in Royal Match or Homescapes❺ Event Currency• This currency just exist temporarily during an event• It's focused around a time-limited event or featureExamples: Pickaxes during Hidden Temple in Royal Match, […]
Embracer Sells Easybrain for $1.2 Billion
Miniclip has just scored big, acquiring Easybrain—Casual Puzzle Game Giant—for $1.2 billion. This deal not only reshapes Embracer's financials but also cuts their debt down to nearly zero, setting them up with a strong cash position to drive future growth. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2025. Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors highlighted the impact, saying, “Easybrain has been a core part of Embracer for over three years, driving incredible value. As the market shifts, Miniclip is the perfect home for Easybrain to keep leading in the ad-driven mobile gaming scene.” Based in Cyprus, Easybrain is known for its smash-hit casual puzzles like Art Puzzle, Pixel Art, Number Match, and Blockudoku, plus the globally popular Sudoku.com. These titles bring a loyal fanbase to Miniclip’s growing lineup, which already features recent acquisitions like Sybo and FuturLab, giving Miniclip a major […]
Brutally Honest #138
Hey, FAM! What’s up? 🥃 Drink talk My US road show is going well. I'm meeting people here in Santa Barbara / LA, to have real conversations. A recent lunch with Diana reminded me just how powerful real conversations and in-person connections are, even though sometimes I would rather stay home and not talk to anyone. Sometimes = most of the time. 🦩Tip of the week What's the best benchmark KPI to test the creatives for a completely new game? Would it be CPI? Ah, the classic "What's the best KPI?" question – it's like asking a gamer how to choose between pizza and tacos! 🍕🌮 So, CPI (Cost Per Install) is a metric to keep your eyes on when testing creatives for a brand-new game. But don’t just stop there! To get the full picture, you should also examine […]
Time Boosters can increase Player Engagement & Monetization
Do you believe that Time Boosters can increase not just player Engagement, but also Monetization?No? Then this post is for you. Many people underestimate the positive impact of Time Boosters. These boosters can elevate the gaming experience by adding VALUE:↳ motivating players to Stay Longer ↳ and Spend MorePopular Booster Types, that you can implement in your Game: ↳ Unlimited Lives ↳ Pre-Level Boosters ↳ Discount Boosters ↳ Extra Rewards ↳ More LiveOps Event Currency ↳ Faster Progression ↳ Other Specific Boosters (ex. Better Drop Rates)There are 3 options, how Boosters can HELP you to MAXIMIZE your KPIs: ↳ Prolong Player Sessions Length ↳ Encourage Currency Spending ↳ Smartly Remove a 'Session Limit' BarrierWant to know even more? - HOW boosters can help with 'New' and 'Returning' players? - WHY boosters are great currency for your Game Economy? - WHICH Boosters work best […]
Countdown to PEAK Season is on!
✨ The countdown to peak season is on! Only a few weeks left until Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas 🎄 and then, New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year. To make sure you are ready, I’ve put together an ASA Checklist.If you’re primarily running in Search Results, you’ve probably noticed that while high season means more volume, it doesn’t necessarily lead to higher CPIs. Why? 🤔It’s because ASA is keyword-driven. As an ex-Apple employee, I've seen it first-hand.While e-commerce and retail apps are competing fiercely on their terms, you’re competing only for terms in your own category. This means you’ll see higher search volume without the steep CPI hikes that other platforms experience.To help you make the most of it, here’s a quick checklist to maximize your ASA campaigns during this period.❄️ Feel free to reach if you'd like […]
Born To Play: Gen Alpha on Gaming
Spending time with my nephews on our common ground: Playing VIDEO GAMES: Here’s What Game Developers Need to Know. Summary: Gen Alpha is shaping up to be a generation like no other, defined by their comfort with technology, love for diverse gameplay, and highly social nature. By designing games that cater to their unique habits and preferences, developers can create experiences that resonate deeply with this emerging audience. By embracing cross-platform compatibility, prioritizing customization, enabling user-generated content, and catering to their broad genre interests, game developers can build games that not only capture Gen Alpha’s attention but also foster lasting engagement. This is a generation eager to learn, explore, and create ,a dynamic that opens up countless possibilities for innovative, adaptive game design. Generation Alpha, born after 2010 and often called the “iPad generation,” is the first cohort to grow […]
My 2025 Predictions and Trends
2025 Predictions & Trends So, is 2024 pretty much wrapped up? Launch schedules briefed? Sprint planning done? Q4 goals all set? Great, let's dive into my top 10 predictions for 2025!1. HTML5 GamesA trailblazer in Q3 for mobile games, the industry has truly woken up to the substantial revenue potential outside the walled gardens of Apple and Google. The resurgence and expansion of HTML5 games are closely linked to developers seeking to boost studio EBITDA and, ultimately, ensure survival. Platforms like Wechat and Telegram offer not only incremental revenue but also massive, engaged audiences and opportunities for cost-effective, targeted user acquisition. Meta Instant Games has just integrated IAPs for the first time, and double-digit CAGR growth on Poki and CrazyGames highlights the market’s potential. All signs point to HTML5 as something every developer should be exploring next year.2. Alternative StoresIn […]
AdROAS is live on Facebook. Start campaigns ASAP!
*BREAKING NEWS* AdROAS is live on Facebook. Start campaigns ASAP 👇 No more shitty workarounds. Meta is finally getting on the AdROAS trend. Only 2 years later than it should, but better late than never! Check it out!