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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...

The GameAnalytics monetization series: Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue Exploring monetization: Using data to guide decisions ______________ 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...

The GameAnalytics monetization series: Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue 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...

The GameAnalytics monetization series: Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue 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...

The GameAnalytics monetization series: Exploring game monetization: Traditional strategies Exploring innovative game monetization: Alternative approaches Exploring monetization: Maximizing game revenue 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...

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,...

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...

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...

“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:...

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...

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...

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...