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$5 Billion in Two Years: How Monopoly Go! Changed the GAME

Monopoly Go! just did what few mobile games ever could: rake in $5 billion in under two years. It’s the fastest a mobile title has ever reached that milestone, putting it in the elite club with Genshin Impact, Pokémon Go, and Royal Match. But it wasn’t just a lucky roll of the dice. Back in 2016, Scopely bet big on an ambitious idea: reimagining Monopoly for mobile in a way that felt fresh, social, and addictively fun. Seven years and $70 million later, they cracked the code—not by mimicking the board game, but by bottling the feeling of it. “How do you bring Monopoly’s energy—the thrill of getting rich, bankrupting your siblings, and laughing through it all—to mobile?” asked Scopely co-CEO Javier Ferreira. Reinventing A Classic Early versions missed the mark. Too skill-based. Not social enough. What turned the tide? […]

Gamigion May 5

Highlights

Liftoff Valued at $4.3B Following General Atlantic Investment

A Strategic Power Play Liftoff, the AI-powered engine behind some of the mobile app economy’s fastest-growing names, just secured a new ally in its ascent: General Atlantic. The global investment giant has acquired a minority stake from Blackstone, who remains the majority shareholder, marking a major milestone in Liftoff’s evolution as a performance marketing powerhouse. Jeremy Bondy, CEO of Liftoff “This is a defining moment—a fusion of momentum and ambition. Over the last three years, we’ve merged two powerhouses, launched our Cortex AI platform, and built serious velocity. General Atlantic’s investment validates that progress and propels us into the next chapter. We’re still in the early innings of a massive, fast-moving market, and with the right team and partners, we’re ready to lead the mobile economy into the future.” AI, Mergers, Momentum This isn’t just a financial transaction—it’s the next […]

Gamigion May 5

Journal

Forget the 30% – Bring Back IDFA!

𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟯𝟬%—𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗗𝗙𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗢𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 Blake Robbins and Mitch Lasky argue in Gamecraft Ep.18, "The Mobile Gaming Duopoly," that Apple and Google have squeezed innovation out of mobile gaming. Mobile innovation hasn't vanished; instead, it has splintered. And while it didn't vanish, it 𝘩𝘢𝘴 slowed, but the culprit isn't IAP or a top-grossing chart—it's ATT. Robbins and Latsky state, "There's this race to the highest ROI category…casino, match3, etc. Because the UA spend required to bring those games to mass market scale forces you out of innovative content and into these tried-and-true play patterns." Yet, this is how *all* markets work!As capital expenditure rises, it seeks less risky returns. Venture capital is a perfect example; investors need more market traction at each successive investment stage to write bigger checks. "Tried-and-true" genres like match-3 (M3) run dry of innovation as they […]

Phillip Black May 5

Highlights

Match-3 Level Design Principles

If you are reading this article, you likely have experience creating match-3 levels, or perhaps you are just starting your journey, or simply trying to understand how it works. I will try to make it interesting for everyone. It's important to note that evaluating a level as 'good' or 'bad' is subjective. It depends on the experience and mood of the evaluator. So, don't be surprised if some people think your work is good while others think it's bad – it's normal to have diametrically opposed opinions. Let's compare this process to evaluating a painting. I'll take a simplified example: Is Malevich's Black Square a good painting or a bad one? And would a level for Royal Match be good for Gardenscapes? The Plan How are levels typically created for games, like platformers or 3D shooters? They start with a […]

Anton Heorhiiev May 5

Journal

Game over, Apple? Unlock 50% of iOS revenue via web for every game!

🚨 EMERGENCY EPISODE🚨 Game over, Apple? What you need to know & do NOW! This ruling could unlock 50%+ of iOS revenue via web for every game! 👇 Historically, only the biggest players like Playtika, Scopely, and Moon Active could justify the investment in web stores — using concierge programs, retargeting, and even shipping iPads to VIPs to get around Apple’s restrictions.Now, even small studios can tap into:Higher LTV from off-platform purchasesLower transaction fees (vs. Apple’s 30%)Direct player relationships (email capture, re-engagement, bundling)This ruling dramatically lowers the barrier to entry. If you’re not rethinking your monetization funnel today, you’re likely giving away 30% of your profits for no reason.The Numbers That MatterBefore the ruling, best-in-class midcore games saw 40–50% of revenue via web after years of investmentCasual games managed 20–25% at bestNow, with direct promotion allowed, any game could hit […]

Matej Lancaric May 5

Journal

Screwdom: Top Grossing Game In Screw Puzzle Genre

Screwdom — The Top Grossing Game In The Screw Puzzle Genre 🔥 In our new Hybridcasual report for Q1 2025, we shared that Puzzle games are dominating the market, with Screw Puzzles accounting for 20% of total Hypercasual Puzzles IAP Revenue 🧩Screwdom is already leading the subgenre — and this is just the beginning. In April 2025 alone, it earned $6.7M — almost twice as much as in Q1 2025 🚀Part of the success goes to iKame Global experience — they already have 9 Screw Puzzle titles in their portfolio 👑But what truly sets Screwdom apart is its leap from 2D to 3D. This shift makes gameplay more tactile and challenging — rotating the camera adds spatial depth, making every move count 🔩

Andrei Zubov May 5

Highlights

Zuckerberg declared war on the entire Advertising industry

Zuckerberg didn’t just announce a new feature, he dropped a bomb on the advertising world. In a bold interview with Stratechery, Zuck laid out Meta’s plan to obliterate the traditional ad model. No agencies. No creatives. No targeting. No measurement. Just plug in your objective, connect your bank account, and let Meta’s AI handle everything else. For years, advertisers have known AI was coming for their workflows. But until now, no one’s spelled it out with this much blunt force. Zuckerberg’s vision? Total automation. Meta’s AI will generate the images, write the copy, create endless ad variants, run the tests, optimize the campaigns, and report the results 👇🏻 On its own platform, with its own tools, for its own benefit. Not just disruption; it’s a regime change. Traditional ad agencies, already bruised by years of digital transformation, are furious. “You’re […]

Gamigion May 5

Highlights

US judge rules Apple violated order to reform App Store

Major win for iOS developers. A U.S. judge just ruled that Apple violated a court order by making it harder for app developers to link users to external payment methods. ✅ Developers can now bypass Apple’s 30% cut ✅ Avoid Apple’s 27% “workaround fee,” which the court deemed anti-competitive ✅ Freely promote external payment options to users For indie devs and small teams, this is a real opportunity to keep more of what you earn and build sustainable businesses without the platform fee. Monetization freedom is finally becoming real. Source US judge rules Apple violated order to reform App Store The EU Commission Tells Meta No Way to 'Pay or Ok' Under DMA Using alternative payment options on the App Store in the EU US judge orders Google to open up app store to competition Epic Game-Changer: 0% Fees & […]

Gamigion May 5

Journal

You don’t need a list of ‘final talent’ to vet an Influencer Marketing agency.

📣 You don’t need a list of ‘final talent’ to vet an Influencer Marketing agency. Something I’ve seen many brands do: ask for a final list of influencers to see if the agency (or even influencer marketing itself) is worth considering. Quite frankly, that’s a waste of time. For the brand, for the marketing agency, AND for talent managers. A list of ‘final talent’ isn’t something you should be asking for if you’re in an exploratory or discovery phase. Which influencers could be a good fit for your campaign depend on SO many factors- Your Objectives- Your Target Audience- Your Budget - Your Timelines Unless you have these confirmed, it’s impossible to have a FINAL list. You can ask for a sample, or examples of influencers who have worked for close competitors.But take these with a pinch of salt too. […]

Marion Balinoff May 5

Journal

Disney Solitaire makes $300K a Day, wake-up call for King.

Soft-launched in late 2024 and was globally released in April 2025. Disney Solitaire 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 more than 🤑 $𝟯𝟬𝟬𝗸/𝗱𝗮𝘆 out of the gate, building up on that nostalgia factor and awesome execution. 👇 This is a wake-up call for King. It's true that Candy Crush Solitaire started scaling in the last week or so, but only installs, and most installs are coming from outside the US. Yes, US installs doubled. What about revenue impact? Absolutely nothing. Anyway, this title expands SuperPlay’s portfolio into the card/solitaire genre, leveraging one of the world’s most powerful entertainment brands. Completing levels in Disney Solitaire allows players to unlock and rebuild famous scenes from Disney and Pixar films. Each chapter in the game is themed around a movie (e.g., The Lion King, Moana, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, etc.) 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀 […]

Matej Lancaric May 5

Journal

First 30 Days Checklist for Mobile Games

The first 30 days as a mobile game producer can make or break your impact. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭: 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 & 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁• Get access to key tools: Jira, Slack, Confluence, Analytics• Play the game to understand gameplay, meta, and monetization• Meet the team, review roadmap, backlog, and deadlines𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝟮–𝟯: 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 & 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲• Analyze retention, playtime, churn, ARPU, LTV, CPI• Study A/B test results and competitor benchmarks• Read player reviews and feedback• Map the workflow: sprint cycles, daily standups, Live Ops• Identify early wins for quick impact𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟳 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀: 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆• Review the content pipeline and Live Ops setup• Spot inefficiencies and improve communication• Learn dashboards and tracking tools• Use data to validate decisions• Start forming hypotheses around pricing, retention, engagement𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟰 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀: 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 & 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻• Align on vision and KPIs with stakeholders• Define focus areas and improvement […]

Anton Slashcev May 5

Journal

Spotify without Apple Payment Processing is Approved

🚨Spotify App without Apple Payment Processing is Approved 🚨 💸For the last 15 years in mobile gaming, Apple and Google have charged a 30% fee on app store payments. In 2021, a court ruling allowed developers to show alternative payment solutions to users, but Apple and Google implemented anti-steering policies that prohibited showing direct links to other payment methods.💸🚨On April 30, 2025, a new ruling in a US court stated that anti-steering policies are anti-competitive and have to be removed for US users. Apple will comply but appeal the verdict. 🚨🎼Spotify has already removed Apple processing from its payments in the USA, and Apple has approved it. Gaming Studios are urged to act quickly, as the window of opportunity might not last. 🎼Developers should plan how to promote web stores in their games and prepare a go-to-market strategy. 📈Here to help us […]

Felix Braberg May 5

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