Why is Mobile Gaming so hard right for startups?

Why is mobile gaming so hard right for startups?- Incumbents have massive network effects and consumer data to acquire and retain users- Incumbents can afford 500 people working on a game- Incumbents can take their time (5+ years) to make the new game So where are the opportunities?- Avoid categories where incumbents dominate (puzzle, midcore, social casino)- Build for a niche and then expand (think about all the Habby games)- Innovate on distribution, try to get off the ground without paid UA

Joakim Achren December 16

Highlights

AONIC AB Receives €152M Investment

The Games Group includes nDreams, TutoToons, Red Games, Exmox, Gravite, and more. Swedish gaming group AONIC has secured €152 million in funding to drive mergers and acquisitions and to bolster ongoing projects across its studios. European investment firm Metric Capital Partners contributed €100 Million to the funding round, while AONIC's majority shareholder, Active Ownership, added €52 Million by converting an existing shareholder loan into equity. Advisory support for the transaction was provided by UBS and DLA Piper for AONIC and Active Ownership, while Metric was advised by Dechert, 8Advisory, and Grant Thornton. Expanding games portfolio Since its establishment in 2021, AONIC has acquired a range of companies involved in development, publishing, and gaming services. Its portfolio includes VR developer nDreams, user acquisition platform Exmox, ad monetization tools provider Gravite, and mobile gaming studios Red Games Co and TutoToons. Other notable […]

Ömer Yakabagi December 16

Journal

Game Development looks simple on the surface.

Game development looks simple on the surface. But this is an "Iceberg" hiding many underwater obstacles. Above the water: • Come up with a good idea • Choose a game engine • Create a prototype • Cool logo and title • Post a launch tweet • Click ‘export game’Sounds straightforward, right?But the real work happens below the surface:• Gather a strong team • Fun gameplay • Balance progression and difficulty • Optimization and bug fixes • Retain players long-term • Build a community • Effective monetization strategy • Get funding • Run a successful marketing campaign • Meet deadlines • Bring the game to release • Keep the passion for gaming alive • Achieve profitabilityEach layer gets harder.Each challenge is critical.Game development isn’t just about creativity.It’s about perseverance, problem-solving, and commitment.Because what seems like "just a game"is really years of […]

Anton Slashcev December 16

Journal

6 Major Game Studio Differences

Understanding these 6 major studio size differencesin game development, helps making better games. Indie vs AA vs AAAAll have their ownAdvantages, andDisadvantages.Key is to usethem wisely.Fun* = Fun has many meanings for many different players.

Gökhan Üzmez December 16

Journal

Sonic Rumble is dropping globally on February 28th!

Sonic Rumble is dropping globally on February 28th! ➜ SEGA is entering the multiplayer mobile space➜ Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie is out soon (transmedia strategy!)➜ The IP is now part of the Angryverse from Rovio Entertainment➜ The lore is bigger than everHaving worked on many collaborations before, here’s how I’d launch it on Apple Search Ads (ASA):1️⃣ Leverage the AngryverseA Sonic x Angry Birds collab is the perfect way to drive installs. Promote exclusive skins, themed events, and cross-promos with tailored Custom Product Pages (CPPs).2️⃣ Dominate searchesRun campaigns on high-intent keywords like [sonic], [party game], and [multiplayer] to capture fans and prevent competitors from hijacking the IP.3️⃣ Start early, go bigKick off ASA campaigns a few days before launch to build momentum and capitalise on the hype.4️⃣ Strategic placementsUse Today Tab and Search Tab ads to maximise awareness.

Julie Tonna December 13

Journal

Core vs. Meta in Mobile Games

Core vs. Meta in Mobile Games Based on the Playliner research here’s a breakdown of time distribution in different games:1. Candy Crush Saga • Core - 88.9%• Meta - 11.1%2. Zynga Poker • Core - 88.0%• Meta - 12.0%3. WSOP • Core - 86.0%• Meta - 14.0%4. Best Fiends • Core - 85.1%• Meta - 14.9%5. Bingo Blitz • Core - 83.9%• Meta - 16.1%6. Texas Poker: Pokerist • Core - 82.5%• Meta - 17.5%7. Toon Blast • Core - 81.9%• Meta - 18.1%8. Fishdom Solitaire • Core - 81.5%• Meta - 18.5%9. DoubleDown • Core - 79.5%• Meta - 20.5%10. June's Journey • Core - 78.1%• Meta - 21.9%11. House of Fun • Core - 77.6%• Meta - 22.4%12. Caesars Casino • Core - 74.7%• Meta - 25.3%13. Royal Match • Core - 74.1%• Meta - 25.9%14. Slotomania • […]

Anton Slashcev December 13

Journal

What do gamers expect from Rewarded Ads?

What do gamers expect from Rewarded Ads (as they are increasingly popular in the gaming and apps world)? There is not so much research about it, so results from this one (a very recent one done by GWI in Q3 2024) are exciting: ▪️ In-game currency (e.g., coins, gems, etc.) ▪️ Extra lives or health to continue playing ▪️ Exclusive items or equipment (e.g., skins, avatars, etc.) ▪️ Power-ups or boosts ▪️ Level skips or hints ▪️ Double rewards ▪️ Time reductions (e.g., for building or crafting) ▪️ Exclusive content (e.g., special missions, levels, etc.) ▪️ The chance to spin a prize wheel Any surprises?

Mariusz Gąsiewski December 13

Journal

Top CMO Considerations for 2025

CMOs stepping into 2025 need to prioritize AI integration, navigate the evolving privacy landscape, and leverage innovation to drive growth. ● Implementing AI/Machine Learning to drive more impactful marketing● Using dynamic creative engines● Investing in data infrastructure and compliance solutions● Bringing in external expertise that challenges internal thinkingThe year 2024 marked a significant turning point in the marketing landscape. The rapid evolution and adoption of AI forced CMOs and marketing leaders to adapt quickly to a new reality. As we move into 2025, this pace of change shows no sign of slowing down. CMOs need to be prepared to embrace the ongoing transformation and leverage these advancements to drive growth, efficiency, and success. Here’s a look at some key considerations for CMOs as they navigate the year ahead: Top 3 marketing priorities for the next 12 months Clear M&C Saatchi […]

Doruk Kasoglu December 13

Journal

A/B test in iOS: 4 weeks for getting significance?

Wanna launch an A/B test in iOS but don't want to wait 4 weeks for getting some significance? Here’s a faster way: Use paid UA to speed up your testing and decision-making process.Follow these steps:1️⃣ Create two CPPs: One should replicate your default page, the other should be the variant you want to test2️⃣ Create one CPI campaign in Meta, targeting the country you want to test (ideally the one that brings most of the revenue)3️⃣ Create 2 ad groups within the same campaign and put on each one your best creative (one of those that you know that will easily produce installs)IMPORTANT! the creatives MUST BE the same in both ad groups. Otherwise the A/B testing wouldn't make sense as more variables would affect the final conversion rate4️⃣ Spend $100/day in each ad group and wait 3-4 days.5️⃣ Enjoy […]

David Vargas December 13

Journal

250.000 roles related to Game Design

There are over 250.000+ roles related to game designYet number of game economy designers remains unknown. Here is why A game economy designer:Crafing the virtual world’s financial systemto keep players engaged and the game balanced.Part of the game design, NOT monetization, yet.They ensure the game’s rewards, currencies,and monetization are seamlessly integratedto enhance player experience and drive revenue.Thats where the monetization comes in to play.This magical role is called:❇ Game Economy DesignerHowever,Depending on the size of teams and games,These duties fall under other roles such as❇ Game Designer,❇ Product Manager,❇ Game Developer,That’s is why we can’t know theexact number of game economy designers out there!But we do know that every gameNeeds a ''solid economy''To keep players engagedAnd make profit while doing so! So the awesome developerscan keep making more games! YAY! PS: Number of game economy designers are on the rise, […]

Gökhan Üzmez December 13

Journal

People overcomplicate Game Analytics & A/B Testing

People overcomplicate game analytics, and A/B testing. Listen, if you’re developing a game: Avoid:❗ Re-inventing your own metrics,❗ Waste time on unnecessary tools,❗ Listen to your gut feelings,❗ Early monetization strategy.Instead:✅ Use an easy integrated tool,✅ Rely on analytical reports,✅ Run effective A/B testing,✅ Scan actionable insights,✅ Listen to what your players have to say.--> By following their footsteps. 👣Take a look at what devtodev has to offer.Build from there.Success is...inevitable.Use analytics in your favor, not against.

Gökhan Üzmez December 12

Journal

2025: Growth, UA and Monetisation

I think the next will be year of focus on user experience, better onboarding, building even more connetions between Growth/User Acquisition and Monetisation: ▪️once you look at Games and Apps data (here based on Sensor Tower), it is very easy to see that Revenue grows much faster than Downloads (of course in many apps categories revenue numbers in tools are just proxy as the monetisation lays somewhere else, although it still shows some trend) ▪️ once we add additional revenue growth coming coming from ads (a lot of data points shows that in many games and apps categories in-app, in-game ads revenue grows much faster than in-app and subscriptions), then the difference between growth of monetisation and growth of downloads will be even higher ▪️ I am not expecting this trend to be changing as in many markets growth of […]

Mariusz Gąsiewski December 12

Journal

Login to enjoy full advantages

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Cancel subscription