𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗖𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗖𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘• Prior mobile Pokemon CCG 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐𝘈𝘗. Yes, that’s right.• The new game is polished but revolves around timer-based pack openings.• 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.• Over $20M so far, but downloads 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁.• Japan dominates ($26/download; U.S.: $4.36).• Strong collection loops with Codex moments at pack openings but a weaker version of physical CCG.• And yes, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆.• 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗖𝗚𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, far from Pokemon Go’s $800M annual revenue.• Failure to evolve beyond Snap’s lukewarm success, weak meta, or UGC adoption. Markets failed, too (Artifact).• Inability to build strong meta loops or explore UGC. 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗; 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦?• Turning into 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 (Space Ape brand dead), but games have declined the last year.• They’ve been working on Boom Beach and Hayday, so they […]

Phillip Black November 8

Journal

Top must-read reports & webinars this week for Marketers

⚡️ Top must-read reports & webinars this week for Marketers! 1️⃣ Put AI to Work for Marketing Teams [Webinar] by OpenAIA deep dive into how AI can streamline marketing processes, where OpenAI shares insights on integrating AI tools effectively, from content generation to predictive analytics.🔗 https://lnkd.in/eCRzkK9c2️⃣ Q3 Quarterly Trends Report [Report] by SingularHighlights the latest in mobile marketing trends, attribution challenges, and key industry benchmarks, with insights from Digital Turbine, Mobile Growth Association, RevX, yellowHEAD, SHAMSCO & Marcus Burke.🔗 https://lnkd.in/ec3gUhAV3️⃣ State of Digital Advertising 2024 [Report] from Sensor TowerFor understanding shifts in ad spend, format performance, and consumer behavior trends in 2024.🔗 https://lnkd.in/eUHHcsM3

Julie Tonna November 8

Journal

Pocket Pair, the creator of Palworld, cited the patents Nintendo is suing them under.

Pocket Pair, the creator of Palworld, cited the patents Nintendo is suing them under. And boy, is it Japanese patent law nuts. It's enough to radicalize me against patent protection of any type in games (I'm looking at you, Shadow of War). While something might be lost in translation, the breath is insane.𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝗝𝗣𝟳𝟱𝟰𝟱𝟭𝟵𝟭𝗕𝟭It tries to patent, among other things, how players capture and train virtual creatures over time, including evolution mechanics.— It specifically discussed how multiple evolution paths change stats based on player input (e.g., a creature gets more health because you pet it).𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝗝𝗣𝟳𝟱𝟮𝟴𝟯𝟵𝟬𝗕𝟮This one is sore nuts, trying to patent how players interact in biomes, like altering terrain or weather conditions. It includes progression systems like resource points based on in-game gathering activities!𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝗝𝗣𝟳𝟰𝟵𝟯𝟭𝟭𝟳𝗕𝟮This one is more technical, and I'm unsure how to read […]

Phillip Black November 8

Journal

App Store gets a More Powerful Search

🌟 The App Store gets a “More Powerful Search” … but what does it mean? 🌟 With the latest iOS 18.1 update, Apple has rolled out a “More Powerful Search” for the App Store.It allows users to find apps using natural language - like on ChatGPT, for example.On paper, this sounds like a game changer for app discovery.After giving it a try, I was not really convinced…I did a couple of test searches before updating my iPhone.First, I looked for “Best travel app to book everything for my city trip” - no results.Then, I searched for “Popular games to match candies & sweets” and only found small, unknown apps (even for me, who works in the gaming industry).So, what happened after I updated to iOS 18.1?Well, honestly, not much changed…I got the same results for both.A bit disappointing, to be […]

Julie Tonna November 7

Journal

Supercell ran the 2nd Beta test for Project R.I.S.E

Supercell ran the 2nd Beta test for Project R.I.S.E. during last weekend and there were some major changes 🤩 done to the core of the game from the 1st test, that we saw during July this year. Get the latest run down here 😎 The biggest change is the perk selection as it is going be asynchronous, meaning you don't need to wait ⏳ for other players to choose and the game won't stop during this time as in previous version. Each player now has their own pool to chose from, which is affected by their overall progression. Perks now cost elixir giving it a strategic choice, with the possibility to save it between floors. This is a great change as it removed a lot of friction and unlocked more metagame options to affect the perk pools 😁.Heroes got a […]

Jakub Remiar November 6

Journal

Scopely’s Stumble Guys Faces Downhill Slide in Engagement

📉 Scopely’s Stumble Guys Faces Downhill Slide in Engagement—What’s Next? 📈 According to my analysis with AppMagic, Stumble Guys, a hit from Scopely, is seeing decline in downloads and engagement as it progresses through its lifecycle. This trend, while common among games after their peaks, highlights a critical point: without re-freshening of gameplay and strategic updates, it's challenging to maintain DAU and MAU once the spikes are gone. Squeezed up monetization and economy can bring up cash on the table while engagement is going down, but that squeeze, without doing anything else, can end up churning users more.Scopely has taken some steps to address this by launching Stumble Guys across multiple platforms. And while this approach helped bring new waves of players, quick insights from SteamDB reveal a similar downhill trend post-launch, signaling that while multi-platform reach is valuable, it […]

Antti Kananen November 6

Journal

Appeal of Engagement Types outside of Gameplay

Online and offline entertainment are increasingly merging. This is evident in data from Newzoo's Global Gamer Consumer Study, which examined gamers across various countries and their "Appeal of Engagement Types Outside of Gameplay." It's fascinating to see how gaming is becoming more integrated into the broader entertainment landscape.This convergence presents numerous opportunities for new business models in both gaming and entertainment. Companies that successfully capitalize on this trend are likely to experience significant growth (adding additional growth to the gaming industry as well). Those who can find innovative ways to blend online and offline experiences will be well-positioned for success in this evolving market.

Mariusz Gąsiewski November 6

Journal

Web Stores Impact & Trends

🎮 Web Stores Impact & TrendsThe mobile gaming industry has faced significant revenue challenges in 2024, with a notable decline across various genres and platforms. One key factor contributing to this shift is game developers' increasing adoption of web stores, bypassing platform fees, and offering better value to players. The shift toward web stores represents a significant evolution in mobile game monetization. Games implementing these strategies create direct relationships with players while offering better value, potentially reshaping the industry's revenue distribution model.

Oxana Fomina November 5

Journal

Next-Gen Social Mechanics: Next Big Opportunity in F2P

🌐 Next-Gen Social Mechanics in Gaming: The Next Big Opportunity in F2P 🌐 As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the next billion-dollar opportunity lies in pushing beyond today’s social mechanics and connectivity features. In a world craving genuine connection, games that foster deep social engagement both inside and outside the game environment are set to thrive.Imagine games where players can connect beyond traditional friend lists and chat functions. Instead, they could experience a “Tinder-like” player-matching system, building teams or alliances based on compatibility, interests, or in-game objectives. Picture boosters that activate based on proximity, or resource trading convoys that reward cooperation and strategic trading based on location. These features wouldn’t just offer new play methods—they’d create lasting relationships beyond the screen. And I'm not talking only about location-based games here.🔍 Why This Approach Works in Today’s World?In a society […]

Antti Kananen November 3

Journal

6 key steps on successful puzzle games

I shared the stage with Yunus to discuss 6 key steps on successful puzzle games. Step 6 is the real DEAL! Yunus is the developer behind Hexa Sort,Currently making $15M a month.Published by Lion StudiosThis is not his first puzzle game.He has been fighting in frontlines in this genre.Here are the 6 key steps we discussed:1- Creating a hit mobile puzzle game is not easy:↳ Watching the market, closely,↳ Constant Iteration - (Hexagon theme)↳ Constant Innovation - (Auto Sort)2- You can’t scale a game without a low CPI:↳ Focus on new User Acquisition,↳ Keep your retention high,↳ Iterate CREATIVES as well,3- Level design doesn’t mean quantity:↳ Having 350 levels means nothing,↳ Amount of FUN per level means everything.4- Polished art is not a unique selling point↳ Smooth game play is,↳ Flowing animations are.5- You need patience and practice:↳ What looks […]

Gökhan Üzmez November 2

Journal

Voodoo’s 2024 Activities with 12 Main Subjects

I am breaking down Voodoo's 2024 activities with 12 main subjects:Over the years, they have surpassed 7 Billion downloads worldwide. Some developers don't understand the basics.They think if design looks good on paper,It will also scale on charts. Yea, about that... I follow all major mobile game publishers,On a custom dashboard, made within minutes.I am starting analysis with Voodoo,And I’ll keep publishing similar reports,On Hyper-Casual Game publishers.Here are discussions for Voodoo in 2024:✦ No major scale in 2024 games,✦ Their Flagships remains the same,✦ They are struggling to keep CPIs low,✦ Live Ops teams are doing a great job,✦ New game attempts focuses on puzzles,✦ They are still acquiring TONS of new users,✦ Their Hybrid Monetization is paying off well.I think they will take the following actions:↳ Work on more Mid-Core games on secret accounts,↳ Strengthen their live ops teams […]

Gökhan Üzmez November 1

Journal

My 6 crucial metric every game developer should track

My 6 crucial metric every game developer should track, because in modern video game design, DATA reigns supreme. Today, every successful game isa result of data driven game design.Every game developer should:- Design, create and maintain a data warehouse,- Validate player data from every source,- Define game metrics such as retention and ltv,- Use efficient dashboards to track progress,For a profitable and fun game.I am actually impressed by Dive and how it simplifies everything. From data collection to clear, actionable insights, it saves both time and money.Making it very “cost-efficient”. If you want:✦ A clear understanding of your game metrics, ✦ To make smarter, data-driven decisions,✦ And save valuable time and money,You should definitely try DIVE because, Data is no longer optional in game development;It's your most powerful ALLY.Cheers! PS: Curious to see how DIVE can transform your game? Send […]

Gökhan Üzmez November 1

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