This article was originally published on the TapNation’s blog.

Mobile gaming has become a thriving industry, with a multitude of games vying for the attention of players. In this competitive landscape, mobile game publishers bridge the gap between game developers and their target audience. They are the ultimate pirates that will launch your games and scale them to new heights.

Mobile game publishers serve as a vital link in the gaming ecosystem. They offer assistance in various areas, such as financing, scaling, distribution, and monetization. Their expertise and resources can significantly impact a game’s success in the market, whether domestic or international.

Benefits of Working with a Publisher

Partnering with a mobile game publisher brings a multitude of benefits to developers. Publishers provide access to industry expertise and market knowledge, offering invaluable insights that can shape the trajectory of a game. Moreover, their vast network of industry contacts facilitates effective promotion and marketing, increasing the visibility of the game among the target audience. Additionally, publishers offer resources for quality assurance, user acquisition, and localization, enabling developers to navigate these crucial aspects with ease. Furthermore, publishers provide technical support, helping developers overcome complex development challenges and ensuring the smooth performance of their games.

1. Game Development

The development phase of a game is where publishers play a pivotal role. They assist developers in refining game concepts and identifying market opportunities, leveraging their experience and market insights to enhance the game’s potential for success. Throughout the development process, publishers provide ongoing support and feedback, acting as a guiding hand to ensure that the game meets industry standards and resonates with the target audience. Moreover, publishers offer assistance with localization for international markets, enabling games to cater to a global audience. Additionally, their technical support can help overcome any development challenges to ensure the game functions hassle-free.

2. Monetization Strategies

Effective monetization is essential for the success of a mobile game, and publishers come in very handy in this aspect. They assist developers in choosing the right monetization model, whether it’s freemium, ad-supported, or others, based on the game’s unique characteristics and target audience. Furthermore, publishers help optimize IAP (in-app purchase) pricing and placement, maximizing the game’s revenue potential. Integrating ad networks and implementing rewarded video ads are also part of the strategies publishers employ to enhance the game’s monetization. Moreover, publishers explore partnerships, licensing deals, and IP exploitation to further bolster the game’s financial prospects.

3. Marketing & Promotion

Marketing and promotion are vital components of a game’s success, and publishers excel in this area. They create captivating trailers and gameplay videos that entice potential players, along with designing eye-catching app store assets such as icons, creatives, screenshots, and banners to make the game stand out. Moreover, publishers leverage social media platforms to generate buzz and excitement around the game, engaging with the gaming community to build anticipation. Additionally, they can also forge influencer partnerships for sponsored content promotion, leveraging the reach and influence of popular gaming personalities. Furthermore, publishers organize press events and participate in gaming conventions to garner media coverage and increase the game’s visibility.

Tips on How to Approach a Mobile Game Publisher

When seeking to partner with a mobile game publisher, developers should conduct thorough research to identify publishers aligned with their game’s genre and target audience. It’s essential to prepare a compelling pitch that highlights the USP’s (unique selling point) of the game. This helps to effectively convey its value proposition. If feasible, developers should develop a playable prototype to provide publishers with a tangible experience of the game. Networking and attending industry events are also valuable, as they allow developers to build relationships with potential publishing partners. Lastly, outlining a comprehensive business plan encompassing the development timeline and revenue projections is crucial for presenting a clear vision of the game’s potential.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mobile game publishers are key to making your game successful. Their range of services, expertise, industry connections, and support throughout the development process contribute significantly to a game’s potential to be a hit amongst players. By partnering with a mobile game publisher, developers can make use of these resources and capabilities to monetize and market their games. They also aid in increasing their visibility, appeal, and ultimately, their success in the competitive mobile gaming market.

TapNation is one such mobile gaming publisher that has released 100+ games and generated more than 1 billion downloads! Our ambition is to lead the way in a high-growth market that helps developers take their games to the next level.

Submit your game now!

When developing a mobile multiplayer game, there’s an added layer of complexity. It’s not just the technical challenge of connecting the players together, but every element of your game is affected – from the monetization to the gameplay itself.

With that in mind, we’ve brought together the tools and resources that’ll help you make your multiplayer game.

Which engine is best for multiplayer games?

Most engines feature multiplayer support in one way or another, whether it’s built-in or a plugin.

• Unity. Despite recent concerns, Unity is still the go-to choice for many mobile developers. Not only do they have guides on their website, they also have tons of the backend tools and features you’ll need to make your multiplayer game run smoothly.
• Defold. Completely free and open source. Defold is a very lightweight engine that’s perfect for mobile games. But it isn’t built for 3D games.
• Godot. Often considered the open-source alternative to Unity. It also has a very active community, building plugins for most of your needs. It’s a good engine for any genre.
• GameMaker. A great 2D engine that has multiplayer out of the box. While it costs for a commercial licence, it’s a flat fee or subscription rather than based on your earnings.
• Unreal. If you’re building a deep, 3D, competitive multiplayer game and want the best graphics, the only real choice is Unreal. But it’s overkill if you’re making a more casual game.

It’s always tricky picking an engine. You can easily end up in decision limbo, spending months researching each one. Luckily for you, GameAnalytics is compatible with most major engines and environments, making it easy for you to rely on data at any time.

What motivates people to play multiplayer games?

People play multiplayer games for very different reasons to a single-player game. It’s important to understand those motivations and how they affect your game’s design. Here are a couple of resources to bear in mind when designing.

• Understanding player motivations. There are eight main reasons why people play games. In this article, we dig into them and how they affect your game.
• Player motivation archetypes. Similarly, GameRefinery found that you can dig a little and split those motivations into twelve categories.

What tools do you need to make multiplayer games?

There are many tools you’ll need to integrate with your multiplayer game, if you want it to feel fair and satisfying to play. The four main areas to consider are:

1. Server hosting. Will you host your matches or host from the player’s machine? You’ll likely want to look at cloud providers, such as AWS Gaming or get a third-party to sort it out for you, like Gameye.
2. Matchmaking. It’s no fun joining a game with players who are far better than you. Instead, a matchmaker groups your players together based on their skill. You can also include other rules, such as their region. What matchmaker you choose largely depends on your engine.
3. Anti-cheat and DDoS protection. As soon as you open up your game to the general public, you could be a target of cyber attacks or just general cheating. Either way, make sure you have some way to protect the data you’re sending.
4. Backend systems. Most multiplayer games will need a database of users and other meta-features, such as achievement systems, leaderboards or economies. Services like LootLocker, Photon or Pragma make it easy to set these features up and keep them running.

How do you monetize multiplayer games?

Unlike casual games, advertising doesn’t particularly work with multiplayer. Adverts tend to interrupt the flow of a game, so you can’t show them during a match. Instead, developers need to focus on different models to monetize the game. There are three main approaches:

1. A one-off payment. Simple and easy. But it can leave you with a problem if you’re paying for ongoing services, such as servers. Make sure you have an exit strategy for how you’ll switch to a community-led game in the future.
2. Subscriptions and battle passes. These are often the most popular ways to monetize a multiplayer game. Offer new cosmetics and content and keep the game active.
3. In-app purchases and downloadable content. Offering packs that players can purchase to give them more in-game currency or cosmetic items works well.

However you decide to monetize, it’s important to find the right balance. Make sure you A/B test different prices and bundles to see which is most effective. If you need help, check out our A/B testing.

How do you manage your community?

One of the major incentives for multiplayer games is the social aspect. If you want to keep your game active and thriving, you need to build and engage with your community.

• Building a community on Discord. In this article, we walk through how to get started with your community.
• Three ways to engage your community. Once you’ve established your community, here are three ways to keep them happy and active.

What’s the best way to make a multiplayer game?

It all comes down to data. Your analytics is key to making sure that your multiplayer game is active and effective. You need to track how players behave inside the matches, how your servers are doing, how your monetization models are performing, and what’s going on in your community.

With so many different data sources, it can be challenging to bring it all together in a cohesive way. This is where DataSuite comes in. We can bring all your data into a single Data Warehouse, allowing you to query the data from all these different sources in one central location. Check out what DataSuite can do for you.

As a large number of studios, publishers, and game developers are heavily relying on data to guide their decisions, they need to decide between building or buying. But which one is more efficient?

To assist you in understanding the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), we broke down the following key considerations:

• Setup requirements
• Cost calculation
• Team needs and recruitment

The GameAnalytics monetization series:

1. Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies
2. Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches
3. Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue
4. Exploring monetization: Using data to guide decisions

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Why is revenue data important?

Having access to data is important for optimizing your monetization strategies and ensuring their effectiveness for several reasons:

• Insights into player behavior: By tracking purchase events and other business metrics, game developers can gain deep insights into player behavior. This includes understanding which items or features are most popular, how often players make purchases, and what factors influence buying decisions.
• Performance evaluation: Data allows developers to evaluate the performance of different monetization strategies objectively. They can measure metrics such as conversion rates, average revenue per user (ARPU), and the lifetime value (LTV) of players.
• Optimization and iteration: Armed with data, developers can iterate and optimize their monetization strategies continuously. They can experiment with pricing models, promotions, and in-game offers based on real-time feedback and analytics.
• Personalization: Data-driven insights enable personalized monetization approaches. Developers can segment players based on their spending behavior, engagement patterns, and demographics.
• Forecasting and planning: Data helps to forecast future revenue streams and plan for scalability. By analyzing historical trends and performance metrics, developers can predict revenue projections and plan their monetization strategies accordingly.
• Competitive edge: In the competitive gaming market, data-driven decision-making provides a significant competitive edge.

The GameAnalytics’ monetization features are built with these reasons in mind.

GameAnalytics’ monetization features

To support you and ensure you maximize your revenue data, we’ve enhanced our monetization view into a stand-alone overview with improved features. The most significant update is the integration of Web Shop functionality, enabling you to track revenue directly from your Web Shop.

Note: Currently, GameAnalytics supports tracking of In-App Purchase data for mobile games only.

Let’s take a look at individual features:

Revenue overview and ARPPU

The core feature is the comprehensive revenue view. Positioned prominently at the top of your Monetization Overview, this tool displays your total revenue over time and offers comparisons between iOS, Android, and Web Shop earnings for your game.

This view enables you to address key questions:

• Which platform generates the highest revenue?
• Is revenue consistent or does it fluctuate with peaks and valleys?
• Are there indications of growth on any particular platform?

To uncover and understand your revenue trends, we recommend to:

1. Analyze your user base across each platform. While one platform may dominate in revenue, this could simply be due to having a larger player base on that platform. For instance, if 650 out of 1000 players use Android devices, it’s likely that Android generates the highest revenue. However, this doesn’t necessarily indicate the spending potential of iOS users or those using your Web Shop.
2. Compare revenue generated per platform with the average revenue per paying user (ARPPU). This comparison can show you spending patterns across different platforms. Building on the previous example, while Android may generate more revenue overall due to its larger user base, iOS users might spend twice as much per person. This insight could prompt a strategy shift towards acquiring more iOS users, who potentially have higher spending capabilities
3. If you observe notable changes in your revenue generation, evaluate the events leading up to and during the period of deviation. Consider the following:

• Did you recently release a new game build or introduce fresh content that could influence user spending behavior?
• What was the overall health of your game during this time? Were there any technical issues or bugs that might have impacted player experience and spending?
• Are there recurring patterns in your revenue trends, such as higher generation during paydays or lower revenue towards month-end? Understanding these patterns can help in aligning monetization efforts with peak spending periods and optimizing revenue throughout the month.

Converting users, paying users, and split by items

Other crucial charts to consider include displaying the total number of converting users and paying users.

Who are converting users? Converting users are those who made their first purchase on a specific day, identified by the “converting=true” event filter. These users indicate first engagement with monetization features.

Who are paying users? Paying users encompass all users who made a purchase on a given date, identified by events where “is paying” equals “true.” This metric reflects ongoing engagement with in-game purchases.

Both charts are invaluable as they reveal the likelihood of players making repeated purchases, giving insights into player satisfaction with available content and monetization strategies.

If the number of paying users is higher than the number of converting users, it indicates that players find your purchase items appealing and beneficial to their in-game experience. They appreciate the value of owning premium items and make purchases repeatedly, reflecting a strong monetization strategy.

However, if the number of paying users closely matches or even equals the number of converting users, it signals a need to reassess and optimize your strategy. One effective step is to utilize the ‘Revenue grouped by item’ feature.

This feature categorizes all your revenue by the purchased item, providing insights into which items drive consistent purchases. Items that perform well can be further enhanced or diversified to increase sales, such as offering more skins or rare items within successful categories.

Conversely, if players purchase an item once but don’t return for another purchase, it suggests that the perceived value may not meet expectations. Evaluating different item offerings through A/B testing can help refine and optimize your monetization approach, ensuring that items resonate well with players and drive sustainable revenue growth.

Reviewing the durability of items in your game can also give you an idea of player spending behavior. If players are buying passes or items that offer extended benefits, they may not feel tempted to make frequent additional purchases. To address this, you can consider the following strategies:

• Shorten the duration of passes or items to encourage more frequent purchases.
• Limit the availability of rare or exclusive items within these passes to maintain their value and desirability.
• Increase the price of passes while enhancing their content to justify the higher cost.
• Convert passes into subscription models that automatically renew, providing ongoing value and convenience to players.

First transaction revenue data for in-app purchases

Understanding the First Transaction Revenue chart is also interesting as it uncovers player spending potential within your game. This data reveals how much players are willing and able to invest in in-app purchases the first time around, providing insights that can optimize your pricing strategy and prioritize items effectively.

By analyzing this chart, you can identify the spending thresholds of your player base and strategically place items within these price ranges to maximize conversions. Highlighting items that align with players’ willingness to spend can increase their likelihood of completing purchases, enhancing both player satisfaction and revenue generation.

Generate more revenue by building your own Web Shop

In Part 2 of this series, we highlighted how Web Shops enhance mobile game monetization by facilitating direct sales of in-game items, virtual currency, exclusive content, and subscriptions through a web-based storefront.

Building on this in Part 3, we emphasized the cost-effectiveness of integrating a Web Shop with GameAnalytics, reducing platform fees significantly. If you haven’t yet integrated your Web Shop, our calculator in the Monetization Overview can estimate potential revenue and savings, with Xsolla charging only a 5% fee.

Use the calculator to project your Web Shop revenue by adjusting sliders for estimated revenue and capture rate.

Xsolla Calculator

Revenue with platforms

$350k

Revenue with Xsolla

$379.3k

Revenue uplift with Xsolla

$29,250

Revenue: $500,000

0

Capture rate: 30%

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If you are ready to explore this opportunity, simply submit this form to connect with an expert for guidance on Web Shop implementation, no obligations attached.

Now that you understand all the features and tricks to tracking your revenue and optimizing monetization strategies, you are ready to take action. The knowledge of tracking your revenue and the data will help you to make informed decisions, refine your monetization efforts, and ultimately maximize your game’s profitability. The last step is to go ahead and connect your business events to GameAnalytics, accessing all the insights you need to drive your game’s success.

The GameAnalytics monetization series:

1. Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies
2. Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches
3. Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue
4. Exploring monetization: Using data to guide decisions

________________

In our exploration through Part 1 and Part 2, we established the two primary monetization models: freemium and premium games, including numerous examples of monetization strategies. While much attention and effort is often directed towards monetization within free-to-play games, premium games also offer revenue generation opportunities.

Regardless of which model your game aligns with, the core principles of successful monetization remain the same – prioritizing player satisfaction while maximizing revenue potential.

Successful game monetization strategies

To ensure that you’re effectively implementing and managing your monetization efforts, several approaches can be taken:

1. Tracking revenue and player behavior

Tracking revenue and player behavior involves collecting and analyzing data related to in-game transactions, player interactions, and engagement metrics.

By leveraging data through GameAnalytics, developers gain insight into players’ spending habits, preferences, and behaviors. This data can then be used to optimize monetization strategies, tailor content offerings to meet player needs, and identify opportunities for revenue growth.

For example, tracking which in-game items or features are most popular among players can inform decisions about pricing, promotions, and content updates. Additionally, analyzing player retention and churn rates can help identify areas for improvement in the overall player experience, ultimately leading to increased monetization opportunities.

All-in-all, data is key to success.

Note: The last part of this series, focused on how to use GameAnalytics’ Monetization Overview will be released next Thursday. In the meantime, please make sure your business events are connected to GameAnalytics.

2. Cost-effectiveness of monetization solutions

When evaluating monetization solutions, it’s important to consider not only the potential revenue they can generate but also the costs associated with implementing and maintaining them.

For example, while in-app purchases may offer significant revenue potential, they may also require ongoing development resources to create and update content, as well as marketing expenses to promote them effectively.

On the other hand, advertising-based monetization models may have lower upfront costs but typically require a large player base to generate substantial revenue.

To ensure cost-effectiveness, developers should carefully assess the return on investment (ROI) of each monetization solution, taking into account factors such as development time, resources required, and potential revenue generation.

Reduce store commissions with custom Web Shops

Platform fees are another critical aspect to consider. These fees can impact your game’s profitability, as some platforms can charge up to 35% percent of revenue earned through their services.

Luckily, there are solutions that can help to mitigate these fees by conducting transactions directly through your own storefronts – reducing reliance on third-party platforms and retaining a larger portion of generated revenue.

The best and most popular solution particularly for mobile games are Xsolla’s Web Shops – a Direct to Consumer (D2C) store that enhance a game’s LiveOps using promotion, retention, and engagement mechanics to monetize players in the most personalized way possible.

Additionally, Web Shop solutions not only help you preserve more revenue (Xsolla only charges you a small fee of 5%), but they also help you increase your reach of paying players by expanding into new markets and accepting payments in over 700 currencies. They’re available to developers, studios and publishers as a trusted partner to guide through this innovative strategy.

This approach eases the burden of store commissions while offering greater flexibility and control over monetization efforts, enabling developers to optimize revenue streams more effectively.

3. Marketing efforts beyond user acquisition

While user acquisition is an essential component of any marketing strategy, developers should also consider other marketing initiatives to promote purchasable content and drive revenue.

This could include targeted advertising campaigns, social media engagement, influencer partnerships, and community events. For example, hosting in-game events or tournaments can generate excitement among players and encourage them to make purchases to participate or unlock exclusive rewards.

Also, leveraging social media platforms to showcase new content updates, promotions, or special offers can help drive player engagement and increase revenue opportunities.

Cross-promotion and partnerships

Collaborating with other developers or brands to cross-promote each other’s games or products can expand your reach and drive revenue. By tapping into each other’s audiences and marketing channels, developers can increase visibility and attract new players who may be interested in purchasing additional content or features.

4. Continuous updates with personalized offers

Regularly updating your game with new content, features, and events will keep players engaged and encourage them to spend more. Offering limited-time promotions, seasonal events, or other exclusive rewards for loyal players can create a sense of urgency and generate revenue.

As we mentioned earlier, data and analytics will be your best friends in creating personalized offers or adjusting pricing. By segmenting players based on their behavior, preferences, and spending habits, your offers will better match individual player needs and interests, leading to increased revenue.

Earlier in this article, we mentioned Xsolla Web Shops as a great cost-effective monetization solution. These stores can be highly customizable, offering players the best content personalized to them – helping to create a quality player experience.

5. Explore incentivized actions

Offering incentives for players to take specific actions within the game, such as watching ads, completing surveys, or inviting friends, is a good way to increase your ad revenue.

By rewarding players with in-game currency, items, or bonuses for engaging with advertisements or participating in promotional activities, you can generate additional revenue streams without disrupting the player experience.

6. Gamification of monetization

Incorporating gamification elements into your monetization strategy, such as loyalty programs, achievement systems, or progression rewards, can encourage players to spend more, increase engagement and improve retention.

Rewarding players for their loyalty, progress, or achievements with exclusive benefits or bonuses, can foster a sense of investment in the game and encourage continued spending over time.

7. Revenue allocation strategies

Careful allocation of revenue is critical to sustaining long-term profitability and continuous growth. When it comes to managing and allocating your newly gained revenue, we recommend you prioritize investments that contribute to enhancing the overall player experience and driving more growth (and therefore more revenue).

This could include investing in game development to create new content, features, or updates that add value for players and encourage spending. Also, allocating resources to marketing efforts can help attract new players, while retaining existing ones. Generally, the more players, the higher the possibility of a successful purchase.

Finally, investing in player engagement initiatives such as customer support, community management, and live events can help foster a loyal player base and drive long-term revenue growth. By strategically allocating revenue across these areas, developers can maximize the return on investment and ensure the ongoing success of their games.

Compare, analyze and optimize your revenue with GameAnalytics

Taking guesses isn’t the best way to boost your monetization and keep your games making money. With GameAnalytics, you can track your IAP (in-app purchase) and WebShop revenue to get a clear picture of how your players spend and improve your strategies. Head over to our tool or click to learn more about maximizing your game’s revenue and using data to make smart decisions.

The GameAnalytics monetization series:

1. Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies
2. Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches
3. Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue
4. Exploring monetization: Using data to guide decisions

________________

Last week we explored traditional monetization strategies commonly employed in the gaming industry, focusing on freemium and premium models. We outlined various methods such as in-app purchases, advertising, and limitation removal, highlighting their implementation and impact on player experiences.

However, it is not a secret that our industry is constantly changing as player preferences and market trends are shifting over time. What worked once will not necessarily work the second time, and a strategy that uplifted one game could be detrimental to another. This is why Game Developers, Growth Managers and Game Designers should be aware of as many innovative monetization solutions as possible. Beyond revenue generation, these alternatives offer resource-efficient options and the flexibility to tailor strategies that enhance player experiences in ways traditional methods can’t.

Alternative monetization strategies

Traditional strategies may not always be suitable for every game or audience, as player demographics and gaming habits vary widely. Alternative strategies, on the other hand, offer customization options to cater to diverse player needs and preferences. Through creativity and experimentation, developers can differentiate their games and create unique experiences that resonate better with their players.

These are some of the alternative monetization strategies:

1. Web Shops
2. Digital subscriptions and memberships
3. Merchandising and licensing
4. Sponsorships
5. Live streaming and donations
6. NFT and blockchain
7. Events and experiences

1. Web Shops

Web Shops are the perfect addition to mobile game monetization strategies. Revenue is generated from purchases made through the web-based storefront. This includes various monetization strategies such as selling in-game items, virtual currency, exclusive content, and subscriptions directly to players as part of a direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategy.

What this means in practice is that mobile players are invited to a browser-based store, where they proceed with their purchases just as they would in your app. However, this solution offers a more personalized shopping experience, that reflects players’ needs to progress within the game.

Web Shop also expands a game’s LiveOps capabilities with wide-range of web-based LiveOps tools that increase players’ LTV, Retention and Engagement across all platforms.

The goal of implementing a Web Shop is to maximize revenue opportunities and enhance the overall LiveOps monetization strategy for mobile games.

2. Digital subscriptions and memberships

Subscriptions are commonly used on mobile platforms, particularly iOS and Android, where users can subscribe to access premium features, receive content updates, or enjoy exclusive perks on a recurring basis. Examples of games using subscriptions include Clash of Clans by Supercell, which offers a monthly Gold Pass subscription for additional in-game rewards and perks. Also, platforms like Roblox offer premium memberships that grant players additional Robux currency and exclusive items.

Note: Subscription in-game monetization can also refer to monetization model that maintain player’s access to a game base on recurring fee.

3. Merchandising and licensing

Merchandising involves selling physical merchandise such as clothing, accessories, or collectibles featuring game branding and artwork. This strategy is commonly used across various genres, with examples like “Fortnite” by Epic Games offering a wide range of merchandise, including apparel, toys, and accessories.

A related strategy is licensing game assets, characters, or intellectual property for use in merchandise, spin-off games, or other media formats. Games like Minecraft by Mojang Studios license their characters and branding for various merchandise, toys, and media projects.

4. Sponsorships

Game developers can partner with brands or companies for sponsorships, integrating product placements, branded content, or sponsored events within the game. This strategy can be found in mobile games like Pokémon GO by Niantic, which collaborates with various brands for in-game events and promotions.

5. Live streaming and donations

Live streaming platforms offer opportunities for game developers to monetize content through ads, subscriptions, donations, or sponsorships. Games such as League of Legends by Riot Games are popular choices for live streaming, with streamers earning revenue through subscriptions and donations from viewers. Game developers who feel comfortable in front of the camera can also venture onto platforms like Twitch or YouTube and receive donations from their viewers during live streams and gameplay sessions.

6. NFTs and blockchain

Exploring opportunities in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology allows developers to create digital collectibles, in-game assets, or player-owned economies. In the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of Web3 games come out. Sky Mavis released Axie Infinity, Nplus Entertainment has League Of Kingdoms, Bright Star Studios made Ember Sword. The idea of owning your digital assets is clearly quite important. In fact, Web3 gaming accounts for almost half of all blockchain activity. We explored this trend and took a look at Zynga’s Sugertown here.

7. Events and experiences

Hosting virtual or real-world events, conventions, or meet-ups for fans to engage with developers, participate in tournaments, or purchase exclusive merchandise is a strategy used by many major games across all platforms. Games like World of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment host in-game events and real-world conventions like BlizzCon for their community.

These are just a few examples of popular and innovative monetization strategies. However, the potential for creativity and innovation knows no bounds. Game developers are continually exploring new avenues to generate revenue and enhance player experiences, leading to a diverse range of monetization approaches across the industry. If you are curious to learn more, you can venture into exploring in-game events, digital collectibles, influencer partnerships, or virtual real estate, to name a few more.

Compare, analyze and optimize your revenue with GameAnalytics

Taking guesses isn’t the best way to boost your monetization and keep your games making money. With GameAnalytics, you can track your IAP (in-app purchase) and WebShop revenue to get a clear picture of how your players spend and improve your strategies. Head over to our tool or click to learn more about maximizing your game’s revenue and using data to make smart decisions.

 

The GameAnalytics monetization series:

1. Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies
2. Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches
3. Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue
4. Exploring monetization: Using data to guide decisions

________________

Decades ago, you’d place your game with a price tag on a shelf and hope for the best. However, with everything moving into the digital world, there are plenty of ways to earn from your game. Do you charge players upfront, or opt for the freebie route and make money from ads and in-app purchases? It could be a bit of a maze out there, but we’re here to guide you through the world of game monetization.

Why should you monetize your game?

Before exploring typical approaches, let’s take a moment to remember why we monetize our games in the first place. Understanding the purpose behind monetization is important as it guides our approach to implementing these strategies effectively.

• Sustainability: Generating revenue is essential for sustaining business operations, funding ongoing development efforts, and ensuring the longevity of your games. Without monetization, you may struggle to cover the costs associated with game development and maintenance.
• Investment in player experience: Sufficient funds allow you to invest in the quality of your games, including hiring talented developers, artists, and designers, as well as implementing advanced technologies and features. All-in-all, you will be able to create richer, more immersive gaming experiences that engage your players, ensuring their retention.
• Innovation: Having resources is often an incentive to explore new ideas, experiment with different gameplay mechanics, and push the boundaries of your game. Such innovation is attractive to both developers and players alike, supporting the culture of your studio as well as player satisfaction and engagement.
• Support for free-to-play models: Monetization is particularly important for free-to-play games, which rely on revenue streams such as in-app purchases, advertising, and subscriptions. These games offer a low barrier to entry for players, making them accessible to a wider audience. However, they still need to generate revenue to remain viable.

Clearly, monetization affects more than just the revenue you generate. It increases flexibility and scalability, boosting player engagement, and removing barriers to entry.

Through monetization, you can also support ongoing content updates, personalize revenue generation, build a sense of community, and use data to optimize your game development, monetization, and marketing strategies.” – Nicholas Lim, Founder and CEO of Sonamine

Gaming monetization models

The traditional strategies revolve around two primary models: freemium and premium.

What is a freemium game?

Freemium games, usually free to download, entice players with various ways to generate revenue. The income can be derived from in-game advertising, microtransactions (such as individual purchases, loot boxes, or gacha), downloadable content (DLC), or tiered extras like season passes or battle passes.

Many gaming studios combine two or more of these models to maximize profits. These combined models are prevalent in free-to-play (F2P) games – where players are enticed to make purchases for enhancements such as extra lives, virtual currency, customized avatars, ad-free experiences, or extended playing time.

Players who choose not to spend money might experience in-game ads, encounter timers, bump into limited customization options, or have restricted access to content. Note that some companies have faced criticism for implementing aggressive pay-to-win (P2W) strategies, where players must make purchases to progress or compete effectively in the game.

What is a premium game?

Premium games require an upfront payment for full access. Once purchased, players typically have unrestricted access to all content and features without the need for additional in-game purchases. However, some premium games may offer additional downloadable content (DLC) or expansion packs for an extra fee – providing players with new levels, characters, or storylines to enhance their gaming experience. Additionally, premium games can also offer optional cosmetic microtransactions, allowing players to customize their characters or avatars with virtual items or skins for a small fee.

Monetization strategies

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the two primary monetization models, let’s dive into the typical strategies used within these models. The extent of these strategies vary depending on whether the game follows a freemium or premium model, but they all aim to maximize revenue while providing value to players.

Monetization strategies for game publishers:

1. Advertising
   • Banner ads
   • Interstitials between levels
   • Video ads
   • Offerwalls
   • Branded experiences
2. In-app purchases
   • Premium version
   • Level packs
   • Battlepasses
   • Extra resources and skins
3. Limitation removal
   • Remove ads
   • More energy, time, etc.
4. Vouchers and wallet payments

1. Advertising

Advertising is a very common and popular monetization method used in various types of games across all platforms, including mobile, PC, console, and even web-based games. Game developers integrate ads into their games to generate revenue by displaying promotional content to players during gameplay. Here are some of the examples:

Banner ads: Banner ads are small advertisements that appear at the top or bottom of the screen while players are engaged in gameplay. These ads are typically static or animated images and can be non-intrusive, allowing players to continue playing while still being exposed to the advertisement.

Interstitials between levels: Interstitial ads are full-screen advertisements that appear between levels or during natural breaks in gameplay. These ads often include interactive elements or video content and provide an opportunity for players to engage with the advertisement before continuing with the game.

Video ads: Video ads are short promotional videos that players watch in exchange for in-game rewards or currency. These ads can range from a few seconds to several minutes in length and may include pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll placements within the game.

Offerwalls: Offerwalls are interactive interfaces within the game that allow players to earn in-game rewards or currency by completing tasks or engaging with third-party advertisements and offers. These tasks may include downloading and installing apps, signing up for services, or completing surveys.

Branded experiences: Branded experiences involve integrating sponsored content or branded elements into the game to create immersive advertising experiences for players. This may include in-game events, challenges, or virtual items sponsored by external brands or companies.

2. In-app purchases

In-app purchases are a prevalent monetization method employed across various gaming platforms, including mobile, PC, and console. This approach allows developers to offer additional content, features, or virtual goods to players within the game, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Here’s a breakdown of some in-app purchase strategies and their usage across platforms:

Premium version: This model is commonly used across mobile and PC platforms, where players can purchase a premium version of the game to unlock exclusive content or features not available in the free version. While mobile games often offer a free base game with optional premium upgrades, PC games may release a deluxe or collector’s edition with additional content at a higher price point.

Level packs: Level packs are popular across all platforms and are often used to extend the lifespan of a game by offering additional levels, challenges, or gameplay experiences. Players can purchase these packs to access new content and expand their gaming experience. This strategy is particularly common in mobile games and downloadable content (DLC) for PC and console titles.

Battlepasses: Battlepasses are frequently implemented in multiplayer games across all platforms, offering players a progression system with rewards, challenges, and exclusive content over a set period. While mobile and PC games often feature battlepasses as part of their free-to-play model, console titles may offer similar season pass options for additional content updates.

Extra resources and skins: The sale of extra resources and skins allows players to purchase in-game currency, power-ups, or cosmetic items to enhance their gameplay experience. While the availability of these items may vary depending on the platform and game, the concept of offering optional purchases for virtual goods remains consistent across platforms.

“Some mobile genres generate a bigger share of their revenue via purchases than others: engagement-intense genres like strategy or RPG (as well as casino games that are based on player transactions) see most of their revenue from in-app purchases. In contrast, more than 94% of hypercasual gaming app revenues were via in-app revenue. Compared to other app categories, mobile gaming apps had the largest share of free-to-download apps with in-app purchases.” – Statista, 2024

3. Limitation removals

Limitation removal is a monetization approach commonly used in mobile games, where players can opt to remove certain restrictions or limitations within the game by making a purchase. The two common limitation removal strategies include:

Remove ads: This strategy allows players to eliminate intrusive advertisements from the game by purchasing an ad-free experience. This feature is typically found in mobile games, but may also be available in browser-based or PC titles.

More energy, time, etc.: Another limitation removal strategy involves allowing players to purchase additional energy, time, or other resources to bypass waiting periods or restrictions within the game. For example, players may be able to purchase extra lives, energy points, or time-based boosts to progress through levels more quickly or access premium content without having to wait for cooldowns or recharge timers.

4. Vouchers and wallet payments

The use of vouchers and wallet payments addresses barriers to traditional payment methods such as credit cards (due to fx. age restrictions or regional-related payment methods).

Vouchers are digital codes or coupons that players can redeem within the game to unlock special rewards, discounts, or in-game currency. These vouchers may be distributed through various channels, such as promotional events, partnerships with other brands, or in-game achievements.

Wallet payments enable players to store funds or virtual currency within their game accounts, allowing for quick and convenient purchases without the need for repeated credit card transactions. Players can preload their accounts with a certain amount of virtual currency or link their accounts to digital payment platforms such as PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.

As we wrap up our exploration of traditional monetization strategies, it’s important to acknowledge that the gaming revenue landscape is vast and always changing. While we’ve covered the basics, there are plenty more ways to make money from your games just waiting to be discovered.

Compare, analyze and optimize your revenue with GameAnalytics

Taking guesses isn’t the best way to boost your monetization and keep your games making money. With GameAnalytics, you can track your IAP (in-app purchase) and WebShop revenue to get a clear picture of how your players spend and improve your strategies. Head over to our tool or click to learn more about maximizing your game’s revenue and using data to make smart decisions.

By removing platform-imposed roadblocks, you can define your own path when distributing your game in-store and out-of-store.

Xsolla continues to lead the way in helping all our partners generate more profits for their mobile games with Xsolla products and solutions such as Web Shop, Payments SDK, and others to match mobile game developers’ needs. In 2023, we powered over 150 video games’ Web Shops that help our partners accelerate revenue by monetizing beyond the app store.

Knowledge is power. Xsolla can help you reach out to users by proactively adjusting your strategy to address, navigate, and comply with these changes. This blog post breaks down the market shifts, future caveats, and emerging benefits affecting you and game companies worldwide.

What to expect in 2024?

Beyond Epic’s initial litigation, the looming DMA’s compliance enforcement and related global rulings have pressured Apple, Google, and other platforms to start allowing alternative billing and respond to legal actions.

Alternative billing or third-party billing allows the game developer to add a payment solution different from Apple’s and Google’s built-in payments.

Despite Google being more flexible than Apple, it still requires game developers to return 27% of their earnings. Meanwhile, Google has already begun piloting alternative billing in many countries worldwide (European Economic Area, Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States,) allowing developers to incorporate third-party payment platforms.

Developers on Google Play can now offer consumers a “user choice” within the same app to select between Google Play Billing and alternative billing in pilot markets.

Apple filed a legal challenge to the EU’s DMA in November 2023. Nevertheless, Apple has acknowledged the upcoming changes with the recent press release published on January 25  announcing several updates to App Store policies.

Apple is now offering developers a choice of either keeping the existing business terms of a 30% fee or moving to the new business terms announced in the press release. 

Regarding the new reduced rate: Developers must consider if the 0.50 EUR Core Technology Fee annually will positively or negatively impact their business model. Even when combined with a reduced commission, this fee introduces uncertainty. There might be a scenario where a developer experiences an influx of low-quality traffic from user acquisition campaigns that fail to monetize effectively, yet they are obligated to pay the $0.50 fee.

Alternatively — and of particular concern — if Apple alters its infrastructure (as it did in response to IDFA), it may threaten developers’ business models and still require the $0.50 fee for each user acquired in the previous year. This scenario is particularly concerning for publishers releasing free apps — e.g., for community features. On the other hand, accepting new business terms also means that developers can use alternative billing in-app, choose side-loading, and opt for a link-out option.

Unlike Google, Apple requires developers to choose either Apple’s billing system or alternative billing. In the case of alternative billing, developers will have to pay Apple a 10% (or 17%) commission, a CTF, and an additional payment to an alternative billing provider.

Apple’s policies on side-loading state that side app downloads can only occur from alternative marketplaces. In Apple’s terminology, “alternative marketplaces” are the app stores developers must build. To be compliant, app stores will go through a separate entitlement process. Apps will only be available for download on the developer’s official website via Safari (or other browsers) once they implement support for app marketplace download. App downloads directly from the web will not be allowed.

Finally, while link-out options facilitate communication with gamers in-app, Apple requires redevelopers to pay the same commissions on transactions for purchases made after following the link.

Third-party billing: a national example

If Apple’s convoluted reaction to DMA in Europe is a surprise, it shouldn’t be. Look at South Korea’s ongoing dispute about implementing a government-enforced resolution to open App Stores. A pattern has emerged where Apple will implement per-country resolutions uniquely adapted to each local landscape, resulting in similar complexity in other countries and making a strong case for direct-to-consumer relations with players.

Korea’s video game industry monetization and payments have changed significantly, allowing new payment systems (mostly digital wallets) to compete with traditional channels like local credit cards and prepaid cards. A few years ago, paying online without Internet Explorer and plugins installed on a consumer’s computer was impossible.

Still, with so many advances in Korea’s ecommerce and mobile transactions space, third-party billing options have only recently opened for developers focused on Korea’s gaming market.

• Under South Korea’s recent Telecommunications Business Act amendment, developers now have the option to implement pre-approved third-party payment solutions within their games on app stores in South Korea.
• Commission fees: Developers utilizing third-party payments in South Korea are subject to a 26% commission on generated revenue, aligning with Apple’s revised App Store policies.
• Technical integration: Implementing third-party payments requires specific technical steps. Developers must activate the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement within Xcode, integrate designated StoreKit APIs, and submit a separate app binary specifically for South Korea’s App Store.
• Market specificity: This option is exclusive to South Korea’s App Store. Developers with global distribution plans must maintain separate builds for South Korea’s market if they implement third-party payments in that region.

Direct-to-Consumer: A timely approach to game commerce

The best method for succeeding in the current gaming market is to launch a bespoke, frictionless web-based commerce destination with exclusive player offers and rewards. A web shop lets players purchase in-game items and currencies and top up their accounts from a game-branded, developer-controlled website.

With Xsolla Web Shop, an effective direct-to-consumer solution, you can reduce commission expenses to 5% + processing fee and increase a game’s incremental revenue by 20% and more.

Add payments SDK

You can accept hundreds of new local payment methods via Xsolla Payments SDK. With this method, you can monetize underserved audiences in new regions, adding to increased revenue. However, the platform’s share portion depends on the platform rules and can be as high as 27%.

Alternative billing with Xsolla Payments SDK enables you to become the first to monetize players in regions where platforms are behind innovative local payment methods.

Choose side-loading

The power of Xsolla Pay Station SDK lets you launch a mobile version of your game for out-of-store distribution and create new business models that would be impossible in-store. As a result of the recent Google vs Epic ruling, we anticipate side-loading apps for end-users will become simpler on Android. For developers complying with Apple’s policies for side-loading, Xsolla Pay Station SDK will also be available out of the box.

Xsolla Web Shop features

Web Shop is a time-proven, direct-to-consumer method of empowering players and the game’s community to decide and vote on what’s best for them. Users enjoy a smooth experience from their first visit — login to purchase.

• Seamless authorization and a simplified purchase flow;
• Reduced friction for purchases made outside mobile;
• No login required – automated user ID when they enter the shop;
• Authorization by player ID, bound social media account, email, or login and password;

Creates personal offers exclusive to TOP players;Your web shop is a familiar destination where players can purchase in-game items and currencies and top up their accounts — all from a game-branded website that you customize for your audience.

• Tie VIP offers —priced above $500— to huge in-game advantages;
• Allow targeted offers to attract players and cohorts with a catalog customized to user needs;
• Present high-value, web shop-exclusive content (e.g., gifts, bundles;)
• Use time-limited offers and bundles in connection with valuable promotions;
• Augment web shop purchases with rewards that players can only spend on your game’s web shop items and offers;
• Connect new offers to launches and in-game events.

Web Shop benefits

• Leverages added-value content to communicate hyper-clear value to consumers;
• Enhances engagement by tying in-game events directly to web shop content;
• Creates unique, time-limited web shop bundles dedicated to events or holidays;
• Brings users back to your web shop with daily or weekly gifts that increase engagement;
• Promotes increased LTV and ARPU with exclusive VIP packs designed to monetize whales;
• Motivates players to make a first purchase;
• Relevant, targeted offers and rewards increase revenue and LTV;
• Capitalizes on game personalization by creating new rules based on user attributes.

Web Shop success story

Xsolla Web Shop is a white-label solution where each game’s web store has a unique identity, target audience, and business goals. Metrics that define each shop’s success will vary from one store to the next. This Xsolla partners’ success story offers valuable insights into the prospective health and performance of a well-planned web shop business.

A popular RPG strategy game implemented Xsolla Web Shop for its e-commerce strategy. It successfully applied a web-shop-exclusive currency pack mechanic by promoting a bonus for purchasing hard currency. The reward, which is an additional amount of hard cash, increases in proportion to the value of the purchase.

This incentive has been particularly effective, with over 50% of web shop revenue generated from packs priced above $100.

Get started on tomorrow’s success

The Digital Markets Act presents a unique opportunity for you to re-evaluate your distribution model, take advantage of direct-to-consumer opportunities, and chart a path to lower commissions, more revenue, and a smoother ecommerce experience for your players.

Xsolla is a trusted partner in building a future-proofed business model alongside video game developers. Join forces with our proven expertise and gain access to the tools and infrastructure you need to establish a vibrant direct-to-consumer ecosystem. We empower you with flexible, tailored solutions for establishing a powerful direct-to-consumer sales presence.

Schedule a consultation with Xsolla’s experienced team to discuss your specific needs and unlock new avenues for growth.

This article was originally published on the Xsolla’s blog.

A mobile-driven world has led to a successful mobile game requiring not only creating a great product, and strategic marketing, but also optimizing for app store visibility and conversion rates. App Store Optimization (ASO) and A/B testing are two essential techniques that can help the app stand out in the crowded app marketplace. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of A/B testing for ASO and why it can help maximize your marketing efforts.

Increased Visibility and Conversion Rates

Ultimately, with ASO the goal is to increase the visibility and conversion rates in the app store. ASO involves optimizing app store elements such as app title, description, visual assets, and keywords, in order to appeal more to potential users. When done right, the app has a better chance of ranking higher in the app store search results thus reaching a larger audience. ASO is a craft that requires knowledge about the market and your competitors, not to mention the ever-changing trends that you want to stay on top of.

Monitoring Mobile Gaming Trends

There is a lot to keep up with, as mobile gaming trends and app store algorithms are constantly evolving at a fast pace. Staying up to date is crucial to ensure remaining relevant and competitive. This can be achieved by regularly monitoring and analyzing app store trends and updates to improve your game’s performance. Seasonal changes on the app store and in games themselves are a common trend. It is near impossible to miss the heart-filled icons around Valentine’s day, the bunnies and eggs around Easter, or jack-o’-lanterns in October. Monitoring and researching all year round helps stay in the loop of trends but A/B testing is another key method to measure the effectiveness of seasonal changes in your app store assets.

Data-driven Insights

A/B testing allows developers to gather data-driven insights about user behavior and preferences. A/B tests can already be conducted before the game is published for concept validation and marketability testing. Testing an idea in the development phase can give important insights into what appeals to the users or what motivates them.

After the launch, A/B testing helps find the most optimized version of the app’s product page. By running A/B tests, it is possible to experiment with different app store elements and measure the impact of these changes on user engagement and conversion rates. These insights can help make informed decisions about app store optimization and improve the overall user experience. Ultimately it is possible to improve the conversion rate with carefully constructed research and a strong hypothesis to support iterative A/B testing.

A/B testing for ASO

Whether you are conducting concept validation tests or testing assets of a live game, it all begins with extensive research. Aspects to research:

• Current trends
• The target audience
• Competitor benchmarks
• Player motivations & interests

Conducting extensive research is the prerequisite for building a strong hypothesis, which in turn helps you conduct more effective A/B tests. To get the most out of tests, it is good to note that testing is hardly a sprint, but a marathon. The more tests you conduct the more data and confidence for decision-making you gain.

A/B testing can be conducted on both Google and Apple’s native platforms in addition to third-party tools. The main difference between these two is that the native platforms test with organic traffic, whereas third-party tools utilize paid traffic. Additionally, concept tests are not possible on native tools as the game has to be live on the app store. The best ASO tools combine a robust platform with key data points, experts at hand, and market insights.

Concept Validation

When it comes to launching successful games, there is no universal key that unlocks instant success. The harsh truth is that the majority of mobile games fail to launch. However, don’t take this as discouragement, instead consider it an opportunity to re-think how it can be done better. When A/B testing is incorporated into the development process from early on, it is possible to increase chances of success. Starting as early as validating the initial game concept with the existing audience to make sure it has market potential. Testing art styles, themes, gameplay mechanics is equally important further along to steer development into the right tracks. Testing early on also allows making decisions based on data.

What To Test?

Depending on the development stage your game is at, there are some things to take into consideration. When you are testing crucial elements such as the art style or theme, it is better to do it early in the development process. This helps you build accordingly without wasting resources. This is exactly what Roamer Games did with Civ Royale. They found out that the theme that initially was thought to be a winner was actually not what the audience preferred.

A/B testing to optimize your app store product page can have a significant impact on your conversion rate. We typically see bigger improvements when optimizing the visual assets. Finding the best-performing icon and screenshots can be a game-changer. We’ve seen some success stories, such as Popcore increasing the conversion rate of Tap Away 3D from 26.8% to 84% by finding the correct screenshots and icon. It is important to add a disclaimer here that each test is its own, and this case study only highlights a success story of a set of tests for one game.

Typical tests when validating a concept:

• Art style
• Theme for the game
• Overall marketability of a game

Based on market research and hypotheses, outline 3-4 different themes or art styles (depending on which one you are testing) to test against each other. Each variant should represent a different theme utilizing the screenshot, icon, and description accordingly.

Typical tests for a live game in efforts of increasing the conversion rate:

• Icon
• Screenshots
• App preview video
• What motivates the player and how to appeal to those motivations

Any element of the app store product page is testable. From our experience the biggest impact is usually achieved through testing the visual assets to find the most appealing one’s. For the description, while it is possible to see some impact, however, the impact is usually very minor.

Collaborating with A/B Testing Experts

A/B testing is an iterative process and can in some cases be complex and time-consuming. Collaborating with A/B testing experts, like Geeklab, can help save time and improve the accuracy of test results. Our experts specialize in researching, designing and executing effective A/B tests, analyzing the results, and providing actionable recommendations to improve the app’s performance. We are your helping hands throughout the process.

Conclusion

When you want to maximize the success of your marketing campaign, don’t overlook the potential performance of a properly optimized app store page. Make sure you are taking the right steps in the ASO efforts. Remember, A/B testing is a marathon not a sprint. To enhance your app store performance, keep in mind the following steps: optimizing the store page for increased visibility and conversion rate, keeping up with the ever-changing mobile gaming trends and algorithm updates with research and A/B testing, utilizing data-driven insights, and collaborating with A/B testing experts for that extra support.

Statista forecasts that the global mobile game market will produce revenues of US $98.74 billion in 2024, with anticipated growth in subsequent years. The growing revenue signifies more competition and higher stakes than ever before. That’s why it’s important to allocate your marketing budget effectively. Selecting the adequate mobile measurement partner (MMP) can help you invest every dollar wisely with powerful data-driven insights to optimize your return on investment (ROI).

In this post, we’ll explore why choosing the right MMP is crucial for your game’s growth and how to select the best MMP to maximize your success. Airbridge is here to guide you through this process.

Why you should use an MMP

In today’s fast-evolving mobile marketing landscape, relying solely on a handful of advertising platforms is no longer sufficient. A diverse game market demands an all-encompassing strategy to identify the most effective ones among a wide range of channels within a limited timeframe.

MMPs simplify this process by integrating multiple advertising networks through a single Software Development Kit (SDK). This integration allows for centralized management of all ad campaigns, eases monitoring of various publishers, and facilitates quick marketing performance analysis through an MMP dashboard.

Moreover, MMPs act as fair intermediaries between advertisers and publishers, providing transparent and verifiable data that reflects the true value of each marketing channel. Such impartiality is necessary for accurate measurement and optimization of ad spend.

Considering the challenges and resources required to implement MMPs, it is pivotal to make an informed choice. The MMP checklist provided below will help you select the MMP that best aligns with your company’s needs.

Checklist: Evaluating an MMP for games

1. Unified cross-platform user journey tracking

The shift towards cross-platform gaming has significantly accelerated in the industry. ‘Cross-platform’ gaming enables players to seamlessly switch between various devices, such as PCs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. This flexibility greatly enhances the appeal of your game, allowing players to enjoy their favorite titles anytime, anywhere. An MMP that offers extensive tracking capabilities is essential for understanding user engagement across all platforms, providing a holistic view of player interactions.

When choosing an MMP, it’s critical to ensure it can effectively track performance across all the platforms your game is available on, including iOS, Android, and the Web. Airbridge distinguishes itself in this area by providing cross-platform marketing measurement tools for mobile, web, and PC, facilitating a comprehensive insight into your game’s growth trajectory.

Airbridge’s integration of both Web SDK and App SDK enables the collection of data across different platforms, streamlining the process of monitoring app and web attribution performance through a unified Airbridge ID. This capability is invaluable for marketers looking to accurately measure the success of their games and understand the user experience at every touchpoint.

2. Convenient and complete data pipeline with raw data

MMPs play a pivotal role in tracking user interactions and conversions, a foundational aspect of successful mobile advertising campaigns. One key feature of an effective MMP is the ability to not only collect but also provide easy access to raw data through the MMP dashboard. This raw data is invaluable for advertisers seeking to conduct in-depth analyses or integrate this information with their existing databases for a thorough view of their marketing efforts. It’s crucial to partner with an MMP like Airbridge that offers flexible, user-friendly options for exporting this raw data, ensuring marketers can leverage their insights to the fullest extent.

Furthermore, in the competitive realm of mobile gaming, retargeting campaigns based on precise audience segmentation can significantly boost engagement rates. Effective segmentation allows marketers to categorize users based on specific actions or traits, facilitating the delivery of highly relevant ads. Airbridge enhances this process by enabling marketers to seamlessly create cohorts and execute targeted campaigns that resonate with users’ behaviors and preferences, thereby increasing the likelihood of desired actions. This strategic approach not only optimizes ad spend but also elevates the overall user experience.

Airbridge’s complete data pipeline and robust segmentation capabilities provide a solid foundation for advertisers aiming to maximize their impact. By offering convenient access to raw data and sophisticated audience segmentation tools, Airbridge empowers marketers to unlock new levels of precision and effectiveness in their campaigns.

3. Optimizing marketing through metric monitoring

Game marketers have the opportunity to significantly refine their user acquisition and retention efforts by harnessing the power of data-driven insights available through MMPs. It’s essential to partner with an MMP that not only gathers comprehensive data but also presents detailed analytics and reports tailored for campaign optimization.

Immediate access to critical metrics via the MMP’s dashboard can greatly streamline the evaluation of marketing performance, offering a considerable advantage in time efficiency. Airbridge distinguishes itself by providing calculated metrics directly on its dashboard, including Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), Return On Ad Spend (ROAS), Cost Per Click (CPC), Cost Per Install (CPI), and notably, Predictive Lifetime Value (pLTV). These metrics are pivotal for understanding different facets of marketing effectiveness, from immediate campaign costs to long-term revenue forecasts.

Ensuring your MMP provides a full suite of metrics is crucial for a well-rounded analysis of your marketing activities. A broad spectrum of metrics allows for an integrated assessment, empowering marketers to pinpoint areas of success and opportunities for optimization.

4. Fraud prevention

Ad fraud still represents a major challenge in mobile marketing, costing advertisers billions of dollars annually. As mobile ad spending continues to rise, the urgency of addressing ad fraud intensifies.

It is vital for MMPs to possess robust capabilities to combat ad fraud effectively. Airbridge stands out by proactively identifying and mitigating fraudulent activities, including sophisticated schemes like click injection and spamming, through real-time detection and the generation of detailed fraud analysis reports. On the Airbridge dashboard, marketers have the flexibility to establish specific fraud validation rules, adjust the prevention levels for each rule, and determine how to handle fraudulent conversions and engagements. These features allow for the creation of detailed reports and the customization of fraud prevention measures, empowering marketers to accurately assess the performance of their publishers, ensuring that only legitimate conversions are rewarded, and uncovering true growth opportunities.

5. Privacy policies

In today’s digital marketing ecosystem, adhering to a myriad of data protection laws and navigating platform-specific privacy policies is paramount. The landscape is dominated by stringent regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S., and the emerging Digital Markets Act (DMA). These regulations set the foundation for user data protection, requiring businesses to handle personal information with the highest degree of transparency and security. Moreover, platform-specific policies, such as Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature and Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative, introduce additional layers of compliance, particularly around user tracking and ad targeting.

In this complex environment, selecting an MMP that not only keeps pace with but also anticipates changes in privacy regulation is critical. Airbridge stands out by offering cutting-edge tracking and attribution solutions that fully comply with the latest privacy laws and platform regulations. For instance, Airbridge’s approach to data collection and processing is designed to respect user consent preferences, a core tenet of GDPR and CCPA. Additionally, Airbridge’s technology is prepared to adapt to the evolving requirements of platform-specific policies ensuring that marketers can continue to reach their audience effectively without compromising on privacy.

If you’re in search of the best MMP that meets all five checklist points mentioned above, the team of marketing experts at Airbridge is ready to assist you, elevate your game marketing strategy and enhance performance.

“Xsolla anticipated this seismic shift earlier this year, when we launched multiple products that are being actively used by some of the world’s largest game companies to increase profit and build closer relationships with their mobile and pc players. We’ve now combined these products and learnings into an elegant new solution called Xsolla Web Shop for Mobile Games,” said Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla.

Through Xsolla Web Shop for Mobile Games, developers can expect significant revenue growth and can reach new players in new geographies previously unavailable to them. This solution solves many challenges developers face; such as discoverability, declining profit margins, lack of control over the user experience, access to localized payment methods, cross game marketing, more efficient user acquisition, effective collaboration with creators and influencers, and much more.

Three industry-changing announcements make this opportunity more timely than ever:

1. The Epic v Apple ruling allows App Store developers to direct users to other payment systems, effectively bypassing the 30% cut of in-app payments that Apple takes.

2. Apple announced a willingness to allow the use of alternative payments methods outside the App Store.

3. South Korea approved the first law in the world requiring Apple and Google to open their platforms to alternative payment systems.

Combined with the fact that both Apple and Google explicitly state that cross-platform games can sell IAPs outside of mobile apps, it becomes clear that developers stand ready to unlock their full global revenue potential, increase profit margins and build stronger relationships with their players.

Yoshio Osaki, President and CEO of IDG Consulting, said in a statement to Xsolla, “Although it is still early days on determining the level of potential impact from Apple’s decision, this represents a positive incremental first step in expanding consumer choice, as well as increased flexibility in monetization and business models for developers who sorely need it. We believe this is a net positive for the industry, but execution and implementation on the part of both Apple and developers will be key.”‍

Game Commerce Expertise You Can Trust

With a robust and powerful set of tools and services, Xsolla has helped video game developers and publishers market, sell, connect and optimize their games globally for over 16 years, carefully studying the changing tides of the games industry to position partners for continued success.

In 2020, digital and mobile wallets accounted for roughly 45% of global ecommerce payment transactions, making the digital wallet the most popular payment method worldwide. This number is estimated to increase to over 60% in 2025. Consumers are more likely to pay with mobile wallets in countries like Malaysia and India, and other geographies where credit cards are not the primary payment method. By plugging in the Xsolla Web Shop solution, developers instantly access more than 700 payment methods, including the most popular ones in Southeast Asia.

“Through Xsolla Web Shop, we are helping game developers think about and scale their games across multiple platforms to expand their business into new markets and to grow their audience,” said Anton Zelenin, Head of Game Commerce at Xsolla. “The opportunities are even greater, and we’ve seen amazing success stories from partners who have integrated this solution.”

How Does Xsolla Web Shop Help Game Publishers?

This unique mix of select Xsolla tools and services allows users to add virtual currencies and virtual items to their accounts using their preferred local currency and payment method complete with multilingual display support. In addition, the solution gives developers the tools to extend the life of their mobile and even PC games beyond app stores and other platforms.

But Xsolla Web Shop is much more than simply selling IAPs via a branded location that you control. This solution includes a wealth of benefits for developers and publishers from all over the world, including:

• Savings on platform fees. Xsolla only charges 5% plus channel processing fees, allowing you to generate higher profit and save up to 20% per transaction.
• Access new regions and unlock more revenue. Reach players in 250+ countries and allow them to pay using their preferred local method of payment with access to Xsolla’s 700+ payment systems, and players who use familiar payment methods will spend more.
• Higher retention. Increase retention of local players in specific countries and regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America, where credit cards are not the preferred payment method.
• Top up online. Add a top up capability that allows your players to add virtual goods such as currencies and items. They can also upgrade, downgrade, and manage their subscriptions across platforms.
• Easy-to-start FastTrack Integration. Utilize API calls to import your item catalog to Xsolla so you can start selling right away.‍
  Support your complete catalog of games. Unlock growth opportunities for multiple games with a single online experience, and enable game purchases online after porting your mobile game(s) to the web.
• Reduce risk. Eliminate the headaches of local taxes, VAT, and other fees as well as compliance with COPPA, GDPR, and other regulations with Xsolla handling everything as the merchant of record (MoR) for developers and publishers.‍
  Manage fraud. Conduct business securely with a best-in-class anti-fraud system tailored for the games industry, which can effectively block 99% of fraudulent behaviors.‍
• Understand player behavior. Data ownership and insight into player preferences will allow you to conduct more effective marketing campaigns aimed at reaching new players and giving current players what they want in your game. ‍
• Built-in influencer marketing. Create performance-based influencer campaigns to promote your web shop to new users with revenue share and coupon/cashback opportunities for players via creator tags and content drops.‍
• Better user acquisition. Control the UA process with ecommerce campaigns that feature improved discoverability on a global scale.‍
• Your custom brand experience. Create a customized, branded experience for your game and players rather than being controlled, managed, and limited only to what the app stores provide.‍
• Physical goods. Create an ecommerce experience to market and sell branded merchandise to your fans.
• Gift purchases and promotions. Increase average user revenue via marketing channels with gift purchases for friends and family, custom bundles, sales, bonus and cashback coupons, upgrades, and more.

The future of mobile games is exciting. There are many opportunities to unlock new revenue and expand your audience through a custom, multi-platform experience that caters to players’ needs and wants. With the proposed changes to the App Store and shifting tides across the in-app purchase landscape, Xsolla sees the possibility to turn this shared momentum into game business growth for its existing and prospective partners.

For more information about how to accelerate your mobile game visit Xsolla Web Shop for Mobile Games.

This article was originally published at the Xsolla blog.

A robust backend infrastructure is the engine that powers all top-grossing mobile games. It enables engaging gameplay experiences and handles essential functions such as user authentication, multiplayer capabilities, LiveOps, leaderboards, cloud storage, and much more.

However, there are numerous mobile game backend providers (also called backend-as-a-service) in the market. By the end of this article, you’ll have an understanding of who they are, and how they differ from each other.

Should you build or buy your backend tech?

Most of the companies you see in the top-grossing gaming charts use bespoke backend technology that they’ve built in-house. This allows for customization and total control of the backend tech stack, but it requires hiring a team of engineers – a time-intensive and costly process.

The vast majority of game developers, however, do not have the time, human resources, or money to invest in building in-house backend tech.

Instead, they use external backend providers, which offer “plug-and-play” solutions that make the process far more affordable and efficient. In turn, this lets them focus on creating exceptional gameplay experiences.

So which mobile game backend providers are leading the way?

Leading backend providers for mobile games in 2024

Metaplay: the backend of choice for games with top-grossing ambitions

Metaplay’s backend is particularly suited to developers building a game with a long-term mindset, one that accounts for the evolving tech needs, innovation, and dynamism required to take a game from good to great. Metaplay offers tools to power feature-complete games from day one all the way through to hit status, such as:

• Game programming
• Backend engineering
• Product and LiveOps
• QA and customer support

Metaplay’s backend solution is suitable for a wide range of games built on Unity, from casual titles to real-time multiplayer experiences.

What sets Metaplay apart from other backend providers is the flexibility of the technology?

Alternative providers offer a limited set of functionalities, which are good enough to get you on par with your competitors. However, when the time comes to innovate, to add custom game features that are not supported by the limited off-the-shelf functionalities, problems emerge.

Specifically, in these cases, developers need to do a major code refactor or migrate their game to a different backend provider. At best, this is a necessary nuisance that drags on for a few months. At worst, it’s a disaster that eats years of development time.

Metaplay, by contrast, offers a tech upgrade path, ensuring game innovation is never stifled by technological limitations.

Their fully programmable stack is also server-authoritative and, as such, cheat-proof by default, which guarantees developers peace of mind as they scale. And because Metaplay ships as source code deployed into a game developer’s own cloud, when making games with Metaplay, a game studio never has to worry about vendor risk.

The Metaplay SDK includes a pre-built but fully customizable LiveOps and player management dashboard, which has everything ambitious game developers need to engage, retain, and monetize their players as their game grows.

Click here to learn more about Metaplay’s backend for mobile game developers.

Pricing

Pricing for Metaplay’s backend technology starts at €995 per month for managed development environments, opportunities to add production and staging environments as you globally launch your game.
Game studios can also choose from a variety of expert support packages tailored to their needs, as well as bespoke Private Cloud options for self-hosting at scale.

Beamable

Beamable provides tools for monetizing players (in-game stores, payment infrastructure, notifications), connecting players (leaderboards, chats, guilds or clans, multiplayer gameplay, tournaments), and optimizing the game experience (analytics into player behavior, A/B testing for new features, content management for deploying new content).

From a more technical angle, Beamable also provides admin tools for development, microservices that eliminate the need to build and operate a game server, and more.

They also offer both Unity and Unreal SDKs, allowing developers to add Beamable’s backend service to games built on either of the leading engines.

Pricing

Beamable’s subscription tiers begin at $10 per million API calls, also providing an indie tier for solo or small teams without revenue or funding. For large companies who expect over 200M API calls, Beamable offers special pricing.

Azure PlayFab

Azure PlayFab, owned by Microsoft (and formerly known only as ‘PlayFab’), provides a solid set of building blocks to launch a fully functional game and is one of the longest-running backend solutions, having launched in 2014.

On a high level, PlayFab’s offering can be divided into three pieces: multiplayer tools, LiveOps tools, and analytics.

PlayFab’s tools for multiplayer games include party networking and chat, cross-network identity and data, multiplayer servers for low-latency real-time gameplay, leaderboards and statistics, and matchmaking and groups (like guilds or clans).

PlayFab’s LiveOps tools include game economy infrastructure, player communication, automation to set up custom operations and react to events in real time, content management (like remote updates to game assets), and experiments (like running tests on player segments).

Finally, PlayFab’s real-time analytics let developers understand how their game is performing and how users are interacting with it. And in terms of data, PlayFab also ensures GDPR and COPPA compliance.

Pricing

PlayFab’s pricing has several tiers: a free tier for games with less than 100K users, a pay-as-you-go plan, a standard plan at $99/month, and a premium plan at $1,999/month.

Photon

Photon’s inclusion on this list could be seen as slightly contentious as, strictly speaking, it’s not exactly a backend (or at least not in the same sense as the other vendors on this list).

More so, Photon is a multiplayer engine that is particularly valuable for developers aiming to create highly scalable and real-time multiplayer experiences.

One of the standout features of Photon Engine is its low latency and reliable networking capabilities, which enable seamless real-time multiplayer interactions. This makes it an ideal choice for fast-paced multiplayer games, such as first-person shooters or sports simulations.

Photon also offers extensive matchmaking and lobby management functionality, allowing developers to create custom matchmaking algorithms and efficiently connect players. This feature is invaluable for games that rely on fair and balanced matchmaking, enhancing the overall player experience.

Another great aspect of Photon is its authoritative server support, enabling developers to enforce game rules and prevent cheating. This is crucial for competitive multiplayer games where maintaining a fair and level playing field is so important.

Note that Photon is not a complete backend provider – it focuses on multiplayer game infrastructure. Some developers, for instance, use Photon in tandem with other backend tools like Metaplay to cover all of their mobile game’s backend needs.

Pricing

Pricing for Photon is tiered according to concurrent users (CCU), with options available for indie developers and larger studios.

Heroic Labs

Heroic Labs is a composable product stack featuring an open-source game server, a LiveOps platform, a game development toolkit, and managed cloud services.

Nakama, Heroic Labs’ flagship tool, is a scalable and flexible backend server for multiplayer games. It provides essential features such as user authentication, real-time multiplayer functionality, social features, leaderboards, and server-side scripting.

Nakama is particularly valuable for developers looking to create large-scale multiplayer experiences across different platforms, as it offers high-performance networking and seamless synchronization.

In addition, Heroic Labs’ latest tool, Satori, provides a real-time data platform designed for building live, interactive, and immersive experiences. Satori enables developers to stream data in real time, facilitating dynamic gameplay, chat systems, and live events.

Satori is particularly useful in instances where real-time data updates and instant communication are essential, such as massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), live competitions, or other collaborative experiences.

Heroic Labs’ cloud tool is another handy feature, letting developers deploy dedicated Nakama and Satori clusters on a managed and private cloud.

Hiro, which is Heroic Labs’ game development kit (GDK), is a client-server library built on the Nakama game server with built-in game economy, social, and LiveOps features pre-made to be flexibly integrated into your game.

Pricing

Heroic Labs offers a flexible pricing model, including a free tier for indie developers, and custom plans for larger-scale games.

Choosing the Right Backend Provider for Your Mobile Game

When it comes to backend infrastructure for mobile games, partnering with an external provider rather than building your own technology offers numerous benefits. Aside from saving significant time and money, developers are able to maintain focus on the number one priority: building an engaging gameplay experience that keeps their players coming back for more.

Choosing the right backend provider is a big decision and requires a lot of research. Ideally, the backend service you go with from day one will remain your provider over the long run, as the cost of switching later is higher and will continue to rise as a game matures.

This article was designed to serve as an overview of the leading mobile game backend providers, but it is far from definitive. Use this as a starting point for conducting deeper research, and remember that your game is likely to evolve in ways you haven’t thought of yet – so ensure your backend provider gives you all the functionalities, scalability, and reliability to support your future tech needs.

Imagine this: You’re a game developer and you’ve just created a mobile game that you’re sure is the next hit in the market. What you might not have realized is that you might have fallen victim to common mistakes made by game devs in mobile game design.

Creating a successful mobile game involves more than just coding and design; it requires something crucial: the ability to immerse players in a captivating user experience. To achieve this, game developers must steer clear of common design pitfalls that can detract from the overall quality and appeal of their games. In this article, we’ll explore ten prevalent mistakes in mobile game design and provide insights into how to avoid them.

1. Poor User Experience

One of the most critical aspects of mobile game design is ensuring a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Because this is your best first impression to your users! Failing to prioritize intuitive controls, clear navigation, and responsive gameplay can lead to the absolute no-go: which is frustrated players and negative reviews. This is exactly why mobile game devs should conduct thorough testing to identify and rectify any user experience issues prior to launching the game.

2. Messy and Disordered Interfaces

Cluttered and disorganized interfaces can overwhelm players and impede their ability to engage with the game. Designing clean, intuitive interfaces with clear visual hierarchy and navigation can significantly impact the overall user experience. A tip is to make sure the users stay engaged in your game is for your user interface UI to be interactive with engaging game components and a low loading speed.

3. Making the Game Too Complex

Hypercasual mobile games are naturally easy to play and known for their fun game mechanics. While some complexity can add a level of depth to a mobile game, overwhelming players with convoluted mechanics and a steep learning curve can lead to user disengagement. Striking a balance between depth and accessibility is crucial to cater to players.

Remember the phrase: Simple to grasp yet difficult to master!

4. Not Choosing a Relevant Target Audience

Target the right audience! When creating any product, it is essential to know who you’re selling the product to. So it goes unsaid how vital it is to understand the preferences and expectations of the target audience when designing a game that resonates with the right players. This could mean doing a thorough market analysis and drawing the sketch of what, where and who your target group is. What their needs, hobbies and pain points are the very details that will help you understand how to segment your audience and market the game. It can also help with deciding on a format and placements of your ads.

5. Underestimating the Power of Trends

Match-3, puzzles, action, casino… there are endless trends that come up every now and then. It can be an advantage to understand the market trends and have a mobile game that resonates with it. The report from Adjust and Applovin also mentions that racing and simulation games have been placed on the top of the charts. The installs witnessed the growth by 61% and 53% YoY, respectively. They are followed by arcade games followed with 38% and 19% increases in installs and sessions. Trends are not only found within the market itself though, it is worth it to keep a close eye on social trends as well like mainstream entertainment, social networks, toys & fashion, major events, etc.

6. Not Paying Enough Attention to Marketing and Monetization

Developers often focus solely on game mechanics and aesthetics, overlooking the importance of a well-rounded marketing strategy and a sustainable monetization model. Integrating marketing and monetization considerations into the early stages of game design can be the make or break for long-term success. The Gaming App Insights Report from Adjust and AppLovin stated that gaming in-app revenue is increasing! In January 2024, the growth of in-app revenue witnessed an increase of 13% YoY.

7. Too Many Push Notifications

While push notifications can be a valuable tool for player engagement, bombarding users with excessive or irrelevant notifications can be an annoyance and lead to the dreadful: app uninstalls! Game devs should implement a thoughtful and targeted approach to push notifications to avoid alienating their player base.

8. Absence of a User Feedback Channel

User feedback is one of the things that can be made readily available through mobile game apps. Fostering this kind of open communication with players and gathering insights drives iterative improvements to the game. Try to incorporate a user feedback channel, such as in-game surveys or community forums. This will allow developers to understand player sentiments and address their concerns effectively.

9. Neglecting Privacy and User Protection

In an era of heightened awareness around data privacy, it is a huge risk to not prioritize user privacy and protection. This can erode your game reputation and inevitably your players’ trust. So implement a robust privacy measure and transparent data practices! This will not only safeguard player information but also cultivate a sense of trust and credibility.

10. Ignoring Game Reviews

Player feedback, as reflected in game reviews, can offer invaluable insights into the strengths and shortcomings of a game. Ignoring or dismissing game reviews deprives developers of an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and refine the game based on player feedback.

Conclusion

Mobile game design is an extensive process which concerns various aspects. Often, in this process, mistakes can be made and go unnoticed which can hinder what would otherwise be a compelling and successful gaming experience. It’s best practice to avoid common mistakes such as underestimating the power of trends or understanding the target audience, neglecting user experience and failing to integrate thoughtful marketing and monetization strategies. Developers can enhance the appeal and longevity of their mobile games. Additionally, fostering open communication with players, prioritizing user privacy, and leveraging player feedback can further contribute to the success of mobile game design. Ultimately, by steering clear of these pitfalls, developers can take the quality of their games to new levels and establish a strong connection with their player base.

This article was originally published by TapNation.

What is Web Shop for mobile games?

As a mobile game developer looking to expand, you need a global monetization solution that successfully operates in multiple regions worldwide and offers payment methods your players find familiar and are comfortable using.

That’s exactly what Xsolla Web Shop does. Web Shop for Mobile Games is a highly customizable, long-term solution that allows you to create your own shop, on your own website. Using the Web Shop, you can reach more players, earn more revenue and grow your mobile games worldwide. It lets you do everything the app stores do and more, for only 5%.

How can Web Shop help you do all that?

Web Shop helps you acquire new players and drive existing gamers to your own, branded website. You are essentially creating a white-label payment experience for your players and increasing your brand loyalty at the same time:

• You can connect and communicate directly to your community via updates on your site, an email list, newsletters, social media handles, a Discord server, and more.
• You can set up reward systems for your loyal players and keep users returning to your shop for easy-to-use transactions like purchases and subscriptions.
• You can utilize FastTrack integration, and Catalog Import features to start selling your in-game items and currencies right away. Plus, with the built-in Pay Station integration, you can let your customers pay with more payment methods that they know, trust, and prefer to use.

And did we mention it’s all available for only a 5% fee?

Launch your Web Shop

Okay, now that you know why you should launch your own Web Shop for Mobile Games, how do you do it? It’s a lot easier than you might think. We’ll walk you through the simple integration steps so you can get up and running on your own in no time.

It all starts with your Xsolla Publisher Account, an easy-to-use, all-in-one control center that lets you set up and manage every Xsolla product you need to optimize and monetize your games. Just log in and follow the steps below, or try out Xsolla’s simple demo.

Step 1: Set up your project

If you’re an existing Xsolla Partner, log in to your Publisher Account and go to your project. If you’re new to Xsolla, simply register for an account, and fill in the required details for your project.

Step 2: Create a Web Shop landing page

On the left-hand navigation menu, head to Site Builder, click Create site and choose the Web Shop Page template and enter the link to your app from the App Store or Google Play. You’ll see a pre-created page with assets imported from your game page.

Step 3: Import your catalog or add items manually

In your Store block, click Set up purchases in Store in the navigation menu. Scroll down to Catalog management, and click Configure. On the Catalog management page, under Connectors, click Configure. On the Connectors page, select the platform you want to import from, and click Configure. Make sure the Show in Store toggle is set to on. You can also import items via API.

Alternatively, you can set this up manually. In Site Builder, click Add block and choose Store as the type. From the Select purchase type pull-down in the navigation menu, select Virtual currency (packages), and then click Create virtual currency. Fill in all required fields and create a currency and a currency package.

Step 4: Review your page Go back to the Site Builder and open your page to view it. The currency package you create should be displayed on the landing page.

Step 5: Choose the authorization flow Use Webhooks for Player ID authorization or JSON Web Token (JWT) for Server authorization.

Webhooks: Webhooks let you add items to a specific account in your game. Go to Project Settings > Webhooks. Switch the toggle to ON.

JWT: Follow these instructions to implement user registration and authentication via a platform.

Step 6: Sign Licensing Agreement and launch your page Access and sign the Licensing Agreement with an Owner or Accounting role, and publish your page. Your web shop is set up and ready to use, and you can start selling in-game items, currencies, subscriptions, and more right away for only 5% per transaction.

Step 7: Let your players know about your web shop

Now that your web shop is live, it’s time to tell your players about it. You can do this via email, newsletters, social media handles, a Discord server, and more. Use the email addresses or handles you may have collected when players signed up for your game. You can also have LiveOps or a banner in-game, asking players to sign up and enter any information you may require: email address, social handle, etc.

You can use that information to direct players to your WebShop, let them know about sales, special item bundles, subscriptions, and more. It’s your shop, now open for business. Let everyone know!

Please contact Xsolla’s integration team for advanced help with setup or any technical assistance. You can also reach them via online chat at this link by clicking the message icon in the bottom right corner.

For more information about Web Shop for Mobile Games, download the free ebook, or feel free to set up a call. Your future starts now, and Xsolla’s here to help.

This article was originally published at the Xsolla blog.

Uncover the industry’s performance with Q1 2024 benchmarks. Explore key metrics like retention rates and session engagement to benchmark your games against industry standards.

What’s inside?

• Retention benchmarks for casual, classic, and mid-core games
• Session length benchmarks for games launched in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
• Session count benchmarks across 15 game genres

You need to wear a lot of different hats when you’re making a game – especially if you’re doing it solo. One day, you’re a foley artist. Next, you’re a marketer. Even as a programmer or designer, it’s useful to understand how these elements come together, so you can make sure everything ties into your theme.

To help you along the way, we gathered all the free resources you can use to learn about the different areas of game development. Before you use the resources, we encourage you to make sure the assets are royalty-free.

Game design resources

Game design is all about the choices you make. The rules and mechanics that bring your idea to life. From small decisions, like whether to use coyote time in your platformer, to big decisions, like the main theme of the game.

1. Game Accessibility Guidelines. Every game designer should bookmark these guidelines. They go through the principles you should follow and give examples for each task. There’s even a checklist you can download.
2. Develop.Games. Thor Hall, the creator behind Heartbound and ex-Blizzard developer, has put together the Develop.Games site. It goes through both the development and the business side of creating games. A must-read for any would-be developer.
3. GameMaker’s Toolkit. This YouTube channel is an excellent series that deep dives into the most important elements of game design. You’ll find topics like creating puzzles, developing for a specific genre, and the psychology of the players themselves.

1. GDC Vault. The Game Developers Conference adds all the various talks and presentations from their events to their vault. These range from technical advice on how to develop specific ideas to wider trends and best practices.
2. The Level Design Book. This website covers everything about level design, starting from the theory to the actual tools you’ll need to get started. There’s even a section for specific assets and resources you can use.
3. Scroll back (the theory of cameras in side scrollers). This gigantic article could be a book all to itself. It covers everything you might want to know about how to use a camera in 2D games.
4. Pixel Architect. Dev diaries like these can be a useful way to see how to actually build your game. There are plenty to follow, but Pixel Architect is a particularly good start.
5. Design Doc. This channel answers the tricky, specific questions you might have about game design, focusing on the mechanics themselves. How do you stop people from hoarding items? Why add critical hits? What’s the point of fast travel?

1. The Architect of Games. While this channel seems to be about critiquing games with humour – it actually analyzes the actual game design decisions and explores the themes of the game in depth.
2. Brackeys. A huge channel of tutorials that also delves into the actual game design decisions behind that development. The only downside is that they shut down a few years ago, so some videos can be a little outdated.

Game development resources

At the heart of every game is the code itself. Even if you’re experienced with a programming language, you’re likely to bump into a few surprises when developing your game. Either way, there are tons of resources out there. And if you need an engine, consider the open-source Godot.

1. freeCodeCamp.org. If you want to learn to code, this is the channel to visit. They go deep into the practical and theory side and even have the full Harvard Computer Science University course as a 25-hour video. Yes, a Harvard University course – completely free.
2. Game Programming Patterns. Keeping your code clean and organised is a major challenge, so this free ebook teaches you the best practices.
3. Programming Patterns on Unity. Unity has released a similar guide around coding patterns and explaining how to use them inside Unity.
4. Ludum Dare. A twice-yearly game jam over a weekend. Not only is it inspiring, but it’s worth reading the posts from other developers as they delve into their process.
5. Introduction to Game Development with Unity. This Udemy tutorial is a perfect start for anyone looking to use Unity. You’ll see how to use cameras and objects, and understand the Unity interface.
6. GDQuest. If you want to get into Godot, then look no further than GDQuest. A huge treasure-trove of free tutorials that cover pretty much everything you need – even if you’re not going to use Godot.

1. Game Development Crash Course. Udemy also has a crash course about how to use the Solar2D game engine.
2. GitHub Student Developer Pack. Get your school enrolled, and you’ll be able to get access to real-world tools and practice using them. There’s a page about how to get your school involved.
3. Codeacademy game dev course. This four-hour introductory course will help you get the ball rolling and learn about game design and development.
4. LootLocker free guides. These step-by-step guides walk you through specific mechanics, particularly meta-mechanics like energy systems.

Game art free resources

Not all games need fantastic graphics to be a success. Vampire Survivors used assets that Luca Galante simply bought in a pack. There are also plenty of videos out there about how to draw pixel-art-style games. If you need a free tool, consider open-source tools like Gimp, Blender, or Krita.

1. Itch.io. There are thousands of free assets on itch.io, from character sprites to user-interface elements. Even if you only use them for inspiration, it’s a fantastic collection.
2. Kenney.nl. Not only can you get thousands of free 2D and 3D assets, there are loads of guides on how to edit them or create your own.
3. Blender Guru. If you’re looking to create slick 3D graphics, Blender Guru is the channel to follow. He offers guides and tutorials for beginners and advanced artists alike.

1. Polligon. Created by Blender Guru, you can find Blender textures, models and more in the free section.
2. CRTLpaint. This site has a bunch of free video series that teach you how to get into digital painting for yourself. From concept art to the principles of design. You can also follow their YouTube channel.
3. Proko. If you want to learn the basics of drawing, particularly characters, then this channel will help you get there.
4. 2DGameArtGuru. Learn all the most useful tools, such as Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. There are absolutely loads of tools here.

Music and sound-free resources

Your music can define the tone and atmosphere of your game. It’s vital to make your game come alive. These resources can help you produce that soundtrack, from composing your melody to putting it all together. If you need an open-source tool, check out Ardour, MuseScore (if you know sheet music), and Audacity.

1. Sonniss: Free archive. This is one of the biggest libraries of sound effects out there. Every year they give out free samples at GDC. This is the link to their 10GB archive of all those free sound effects.
2. Bensound. A huge collection of royalty-free music that you can filter and organise by mood.
3. Music Matters. If you’re completely new to music theory, this channel has tons of videos that will get you up to speed in no time.
4. Spitfire Audio. Not only does this channel talk you through music theory and crafting tracks from multiple instruments, but they also show the process behind actually composing a track from start to finish. They also have a free library of instrument samples called BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover.
5. Ryan Leach. Ryan creates videos about how to compose music for TV, film and games. He covers not only basic music theory, but how to easily turn that into an orchestral masterpiece.

Narrative game design resources

Storytelling and narrative design are quite different from writing a novel or script. You need to consider not only the character and plot, but what actions the player might take. It’s all about choices. If you need a tool to help you plan out your story’s flow, look into the open-source engine Twine.

1. Emily Short. This blog is a huge list of books and blogs that you should read if you want to learn about interactive narratives.
2. Screencraft: Write for video games. This article explores the various types of writing you might need to cover, from cut scenes to side quests.
3. Game Developer: Storytelling in games.This article is the first in a series that dives deep into what narrative design is and how to think about it.

Game marketing and monetization resources

Once you’ve developed your game, it’s time to start getting it out to the masses. Here are a few resources to help you get the word out.

1. Kickstarter: Tips for games. Unsurprisingly, Kickstarter has a section on their site about how to set up your project, entice people in, and get funded. A lot of the advice works well for your general marketing, too.
2. Helpshift’s marketing guide. Focused on mobile gaming, this ten-step guide walks you through what you need to do as well as in-depth case studies.

1. Game Marketing Genie. These guys have a great guide and overview about how to market your game, from understanding your competitors to using Steam.
2. AskGameDev. This channel has a specific playlist all about how to market your video game. There are 17 videos here that will surely help.
3. Steambase: If you want to research other games, Steambase is a really useful resource. It tracks Steam sales, so you can know when to best discount your own game.

How to keep track of gaming industry trends?

Not only is it important to market your game, but to keep an eye on trends in the industry. What’s working? What isn’t? Here are a few resources that can help you out.

1. GWI’s gaming playbook. This free report from GWI goes into the stats and figures that you need to know about the industry.
2. GameAnalytics. Our free tool can help you track and research your own game, but we can also give you insights into the industry.

It’s clear that AI is entering every aspect of gaming. So where is the technology when it comes to voice-overs? Does it work? And is it worth using? We looked at the various tools out there to see the best ways to use it and whether the quality was up to scratch.

AI voice-overs won’t replace voice actors

First of all, we don’t believe the quality of AI voice-acting is anywhere close to a real actor. Even AI tools that are focused on the gaming sector hover in that uncanny valley, where the voice just sounds robotic and stilted. Not awful. But it just doesn’t have that same cadence a real person would give.

True, the technology will advance. But we don’t see it replacing the need for a real person. For one, you need to model the AI after someone. But even then, an AI can’t decide when to pause to show emotion or emphasise a point. It doesn’t have that same awareness of the context of the situation.

A YouTube comment on Sonantic’s video about AI voices. 

As models improve, it’ll get better. But it’ll never be perfect, and it’ll take a lot of work from the developer to make it believable. A well-written scene, filled with character development and poignant moments, will always need a real actor to do it justice.

The results are rather stilted

We experimented with a few different voice-over AI tools to see how well they performed, such as ReadSpeaker, PlayHT, REsemble.AI, Lovo.AI, and Replica Studios.

Even just listening to the highlight reels on their websites, the examples sound robotic and somewhat lifeless. They might be passable for minor moments or tutorial text, but they’re certainly not good enough for emotional scenes or believable characters.

Replica Studios’ digital voice studio.

There are more specialised tools, like Replica Studios, which allow you to change the emotion behind the text and adjust the settings. But even these fall flat when the text gets longer or more nuanced. Small snippets of text, like one-liners, tutorial hints or narration, can be okay. But some words seem to completely mystify the computer and it can’t make the whole paragraph… flow.

So if the quality isn’t up to scratch, what’s the point of using it?

AI can speed up prototypes

There aren’t many studios using AI for voice-over work. At least, not work that’s out in the wild. It seems that most are using it to help speed up their development process, rather than using it for their final release.

Obsidian uses AI to make sure that the story is flowing properly and that the characters are behaving believably. And, as games become more and more customizable, it’s impractical to record those lines until the very end. AI can improve the quality of the prototype and testing build.

This seems to be a trend with most studios.

“We use Replica’s software to test scripts, dialogue, and gameplay sequences before engaging human voice actors to record the final lines,” said Chris O’Neill, the senior audio designer at PlaySide Studios.

Likewise, Ninja Theory said on X (Twitter):

“We use this AI only to help us understand things like timing and placement in early phases of development. We then collaborate with real actors whose performances are at the heart of bringing our stories to life.”

This seems like a good way to think about AI in general. Use it as a placeholder or way to brief your creative team. It can help your director communicate what they want and speed the process along.

AI allows for ‘generated’ content

There are already hundreds of thousands of lines of dialogue in modern games. Bethesda’s Starfield has around 250,000 lines. Baldur’s Gate 3, even during early access, had well over 45,000 lines – and that was just the first act. Red Dead Redemption 2 reportedly had over 500,000 across 1,000 voice actors.

Games are just getting bigger and bigger. The main bulk of the dialogue probably won’t replace the need for human actors. But it can help tidy up the quality after it’s been recorded.

With so many lines of dialogue, it’s not always practical to record it all at once. Baldur’s Gate 3 has great writing and quality actors. But sometimes it’s clear the lines were recorded at different times. Using AI to just tidy it up and make it consistent could really help.

But that’s just the written dialogue. The intentional dialogue. What players want is interactivity – to be able to talk to characters and have unique responses.

The next step is inevitably more “generated” or “dynamic” dialogue. Dialogue that’s powered by AI language models to respond to the player in real-time.

Replica Studios is already working on this, with their Smart NPCs plugin for Unreal Engine. And it’s pretty impressive.

AI will soon respond to players – and it can’t all be acted

The idea is simple. Imagine you could walk around a world and talk to any NPC and they’d respond like a real human being. It seems fantastical, but it’s within reach. We wouldn’t be surprised if we see a game with AI NPCs in the next couple of years.

Replica Studios did a demo with Matrix Awakens using their Smart NPCs. Their official demo is a bit lacklustre, so here’s a better example from YouTuber TmarTn2 trying it out.

As you can see, it’s pretty impressive. But janky. The novelty of saying anything to an NPC would likely wear thin after a little while and the responses aren’t world-shattering. Mix in a real writer, coming up with scenarios and stories that the NPCs could draw from – and we’re sure it’ll be mind-blowing.

The problem is that it’s all unique content. It needs an AI voice actor to speak the lines, because it’s literally impossible to record the dialogue.

We predict that studios will need to licence an actor’s voice to allow for this dynamic content. Pay the actor normally for the ‘real’ dialogue and then an extra fee to model their voice for the generated content.

Sure, the generated content will never be as good as the parts the voice actor actually performed. But, you know what? That’s fine. As a player, I’m willing to accept a bit of janky dialogue as an extra. I suspend my disbelief. It feels like the old days where the graphics weren’t particularly good. After a while, your mind fills in the blanks.

AI could help accessibility

Text-heavy games are always a problem for those that can’t read them. Whether the player is completely blind or just struggles seeing the tiny font – having a computer read out the text can be incredibly helpful.

Developers could use AI as a tool for accessibility. For example, you could have it narrate actions for blind people like “Frank enters the room.” Or just have it read out the in-game text and menus.

This is particularly useful for ports of old games. A game like Final Fantasy VII was purely text-based. Imagine Square Enix, when they ported it to PC, could just slap on an AI tool to read out all that text. It’d open it up to so many more players.

It’s possible to embrace AI and be ethical

If a developer wants to only use AI for their voice acting, it’s not really viable right now. Even in the future, it’s going to take a lot of effort to get to the quality you’d expect from an actor. There’s still a price to pay – time. For the most part, we imagine that developers will need a mix of AI and real people.

But how do we balance the two? Society, in general, has a lot to learn about how to work with AI. Regulations need to be set. Standards need to be made. Questions need answering.

With the right licences for voice actors, which pay them fairly for their talent, we can see a bright future for gaming. AI has the potential to become the private Game Master, helping run unique games for every individual player. Even if the voices do all sound the same.

But, then again, isn’t that every Game Master?

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Retaining customers is paramount for game studios, as acquiring new customers involves significant costs. In “Game Analytics 100: The Retention Curve,” Russell Ovans from East Side Games delves into the critical aspect of customer retention in the gaming industry.

What will you learn?

• Importance of retention: Customer retention is crucial for game studios, as acquiring new customers is expensive compared to retaining existing ones.
• Day-n retention: Measures the proportion of players returning to play a game n days after installation, providing insights into player engagement.
• Retention curve: Generalizes day-n retention by predicting player retention for any day after installation, derived from historical data.
• Key metrics: Includes day-n retention, average player duration, and lifetime value (LTV) to assess and optimize game performance.
• Tools: Utilizes statistical regression and data analysis tools like Excel and Tableau to analyze retention data and predict player behavior.

Portions of this paper previously appeared in the book Game Analytics: Retention and Monetization in Free-to-Play Games. Available on Amazon in various regions.

VR games are growing in popularity – with predictions that there will be 23 million VR-related jobs hit the market by 2030. And with better technology and increased interest, more and more developers are shifting towards this new field.

But even with better tools, online tutorials, and a larger community, making a VR game is still no walk in the park. It’s very different to what you may be used to building. To get ahead, we’ve been doing our own research and interviewing the best VR devs to get their top-tier advice. So, here’s what we learned and what you need to know.

Controls being second nature

Depending on your audience, you can usually expect your players to have some experience with games in the past. So they should have a good understanding of controls and button layout. This may not be the case for VR.

For starters, VR controllers are a new concept. Playstation and Xbox controllers have been around for decades and are usually the first thing people think of when you mention gaming. But unlike other platforms, your players can’t see their hands with VR. Saying ‘Press X’ isn’t enough in this situation. They can’t remember where it is and can’t see their hands to figure it out.

Think up creative ways to lend them a hand. ‘Show, don’t tell’ is a handy tool here. You could have a semi-transparent image of their controller pointing out which button to press and showing exactly where it is on their controller. Seeing where the button is on their controller can help them feel for what they should be pushing. That’s what Half-Life: ALYX did, and it worked quite well for them.

Playing for hours upon hours

Unlike other platforms, people can’t wear their headsets for long periods. It’s very easy for players to experience eye strain, headaches, and motion sickness if they play their VR for too long.

So you may want to think about a target session length. Too long, and your players may quit halfway through with a pounding head. If you’ve created hyper-casual games before, then the rules of ‘keep it short, sweet, and satisfying’ can easily transfer to VR.

With that in mind, it depends on the type of game and players you have. Ramen VR’s Zenith MMORPG game saw players spending two hours at a time in their title. So take this section as a guide rather than a strict rule. Use data to listen to your players and find what works for them.

Cutscenes or forced camera perspectives

Cutscenes can be great to help tell your story or highlight important events. And in traditional gaming, it’s fine to shift your player away from first person and into a cut scene or even certain camera perspectives. But the sudden shift of perspective in VR can be very jarring and disorienting, if not done correctly.

The unique element with VR is that your players are always in a first-person view. So rather than watching from the sidelines, your players can be in those cutscenes, experiencing them first-hand.

Clash of Clans actually tackled this quite nicely. They have a 360 movie for VR, placing you directly in the action. It’s a shame this isn’t a full on game and instead more of an experience. But consider treating your cutscenes like this – making your storytelling methods much more interactive, even letting your players participate.

Quick-time events

Quick Time Events, where players are prompted to press specific buttons within a time limit, are great for adding tension to your games. But not so great in VR. For one, the sudden change can break their immersion and slap them back into the reality of they’re just playing a game. And keep in mind that your players can’t see their controls, so they may struggle to react quickly if they’re also processing which button to press.

Focus on more natural and immersive mechanics to add tension. Or, if you want to add a time-based element, run focus groups to see if that’s what your players like. You’ll probably need to test this quite vigorously to find the right balance of fun and challenging without being overwhelming and disruptive.

HUD elements

In most games, you’ll have some key information on-screen (like health bars, mini maps, objective markers), which convey crucial information to your players. But in VR, these elements can hinder their immersion and obstruct their view.

So consider how you’ll relay this information without overloading your players. We recently interviewed Halfbrick Studios, the developers behind the Fruit Ninja series. When designing their HUD, they opted to instead create a pad with all of the info their players needed in the form of a ninja scroll. It made it so much more natural for the player and kept it in the game’s theme.

Don’t underestimate the power of level design here, too. You don’t always need to spell things out for your players. Having clear objects, buildings and landmarks with certain colours and shapes can help intuitively guide your players to where they need to go without relying on a mini-map. This technique has been used many times in open-world games, too.

Nintendo devs actually revealed that they use this technique in their Zelda games. Key landmarks were always in a triangular shape. When players saw those shapes (usually mountains), they had two options: walk around or climb up them. Both actions led the players in the right direction. This same technique can be used in VR, too.

Written information

The screen of your VR is right in front of your eyes. And that can sometimes be uncomfortably close, especially if you need to read things. Having too much text for your players to read can break the immersion, add to their eye strain, and cause headaches.

So you’ll want to get creative when relaying information. Using auditory or visual cues whenever you can keeps the players immersed but also eases up on their eyes.

Precision controls

When playing games on consoles, PC, or even mobile games, your players can get pretty precise with their aiming. When playing multiplayer games with a mouse and keyboard, a flick of the wrist is all your players need to do to target their enemies. With mobile, you just slide your finger across the screen.

VR games can be a little trickier. You will be directly mapping a player’s hand movement to virtual weapons, so they may not have the same level of precision. Consider what limitations you’re working with. And depending on your game, perhaps give the option to increase aim assist or develop mechanics that feel natural and responsive.

Robo Recall, one of the first games to come out on Oculus, tackled this quite nicely. Here’s what we could see:

• They used very clear visuals: You can grab weapons, enemies, and even bullets out of the air easily. There’s a clear white circle around where you can grab them, so you know exactly where to point your controller.
• Time slows when catching objects: In the game, all of the bullets coming at you are slowed down. One, to help you dodge (otherwise, you’d be overwhelmed). But you can also catch bullets and fling them back to the enemy. Lots of fun. But impossible to do in real time.
• They use larger hitboxes for items: You don’t need to be precise when catching or picking up objects. If you’re close enough to a weapon or object, you can easily summon it by pointing in its rough direction. This is very common in VR, considering how restricted players are when moving around.

Lots of assets

In most games, you’ll have lots of background objects to fill the scene. Otherwise, the game can feel bare and barren. The issue with VR, everything needs to be rendered twice (as you have essentially two screens). Not only that, but every object should arguably be interactive. If a player tries to pick something up and can’t, well, that’s just another reminder that they’re just in a game. It can be confusing to know what’s interactive and what’s just background stuff when you have loads of objects. And think about the frame rate and CPU power – the more you have, the more power you’ll need.

So you’ll likely have less clutter and objects in the background. But that’s okay. Just make sure that whatever you have in your levels, your players can engage with them in some way. Even if it is just picking up a mug and throwing it across the room.

We recently interviewed Schell Games, the creative minds behind ‘I Expect You To Die’ and ‘Among Us VR’. They had items in their game that didn’t do anything and were just there. But after testing, they noticed their players trying to interact with it. It led them to decide to make it a unique object that they could pick up and break.

Get started making VR games

We hope this has been a helpful guide to get you started on your VR journey. Some of these techniques and rules may not always apply to you. That’s where data comes in. Sign up for free and download our SDKs to get going.

Read our documentation for each to get started: Unity, Unreal, or Android. Or check out our integration guide for Meta Quest 2.

NOTE: Certain platforms send error events automatically if enabled, while others require manual sending. To start sending events for FPS, Boot time, and Memory, it is required to upgrade your SDK to Unity 7.8.0 or newer.

Every game developer strives to deliver a seamless and optimized gaming experience. To support your efforts, we expanded the capabilities of Health reporting, introducing FPS (frames per second), Memory Usage management, and App Boot Time features. Complementing existing error messages and related charts, our health reporting toolset allows developers to delve deeper into their game’s performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately enhance player satisfaction.

Our health feature offers robust filtering capabilities, enabling developers to dissect performance metrics by country, build, and device. Such a granular level of analysis empowers developers to identify performance inconsistencies across different platforms and tailor optimizations accordingly.

At the core of health reporting and error tracking

Health reporting focuses on your game’s technical performance, providing efficient and profound insights into health-related issues. Reported errors are always categorized by severity (critical, error, warning, info, and debug), which allows you to assess their urgency and efficiently plan improvements.

These are the three prominent use cases that can help you guide your decisions confidently:

The first significant application is the ability to compare error counts between the latest and previous builds. This core functionality enables developers to track their game’s performance over time, identifying trends in error occurrence and assessing the impact of new releases. For example, observing a decrease in error counts following bug fixes in a new build provides developers with insights into the effectiveness of their troubleshooting efforts, guiding decisions on further updates.

Secondly, our feature facilitates in-depth analysis of error stacktraces, allowing developers to identify and prioritize specific error patterns affecting a significant number of users. For example, identifying a common stacktrace related to in-app purchases causing widespread crashes can help you address the underlying problem quickly, mitigating negative impacts on player retention and satisfaction.

Lastly, you can track device-specific error trends, helping you optimize your games for various hardware configurations. For example, identifying prevalent errors on older devices with lower processing power prompts you to review resource usage or implement fallback mechanisms, ensuring a smoother gameplay experience across different devices.

Frames per second (FPS)

The first Pro addition to your game’s ultimate health center is a detailed breakdown of frames per second (FPS) experienced by players throughout their gaming sessions. This feature enables developers to analyze FPS ranges and identify performance bottlenecks. By pinpointing areas of poor(er) performance, you can iteratively improve game builds to ensure a smooth and immersive gaming experience for players.

For instance, if a decrease in FPS is observed after deployment, you should review game’s code to pinpoint potential rendering inefficiencies. By implementing global rendering optimizations, you can improve FPS across all gameplay sequences, ensuring smoother gameplay experience, hence improving player satisfaction.

With the ongoing health monitoring, you can continue to track FPS metrics across various game builds and updates, ensuring that performance remains consistently high for all players.

Memory usage

When your game consumes excessive random access memory (RAM), it becomes challenging to run smoothly, especially on smaller devices with limited resources. Users on these devices may experience lag, slowdowns, or even crashes, leading to frustration and negative reviews. By prioritizing memory optimization, you not only enhance performance but also ensure compatibility with a broader range of devices.

Our Memory function – the second Pro addition to our health centre – provides valuable insights into the RAM usage of your application. By monitoring RAM usage, you can detect potential memory leaks that may lead to game crashes. This feature allows you to track the distribution of device memory usage and identify areas of excessive consumption, enabling you to implement memory-efficient coding practices and optimize game assets.

App boot time

The last Pro addition to our health reporting package, the app boot time function, is essential for optimizing player engagement and retention. The App Boot Time function provides developers with visibility into the loading time of their game. By analyzing app boot times, developers can identify opportunities to streamline the loading process, minimize wait times, and ensure a pleasing user experience from the moment players launch the game.

Our latest Health reporting features, including FPS, Memory management, and App Boot Time insights, are now available exclusively for GameAnalytics Pro users. With these tools, developers can delve deeper into their game’s performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and improve player satisfaction. Upgrade to GameAnalytics Pro today to unlock these powerful features and optimize your game’s technical performance.

It’s been the highlight of the news: AAA console games are coming to mobile. After Apple’s announcement in September, premium games are making their way to iPhone 15, with some already released. We’ll now be able to play AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 4 (the remake), Death Stranding, and more on our pocket devices.

Is this the start of the AAA game era on mobile? Will we expect to see more high-end, hardcore games hitting the smaller screens? And will players actually play them? Here’s what we know.

Can mobile devices handle AAA games?

Yes, they can. But they’ll require a specific technical frame in order to work. Technology has always been getting better, more powerful, and, more importantly, smaller. Only 20 years ago, the CPU in your desktop PC would’ve been 1 GHz. Now, phones are twice that. It’s no different for the latest Apple phone.

“The iPhone 15 Pro is powered by Apple’s first 3-nanometer mobile chip, the A17 Pro. Apple says the A17 Pro marks its most significant GPU redesign ever, with 20% more power than last year’s A16. As a result, the iPhone 15 Pro is reportedly capable of high-end native gaming features like ray tracing, upscaling, and variable refresh rates—as well as HDR support.” – Rhys Elliot, Newzoo.

Even though the tech is advancing, there are still a lot of challenges to overcome when bringing AAA games to mobile.

The tech isn’t quite up to scratch

The device needs to be able to run the games. That means a CPU, GPU, processor, cooling system, RAM, storage, etc. All powerful enough to run high-end AAA games.

When we checked the iPhone’s 15’s tech in PassMark, we found that the CPU is about as good as the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (which came out on Apr 11th, 2017). That’s the year Horizon Zero Dawn, Injustice 2 and Breath of the Wild came out. If we look at the specs alone, the new Apple chip is as good as a top-end (and, you know, still pretty decent) processor from six years ago. That said Jackie Thomas at IGN tested an early version of Resident Evil 4 on the iPhone 15, and the results weren’t too promising.

“I was recently invited to get some hands-on time with AAA games coming to iPhone, namely Death Stranding and Resident Evil 4. However, it’s clear that both of these games are either very early in the porting process, or they’re just not going to be that great of an experience on your phone.” – Jackie Thomas, IGN.

Overheating and battery life

Consoles and PCs have both experienced overheating problems in the past when running intensive games. To keep them cool and running, these devices are designed to be big and able to accommodate fans.

Even if the CPU of the latest phones can handle a top-end game, you won’t be able to hold the device if it gets as hot as a PC does. Players will need to get their hands on cooling devices built for phones to simply play the games on the go.

Gaming can also suck the battery life of devices in no time. YouTuber Ammar Ajjoub did a drain test while playing games, and found the phone drained after four hours of constant gaming. That actually isn’t too bad, considering that the average daily playtime for the adventure genre on PlayStation and Xbox was around 124 minutes in June (sourced from 2021).

The size of the games will be too big

You have a few different storage options for phones, usually: 64GB, 128GB, 512GB, and 1TB. If a game takes up between 40GB to 60GB, that already eats up a big percentage of your phone space. Players will be limited to how many games they can have on their phones at once. And, unlike consoles, where your only competition for space is mainly other games, you have other apps and forms of media on your phone) to compete with.

Players aren’t used to hardcore games on phones

The majority of mobile games tend to be quick, simple, and easy. That’s why the hyper-casual genre is so popular among the developers. You can play them on the go without having to dedicate too much of your attention.

AAA games are different – they’re built for dedicated gaming sessions, where you give yourself a few hours in the evening to play with your full attention. You can’t easily play Death Stranding while waiting in a queue at the bank. The exceptions are long commutes (like on a long train journey or flight). This is where devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck are good alternatives – something with better controls, powerful tech, and a decent-sized screen. These devices give a much better experience over mobile.

For AAA games to work on mobile, players will need to change their idea of what a mobile game actually is.

Apple is trying to change the users’ view of mobile gaming

Apple is making a statement. By porting popular AAA titles, they’re proving that the tech is now up to scratch. But the question still remains: Will people be willing to compromise storage, battery, and finances to play AAA titles on their phones? Especially, if we consider that some of these games will still have that AAA price tag on them.

The key lies with the younger generation

When we look at overall stats, people do play on mobile more than they play on console. But we need to take into account how vast the mobile gaming audience is. If you look at more demanding games, people prefer to play those on console and PC, rather than mobile. It’s clear that the vast number of genres, and rise of casual games, are inflating the stats of mobile gaming.

For AAA games, the story is different. It’s the younger players that play on smaller, touchscreen devices. They’ve grown up with mobiles and are already playing games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Call of Duty on them.

Even back in 2010, we were seeing that the younger generation are far more willing to play on mobile devices. A 2010 Nielson study found that kids under the age of 13 opted for an iPad or iPod touch over gaming consoles. This lowered for teenagers, but mobile devices were still the top choice. Fast forward to 2022, mobile phones and tablets are still the highest for kids aged kids between 3 and 7.

This starts to shift to console when people hit 8 onwards, with console gaming taking the lead, tablet use going down, but mobile remaining a close second.

So why do players then shift to console? Perhaps it’s because the games aren’t available on touchscreen devices or because they aren’t good enough quality. Either way, players have no choice but to make the switch when they want to play more advanced titles.

But with better mobile hardware, that trend could change. By introducing new AAA games to mobile – and not just adaptations – there’s less reason for a player to make the switch (aside from wanting a larger screen). By bringing these more demanding games to mobile, Apple will prove that these games can run well, that the tech is up to scratch, and that they’re worth the money. This could change the perception around mobile gaming and open up a new market for developers.

It’ll take time to bring AAA games to mobile

With all these challenges, it’ll take a while for AAA games to truly take off on mobile. The shift in the mindset of premium games on mobile, the technology itself progressing, and even the marketing around these games – they all take time.

By making Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade exclusive to mobile, and porting some of the most successful AAA games to mobile, we’re at the beginning of a proof of concept. Players will be tempted to try out the new game on the smaller screens. We’ll have to wait and see if it meets their expectations.

Use data to perfect your game

It’s uncertain how things will progress over the next few years. But one thing is for sure: mobile gaming is expanding and evolving. According to Statista, in 2023, the mobile games market is projected to generate a revenue of $89.25bn worldwide. And it’s clear that more developers, publishers, and companies are trying to break into the mobile gaming market.

Data has always been crucial for a studio’s success. But considering how fast the industry is progressing, with new genres entering uncharted territories, it’s now more important than ever. Get in touch with our team to learn how data can help your studio.

Once your mobile game has had time to mature, it might be worth developing a version for console or PC. If you’re looking to port the other direction, from console to smartphone, check out our blog on adapting games for mobile.

In this article, we’ll look at how porting to consoles or PCs could help extend the lifespan of your game, bring in more revenue, and the challenges you’ll face.

What are the benefits of porting your mobile game?

Not every game is suitable to port over to PC or mobile. The platforms have vastly different requirements and player expectations. However, this shouldn’t deter you from exploring the option.

Porting can open your game to a new market

The mobile gaming market holds around half the overall gaming revenue in the world – consisting of around $92 billion. However, it’s worth remembering that console and PC markets still make up the other half.

While there’s an overlap of players, porting your game gives it more visibility, opens up new revenue streams, and provides new opportunities to reach a wider audience.

It isn’t just porting your game that can help you take advantage of the PC and console markets. Cross-platform play is becoming increasingly common, as we explored in our trends for 2024.

The advantages of launching on a new platform are similar to launching in a new country. Not only do you reach those new players, but you can celebrate the launch, reach out to press, and keep your game present in the zeitgeist.

It also gives more choice to your current players. If they can play on their PC or console, as well as their smartphone, they’re far more likely to continue.

Porting increases your return on investment

The cost of porting an existing game is typically lower than going through the whole game lifecycle – half the initial cost, according to iLogos Game Studios.

This is borne out when we look at the figures. In a post from Kevuru Games, elementary 2D games cost up to $10,000 to develop, causal games cost up to $50,000, and mid-level games cost up to $120,000. As a benchmark, they claim that Angry Birds cost around $140,000 to develop.

Meanwhile, iLogos Game Studios estimates it costs around $5,000 to $20,000 to port simple games. Although, for more complex games that can rise to between $20,000 and $100,000.

This makes it a viable option for publishers with an already successful title. Being able to reach the other half of the gaming market, while costing only half your initial development is a far better return on investment than taking a risk on a completely new title.

Porting can lead to increased session length

People tend to play for longer on PC and console than they do with mobile. The average session length of a mobile gamer is around 30 minutes to an hour. The average for console gamers is an hour to two hours.

This was even more prominent when you look at the extremes – an additional 20% of console gamers said they play between two and four hours, compared to only 10% of mobile gamers.

These increases in session length can directly lead to more in-app purchases. The longer people play, the more likely they’ll pay.

What are the challenges to porting your game?

There are plenty of reasons to port your mobile game to another platform. However, there are a few challenges you’ll need to consider before you start the journey.

Advertising is uncommon on PC and console

This trend is changing. While it’s a relatively new and unexplored market right now, Microsoft and Sony have both announced that they’re looking to bring advertising to their games. The difference is that most advertising on consoles or PCs tends to be more subtle native advertising, where the ads are a part of the scenery and world.

Because advertising is still an emerging trend, free-to-play console and PC games rely on microtransactions and subscriptions for their revenue. With that in mind, you’ll need to carefully analyze your data to identify the best strategy. You can also look at other creative ways to increase your revenue on our blog, such as merchandising and IP deals.

The development takes time

Though there are fewer costs associated with porting a game than developing one from scratch, there are technical challenges to consider. The game engine and programming language you use could be unsuitable for the new platform.

After rewriting sections of your code, you’ll also need to make sure that you’ve optimized your game for the new platform. There are different hardware and resolutions to consider, which may need additional options in your settings.

Controls and interfaces might need revisiting

How players interact with your game on PC and console is very different from mobile. Certain mechanics and inputs can be physically impossible to replicate identically. Likewise, your user interface might not be optimized for different controllers. For example, moving items around an inventory can be very different between console, PC, and mobile due to the different ways people interact with the menu.

Data is key to finding the right balance

You’ll need to experiment with subtle variations between platforms. For example, you might show offers at longer intervals than you would on mobile, make levels more difficult to compensate for more dexterous input devices, or adjust user interface elements to be more intuitive. If you need help in this regard, we have a guide on how to run A/B tests using our platform or check out how we can help with your live ops.

You will also need to amalgamate the data from all your versions to see what trends are specific to a platform and which are generalized to your game design. If you need to collect and study data from multiple platforms, look at our DataSuite.

If you want to optimize your games, improve user experience, and enhance monetization, insights are everything. Understanding player behavior, trends, and preferences can make or break a game’s success. That’s where GameAnalytics’ Raw Export comes in—an innovative feature allowing you to automate the export of your games’ data in its raw JSON format and transfer it in real time.

Raw Export was developed with one goal in mind: to empower developers with a need to perform custom analytics. By providing immediate access to raw data, we enable developers to build internal tools without the need for extensive research and development time or infrastructure costs. Developers can, therefore, focus solely on extracting insights and driving their games’ success.

Automate your data flow with Raw Export

Raw Export is a cutting-edge service that automatically extracts and transfers your game’s raw data to your preferred storage solutions, such as an AWS S3 bucket, in real time. This raw data includes granular gameplay events, properties, and timestamps—essentially, a direct pipeline to your game’s data, empowering you to process, store, and transform it according to your own requirements.

We’re trying lots of different versions of our games all the time, making sure that the CPI isn’t rising and that playtime is staying the same or increasing, Philippe Grazina from TapNation says. The data that GameAnalytics provides is highly accurate and flexible when it comes to tracking additional metrics on the fly.

Thanks to Raw Export, developers gain full control over their data, allowing for custom analysis, seamless integration with third-party tools, and the creation of tailored reporting systems. This not only saves time and infrastructure costs but also provides the flexibility to adapt data analysis to specific needs—resulting in informed decision-making and enhanced game performance.

Realizing success with Raw Export

An example is a gaming studio striving to analyze player behavior to enhance game design. By leveraging Raw Export, they can effortlessly receive their game’s raw event data directly into their AWS S3 bucket. Analysts within the studio can then utilize this data in their business intelligence tools to pinpoint trends, make informed decisions on game updates, and ultimately boost player engagement and retention.

However, if you’re looking for business intelligence, you might want to learn about GameIntel, a Store Intelligence and Industry benchmark solution that is part of GameAnalytics Pro.

An exemplary success story comes from TapNation, who increased player Lifetime Value (LTV) by an impressive 50% across their game portfolio within just six months of implementing Raw Export. Their use of GameAnalytics Raw Export shows how studios can leverage data insights to substantially improve game performance and player satisfaction.

DataSuite is a highly reliable product, allowing us to use our game metrics effectively, while focusing on our core algorithms, Philippe from TapNation adds. All without putting time and effort into maintaining data collection services.

With unparalleled access to raw data and the freedom to customize analyses, developers can unlock their games’ full potential and propel them to new heights of success. Part of GameAnalytics’ DataSuite, Raw Export allows you to transfer all of your game’s data in real time and run custom analyses.

Download a comprehensive report of Roblox player behavior and game performance based on GameAnalytics data from 2023. This report highlights critical benchmarks and insights to help Roblox creators optimize their games.

What’s inside?

• Devices analysis
• Players’ daily session frequency
• Average revenue spent per user
• Session length and count benchmarks
• Retention benchmarks
• Revenue benchmarks

As games move more towards a hybrid-casual model, the potential for new avenues of revenue opens up. As your retention rises, so too do the opportunities. Let’s look at six ways you can increase your profits.

1. Incorporate native advertising

Native advertising is where adverts are embedded in the very fabric of the game. They’re far less intrusive than traditional advertising, allowing you to place ads in your game that don’t disrupt how the gameplay flows. They feel natural; in places where players would expect to see them in the real world.

For example, a native advert might be on an in-game billboard, the banners alongside race tracks, superimposed over the field of a tennis match, posters on the wall, or holograms in the street.

These adverts can either be static sponsored content or dynamic ad space that brands can purchase in real time. The key is that you don’t pause the game to show the ad.

2. Add audio adverts to your game

Did you know, 73% of mobile players have their volume at or above 10%? It might not be loud, but it’s enough to catch people’s attention. This makes them a useful addition to your monetization strategy.

They also have similar benefits to native advertising. Audio adverts are far less disruptive than traditional methods: they play in the background, allowing the gameplay to continue unhindered.

Due to the nature of audio, it’s a relatively simple approach to insert into your game. Pause the music, play the ad, and return to normal once it’s finished. They are also suitable for rewarded ads, allowing players to gain power-ups or in-game currency far quicker than needing to watch a video. Which makes them an effective method to increase your advertising revenue without hurting your retention.

3. Make IP deals with brands

Partner up with a brand to offer in-game cosmetics or extra content using their brand assets. These could be characters, items, or even entire levels. Not only does this give you additional content to keep your game active, but it can also bring in new fans.

Another method is to wrap your game entirely in the brand’s IP. For example, you could approach a brand with your match-3 game and use the same mechanics and gameplay loop, while using their characters and universe.

4. Sell merchandise using your own brand

Once your hybrid-casual game has a following and community, it’s inevitable that certain characters or phrases will become popular. These are perfect for turning into merchandise. T-shirts, mugs, plushies – these can all feature your game’s art. Manufacturers like Alibaba make this even easier. You can buy products and have your own logo and designs printed on them.

 

You can even create unlockable content for your players, which they only gain access to by achieving certain milestones in your game. For example, every achievement in your game could have its own baseball cap. Players would need to unlock the achievement before they could purchase the cap in real life.

This gives your achievements more value and encourages players to seek out the hardest ones for the prestige of owning the real-world item.

5. Encourage fan-made content

Reach out to your community and run competitions to have their creations enter the game, such as levels, items, or cosmetics. This fan-created content can keep your game active and fresh while also giving you an opportunity to engage with your community.

Ideally, you would also offer an incentive to the creators, such as a cut of the purchase price. This makes it worth the player’s time and makes it far more likely you’ll get quality submissions. It also encourages the player to spread the word about their creations, which could bring even more players to your game.

6. Port your game to another platform

Expanding onto PC or console can help you open your game up to a new market, extends your game’s life, increases your return on investment, and leads to longer session lengths.

It’s a useful way of making the most out of your most successful games. You can read more about the process in our article on porting.

Data is key to any new approach

Whatever route you choose, make sure you keep track of which avenues are successful and bring in the most revenue. You want to make sure that you’re spending your time efficiently. The most effective way to do that is to bring data in from multiple sources and study the trends together. That’s where DataSuite comes in – it allows you to create your own player warehouse and track trends across platforms and different data sources.

Securing a coveted spot in the top charts can be a game-changer for developers. It opens doors to increased downloads, revenue, player engagement, and long-term success in the competitive mobile gaming world. To help you navigate the complexities of app stores, we developed the Store Intelligence platform.

Store rankings are not just empty metrics; they provide valuable insights into player preferences, market trends, and the factors that drive a game’s success. Access to such metrics is especially important for developers and studios aspiring to get to the top, who do not have the resources for expensive data solutions and data scientists to help them translate acquired data into actionable insights.

Together with our Benchmarks, Store Intelligence presents a tangible opportunity to understand your competitors’ strategies and how they turn them into engaging gameplay mechanics, monetization strategies, and more. The biggest advantage? Store Intelligence allows you to apply granular filters, such as store type, game category, date, and rank change, or focus on paid versus free games. That means you can view similar titles to yours and follow their development.

Consider this guide your first step in optimizing your games to increase their visibility in the stores:

Identify high-potential keywords

One of the keys to discoverability is understanding the keywords or search terms that lead players to top-ranked games. You might have heard about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – a marketing strategy to rank a website on the top of search engines such as Google, attracting organic (not paid) traffic.

With Store Intelligence, you can pinpoint which keywords effectively drive this traffic. You can then optimize your game title, description, and metadata to increase visibility and attract more players.

Competitive analysis

Top-ranked games didn’t get there by chance. With Store Intelligence, you can analyze the ranking positions of successful games in your category and genre to uncover valuable insights. You can then use their gameplay mechanics, art styles, and user reviews to identify common elements across successful titles that resonate with players. This information can guide your game development decisions.

Pricing and monetization

Successful monetization strategies often align with higher rankings. With Store Intelligence, you can analyze store ranking fluctuations and their connection to in-game monetization to optimize pricing models and in-app purchases, driving more revenue. This approach can help you optimize your monetization strategies.

Promotion strategies

Studying the promotional strategies employed by top-ranked games can offer valuable lessons. Investigate their advertising campaigns, social media engagement, influencer partnerships, and other marketing efforts. Understanding what works for others can inform your own promotional initiatives, with Store Intelligence as your guide. Here are some tools to help you out:

• Google Ads Transparency Center: Find active ads published through Google (FREE)
• AdSpy: Searchable database of Facebook and Instagram ads
• Moat by Oracle Data Cloud: Search for specific ads and view their performance metrics.

Timing and seasonality

The game’s popularity can also be influenced by the time of the year. Use Store Intelligence to analyze how this factor impacts rankings and player activity. You can then plan game releases, updates, and events to align with periods of increased player engagement or holidays. Guided by Store Intelligence, strategic timing can give your game a competitive edge.

Store ranking data is a goldmine of insights that can propel your game to the top charts. These 5 strategies are just the tip of the iceberg regarding its power. We encourage you to go ahead and explore our Store Intelligence on your own. Although users of our core analytics can access this tool, they will realize that access to some features might be restricted. For unlimited experience, we suggest you update to GameAnalytics Pro.