The games industry moves at a rapid pace, with new stories coming and going all the time. However, there are certain topics that demand further attention. That’s why we’ve created a weekly digest where the team at PocketGamer.biz share their thoughts and insights on the most intriguing events in mobile gaming from the past week.
Call of Duty: Mobile Hits $3 Billion in Lifetime Revenue, Showcasing Mobile’s Dominance
Take a moment to remember where you are and what you’re doing right now. Something extraordinary has just happened in the world of one of the biggest entertainment franchises on the planet. Call of Duty has officially gone mobile.
Reaching a total earnings figure of $3 billion is an impressive milestone. But what’s truly remarkable is that Call of Duty is now played on mobile devices just as much as it is on other platforms. This means that half of the engagement with the Call of Duty brand is happening on mobile. And this number is only expected to increase in the future. This is a testament to Activision Blizzard’s forward-thinking approach, and it’s one of the reasons why Microsoft sees them as a valuable asset worth $69 billion.
It will be interesting to see how the figures evolve in the coming years. Perhaps we’ll look back one day and realize that the presence or absence of Call of Duty on a particular console wasn’t as big of a deal as we initially thought.
Author: Lewis Rees
USA Game Ad Revenue Set to Reach $130 Billion by 2025
Advertising is a massive industry that relies heavily on the success of other platforms. Ad spaces during events like the Super Bowl can sell for millions of dollars due to their ability to generate hundreds of millions of impressions at once.
The fact that USA advertisers have largely overlooked the gaming industry indicates that many within the industry are lagging behind the times. While they focus on traditional advertising channels, consumers around the world are shifting their attention elsewhere. Streaming services are gaining popularity, and live television viewership is declining. Even within the realm of live TV, viewing figures can fluctuate, and the popularity of shows can decline, reducing the effectiveness of expensive ad slots.
In contrast, mobile gaming is evergreen. Its popularity is driven by its affordability, especially with the free-to-play model. Game makers not only earn money from selling advertising slots but also offer in-game bonuses to players who watch ads.
Unfortunately, the gaming industry is undervalued by those outside of it. Outdated misconceptions about gamers lead to them being labeled as low-value users, despite their growing presence on the global stage.
However, we may be on the verge of a tipping point. Mobile games are now being advertised on TV alongside major brands, indicating a possible shift in attitudes towards gaming. More and more advertisers are expressing interest in entering the games space, signaling that major brands may soon flock to advertise their products on a platform they have previously overlooked.
A Guide to Successful Monetization in Free-to-Play Games
As someone who initially worked in non-mobile games, one of the first things I noticed when entering the mobile gaming industry was the negative stigma attached to it. Mobile gaming is often unfairly criticized, particularly concerning the free-to-play model.
Many people have reservations about free-to-play games because they believe that these games are initially free to download but then require real money to make significant progress. While this may be true for some games, there are many others that have found a balance in monetization.
Isabel Davies’ article is a prime example of taking a positive perspective on the free-to-play model. There is no issue with a game attempting to convert players into paying customers. This is a common practice throughout the industry, not just in mobile gaming. Many games incorporate battle passes or in-game currencies, as seen in GTA Online. However, the critical aspect is finding the right balance. If developers can strike this balance, monetizing games can create a positive experience for players, ultimately benefiting the mobile gaming industry.