All
Premium

Monetization

Articles and analyses of various monetization systems and monetization approaches in popular games.

We're starting to gradually share videos (and transcripts) of the talks from the Minsk session of the "Game Industry" conference, which took place in April. First up is "IAP Monetization on the Web and Future Plans" by Nikita Bokarev, CBDO at Yandex.Games. We'd also like to remind you that on July 10, the "Game Industry" conference will be held in Saint Petersburg.
Last year was marked by a series of high-profile crypto gaming releases on Telegram. Alexey Toropov from TON Society and Vadim Sterling from AdsGram explained to App2Top what the Telegram Mini Apps platform looks like after their launch, as well as details about the projects themselves
We haven't had materials from the "Profession" section for a long time. We're fixing that. The new article in the series is dedicated to the work of a monetization manager (more specifically, a senior specialist in this field). Irina Bragina from Glera Games shared insights into the nuances of this specialization
Microsoft has taken issue with Apple's commission fees, claiming they hinder the ability to "effectively monetize its cloud gaming service" on iOS devices. In a statement to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of an investigation into mobile browsers and the cloud gaming sector, Microsoft noted that Apple's guidelines modifications between January and March 2024 still largely obstruct native cloud gaming applications. The company further stated that "Apple's in-app purchase commission fee is set at a level that is neither economically sustainable nor justifiable." Microsoft argued that the 30% fee creates an insurmountable challenge for properly monetizing its cloud gaming services, citing Guideline 3.1.3(b), which prohibits offering different content, subscriptions, or features, including consumables in multiplatform games, to iOS users compared to those available on other platforms
Game developer Rogue Snail has revealed that Relic Hunters Legend will transition from a free-to-play model to a premium one. This decision comes after challenges on the publishing front, as the studio had previously separated from Gearbox Publishing, now operating as Arc following staff reductions. In June, the publisher agreed to revert the game's rights back to Rogue Snail. With the studio now taking on self-publishing duties, it has introduced a new business model aiming to be "more sustainable."
Square Enix has revealed that its four-vs-four shooter, Foamstars, will transition to a free-to-play model. According to details published on the company's support website, this change will take effect on October 4, 2024. Starting on this date, players will not need a PlayStation Plus subscription to access the game
Nintendo has announced that it will retire its free-to-play mobile game, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, on November 28, introducing a "paid version" in its place. While the company has not disclosed the release date or pricing details for the new game, it assured that there would be no "in-app purchases" and it won't require an always-on internet connection. Further details are anticipated in October 2024
Since its launch in 2020 by MiHoYo, Genshin Impact has significantly changed the landscape of the gaming industry and the expectations of many players. It has demonstrated that free-to-play mobile games can reach exceptional levels of quality. While it's true that high-quality free-to-play mobile games existed before, Genshin Impact elevated the standards. The game introduced AAA-level production values, an expansive open world, immersive storytelling and lore, a universally appealing art style, and engaging gameplay and progression systems that avoid excessive grinding. This includes the incorporation of gacha elements. Genshin Impact possesses all the hallmarks of a comprehensive AAA console or PC game. MiHoYo's ambitious strategy extended the game's availability across multiple platforms, including mobile (iOS/Android), PC, PS4, and PS5. Although not entirely new, this multi-platform release, combined with the game's outstanding elements, has driven its global success, with nearly 60 million players enjoying it today. This launch has been transformative and has sent ripples throughout the gaming industry
Electronic Arts is introducing a new monetization layer to its prominent football series with the inclusion of a Premium Tier of in-game rewards in EA Sports FC 25. According to VG247, this new tier comes alongside the standard free tier of card packs, players, and cosmetics that players traditionally unlock by completing in-game challenges. Upon reaching a certain reward milestone, players will have the option to access the additional Premium Tier rewards. The company has not yet disclosed the pricing details for this new tier. However, it has confirmed that players can unlock it using Ultimate Team coins, which are accumulated during gameplay, or FC Points, which are available for purchase with real money
Tencent has announced it will be discontinuing its free-to-play shooter, Synced, exactly one year after its release. Although the company did not specify a reason for the shutdown, it informed players that they could continue to "enjoy the game and use any existing in-game items" until the game's full retirement at 7pm on September 8 (GMT -8). As a result, new registrations and the in-app store have been disabled
Microsoft has revealed plans to raise the prices of its current Xbox Game Pass tiers and to launch a new Standard tier, which will not feature games upon their initial release on the service. According to a post on the company's support site, Game Pass for Console will be discontinued for new subscribers. The new Xbox Game Pass Standard option will be priced at $14.99 per month and is expected to become available "in the coming months"
Guy 'DrDisrespect' Beahm, a prominent streamer and influencer, is facing further setbacks as more partners sever ties following allegations related to his Twitch ban. YouTube has now taken the step of disabling monetization on his channel. A YouTube representative informed Kotaku that the platform has "suspended monetization on DrDisrespect's channel for violating our Creator Responsibility policy." Additionally, the channel, which boasts 4.7 million subscribers, has been excluded from the YouTube Partner Program due to "serious allegations against the creator"
Sony's recent State of Play event saw a significant portion dedicated to the upcoming hero shooter Concord, signaling the company's unwavering commitment to live service games. While the esteemed single-player games that have cemented the reputation of PlayStation's studios remain a staple, they will now share the limelight with emerging live service titles. In a less publicized move, Sony announced that Concord, unlike many in its genre, will not be free-to-play. Following the strategy seen with Helldivers 2, Concord will be priced at $40. Although two games do not constitute a full-fledged strategy, the fact that this pricing approach is applied to both the co-operative PvE Helldivers 2 and the PvP Concord indicates Sony's partial dedication to this model
At the end of 2019, the head of Xbox Game Studios, Matt Booty, suggested that Microsoft increase annual spending on the purchase of games for Game Pass to $2-3 billion. In his opinion, this would help to take Sony out of the game subscription business, since in a few years there would be a shortage of valuable content on the market.