The German mobile games company InnoGames’ Forge of Empires has officially surpassed €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in lifetime revenue with more than 130 million players registered around the world.

Forge of Empires, a free-to-play strategy game, has gained significant popularity in the USA, Germany, and France.

InnoGames, which began as a small project in 2003, has grown into a major gaming business enterprise, reaching $1 billion in revenue in 2019. The company’s success stemmed from its initial focus on developing a browser-based strategy game.

Forge of Empires played a pivotal role in InnoGames’ advancement, generating $552 million in revenue by 2019 and leading to the company’s expansion into the mobile gaming market.

The Journey to Mobile Gaming

InnoGames has evolved significantly since its humble beginnings. Originally founded by two brothers and their friend during university, the company is now owned by Modern Times Group after multiple increases in stake.

InnoGames also made headlines with its salary transparency scheme, which resulted in the creation of 19 new positions within two months. As a pioneer in both the strategy genre and employment transparency, InnoGames became the first German gaming company to publicly disclose salary bands to applicants.

The company’s transition to mobile gaming has been accompanied by continuous innovation, live-ops, and regular content updates. Mobile revenue already accounted for half of InnoGames’ total revenue three years ago and has since grown significantly with the success of Forge of Empires.

“Our recipe for success is giving loyal long-term players reasons to stick around while making the game fun and accessible for new players. The only way to achieve this balance is to listen very carefully to community feedback and keep delivering new content that players love,” said InnoGames chief product officer Christian Reshöft.

“We are also fully committed to cross-platform play, which means that players can seamlessly switch between browser and iOS or Android at any time. This makes sure that Forge of Empires continues to fit into their ever-changing lives and gaming habits.”

In conclusion, Forge of Empires’ remarkable achievement of surpassing €1 billion in lifetime revenue showcases InnoGames’ expertise in the mobile gaming industry. The company’s commitment to player satisfaction, innovation, and cross-platform compatibility has contributed to its continued success.

Last year, Azur Games identified the strategy genre as one of the fastest-growing in popularity, solidifying Forge of Empires’ position as a major player in the market.