The Weekly Digest: Mobile Gaming News Roundup
The world of mobile gaming moves quickly and while some stories come and go, others demand further discussion to fully understand their impact. To delve deeper into some of the more interesting topics within the mobile gaming industry from the past week, the PocketGamer.biz team has created a weekly digest to share their thoughts and insights.
Developers Need to Take Apple Vision Pro Seriously
Apple’s Vision Pro headset was recently unveiled, and while the demos impressed those lucky enough to see them, the real potential of the device lies in the hands of developers. With a high price tag attached to the hardware, early adopters and loyal Apple fans are likely to be the ones purchasing the device. Therefore, developers who can create a “killer app” for the Vision Pro will find a ready-to-pay audience awaiting their arrival in its App Store. However, it’s essential that developers create something innovative and unique to avoid the device becoming a one-trick pony.
“Sure the demos were full of Apple Apps and specially shot 3D video (in a new proprietary format of course) to show off the device, and those lucky enough to be fed the carefully choreographed idential 30 minute demo experience came away impressed. But the real ‘oooh, gotta get one’ will come when developers stop treating Vision Pro as ‘a way to make your apps really big’ and come up with something new.”
Best Time to Push ATT Notifications is Early On
According to GameRefinery, the best time to push ATT notifications is during the onboarding process or the first gameplay session. Pushing notifications at this time sets a player’s expectations and establishes trust in the app. Follow-up notifications are also effective for gathering further information from users after they have had a chance to experience the app. The recent moves we’ve seen regarding Apple’s privacy manifesto represent a shift towards more ethical and “light touch” approaches to gathering user data.
“Once an app has established trust and a player has had a chance to ‘feel it out’ so to speak I can see them being a lot more willing to share further information.”
Netflix Announces Five New Titles for Summer Release
Netflix has become a significant player in the mobile gaming industry, and this summer sees the company expanding its interests outside of its traditional mobile base by bringing games to console and PC, as well as phones. With the announcement of five new titles, Netflix is raising brand awareness and testing the power of its monetization model. While Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is due to release on PC, Nintendo, and PlayStation with a price tag of $19.99, the mobile release will be free with no ads, so mobile gaming may become the preferred option for players.
Apple’s Vision Pro Reveal Shakes Up Share Prices
Apple’s WWDC show unveiled the long-rumored mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, leading to a change in stock prices. While the product is impressive, it’s currently only available to early adopters and loyal Apple fans due to its high price tag of $3,499. Until the technology becomes more affordable and accessible, mass adoption of mixed-reality headsets is unlikely, but Apple is setting the new benchmark for the VR/AR market with this device.
“The issue is, until you can get this kind of tech on shelves at an affordable price or even offer some type of contract service as we see with mobile phones, you’re not going to see a significant amount of your friends and family having a Vision Pro in the house.”