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Mobile Game Publishers: What Sets Long-Term Winners Apart?

In mobile game publishing, true success isn't just about launching a great game, it's about building a lasting partnership with your publisher. The best studios go beyond expectations, creating strong relationships that lead to repeat success and bigger opportunities.📑 Build a Long-Term, Positive Relationship🔹 Be Proactive: Share progress, highlight wins, and bring fresh ideas to the table; don’t wait for your publisher to reach out.🔹 Visit Regularly: Face-to-face interactions build trust. Visiting your publisher or inviting them to your studio strengthens bonds.🔹 Stay Engaged: Attend their meetings, support other projects, and contribute to broader strategy discussions. Show you’re invested in their success too.📌 Rule #1: Proactive engagement and consistent presence build trust, which is the key to long-term success.🔢 Become Part of the Publisher’s Long-Term Vision🔹 Align Your Goals: Understand your publisher’s strategy and show how your studio fits into […]

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$100M Fund for Mobile Studios: Akin Babayigit Launches Arcadia Gaming Advisors

Akin Babayigit, co-founder of Tripledot Studios, is back in the game—this time as an investor. The gaming entrepreneur has launched Arcadia Gaming Advisors, a new investment firm armed with a $100 million fund dedicated to mobile game companies. According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, the firm is targeting studios shaping the future of mobile gaming. London Roots & A Familiar Face A Companies House filing confirms Arcadia Gaming Advisors was established in London in December 2024, with Babayigit joined by Orkun Kilic—neither holding a majority stake. While Babayigit has yet to officially announce the firm, Spyke Games CEO Rina Onur Sirinoglu spilled the news on LinkedIn, congratulating her "long-time friend, brother, colleague, and investor." A Power Player in Gaming & Investment Babayigit co-founded Tripledot Studios in 2018, propelling it to one of the UK's top mobile game publishers. The company […]

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Hybridcasual Puzzle Rocks: Triple Tap Games secures $1.2M Investment

Triple Tap Games secures $1.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Eximius Ventures and Kalaari Capital. Mumbai-based Triple Tap Games has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to craft next-gen hybridcasual puzzle games. The studio—helmed by former Crazy Labs & Super Huge Studios veterans—is setting its sights on US and European markets, with plans to expand its team and supercharge its AI-driven content pipeline. Powering Up with Top Investors The funding round was led by Eximius Ventures and Kalaari Capital, alongside influential angel investors from the gaming and entertainment world. The capital will bolster rapid prototyping, data analytics, distribution, and monetization efforts. A Team with Proven Hits Founded in 2024 by ex-Crazy Labs India head Karan Khairajani, Triple Tap Games brings together industry heavyweights from Firescore Interactive, Games2win, Super Huge Studios, and Nukebox Studios. Their track record? 400 million+ downloads […]

AppLovin selling games business to focus on Ad Tech
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AppLovin Offloads Games: $500M Cash, $400M in Stock

Yes, it's still a hot topic. After what? AppLovin Monopoly in Mobile Gaming? AppLovin Scandal: New Target of Short Sellers? AppLovin to Sell Its Gaming Division for $900M AppLovin’s $900M Games Sale: Mystery Buyer, Big Moves & Strategic Shifts Ad Tech Titan AppLovin is offloading its gaming division in a $900 million deal—$500M in cash, $400M in equity—to a still-undisclosed buyer. The acquirer has signed a non-binding term sheet and plans to borrow up to $250M to fund the purchase. If financing falls through, AppLovin will step in with a promissory note. The February 12, 2025 agreement comes with a catch: AppLovin can’t negotiate with other buyers for now. While speculation swirls, one major contender is Savvy Games Group, while public giants like Playtika and Tencent are ruled out. Why the Sale? Despite strong gaming revenue, $1.5B in 2024, up […]

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Can Elon Musk Really Make Games Great Again?

Can Elon Musk Really Make Games Great Again? Here’s My Two Cents. Elon Musk recently shared his vision of shaking up the gaming industry, arguing that big studios have too much control. His solution? Build a studio powered by AI.But if it succeeds, won’t it just become another mammoth studio, replicating the same industry dynamics we already see today?The real challenge for indie developers isn’t just competition, it’s the lack of resources and visibility:✅ High development costs✅ No organic traffic✅ No UA budgets✅ A discovery system that prioritizes revenue over quality1. Provide Free AI-Powered Tools for Indie DevelopersMany indie devs restrain their ideas due to limited resources. What if AI could change that?Imagine AI-powered art generators, monetization models, live-ops automation, AI-driven characters etc. all available for free (or in exchange for something simple, like X ads inside their games).This would […]

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10 Questions That Reveal Investors’ True Colors

You should always do reference checks when bringing people, especially investors, on the cap table. They will be there for years, possibly decades, as part of the company. They don’t have vesting schedules like everyone else. Their behavior and reputation will become linked with your company. You should do the reference checks when an investor confirms their interest to invest. Be upfront about this. Just as investors will check your background, you should do the same. If I were a founder raising a round from investors, here's how I would conduct reference checks on these investors. Preparation I would find at least three previous founders who've raised from this investor, and get them to have a 30 minute call with me. I would go to lengths to pick people who raised from the investor who've had different outcomes. One that […]

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Key Vietnamese Mobile Game Publishers

In the last 5 years we have seen more than 10 Bil. downloads 🤑 being done by companies that have risen in Vietnam Mobile gaming scene. It seems the ecosystem there is positioned for great future and a new hot spot 🔥 for mobile gaming. Who are the key players 😎? Most of the revenue is coming from Ad monetization-based games that are in between the Ultra-casual to Hyper-casual to Hybrid-casual spectrum regarding their feature set. As for countries, this revenue 💸 is coming mainly from Tier2 and Tier3 countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Türkiye, Pakistan, etc. Even though some games have pretty high US download shares. It seems that they were able to find something 💎 that is no longer possible in the west, as most of the western companies are pivoting towards much heavier IAP monetization towards […]

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Building a True Partnership with Your Publisher

A successful game isn’t just about great development, it’s about creating a strong, collaborative partnership with your publisher.📑 Build Trust & Transparency🔹 Share Early & Often: Provide regular updates, highlight wins, and address challenges quickly. Surprises should be in your game—not in your project timeline.🔹 Be Honest About Risks: If a milestone is slipping or a feature isn’t working, tell your publisher early. They value studios that can identify issues and propose solutions.🔹 Create Advocacy: Treat your publisher like part of your team. When they understand your vision, they can advocate for you internally, securing resources or managing expectations.📌 Rule #1: The more transparent you are, the more your publisher will trust and support you.🔢 Embrace Feedback & Adapt🔹 Stay Open-Minded: Whether it’s gameplay, monetization, or strategy feedback, listen and assess. The goal is to make your game a commercial […]

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Successful Game Launch: Critical Milestones and Metrics

Taking your game to a hard launch with a publisher isn't just about delivering a finished product. It’s about proving your game’s potential with strong milestones and performance metrics.📑 Key Milestones🔹 Prototype: Showcase the core gameplay loop, art style, and unique selling points.🔹 Retention & Monetization Testing: Early UA tests to measure:Retention Rates: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7Session Length & FrequencyCPIARPDAULTV🔹 Soft Launch: Test in limited markets, validate long-tail retention and LTV, and refine your UA strategy. Aim for early profitability.🔹 Hard Launch Prep: Align with marketing, finalize stability, optimize monetization, and ensure scalability.📌 Rule #1: Strong milestones reduce risks and build trust with publishers.🔢 Metrics That Matter🔹 Retention Rates:Day 1: 35-40%+ (Strong initial engagement)Day 3: 20-25%+ (Maintaining interest)Day 7: 10-15%+ (Long-term viability)Day 30: 5-10%+ (Profitability sweet spot)🔹 Monetization Metrics:ARPDAU: Shows daily revenue (aim for $0.30-$0.50, genre-dependent).LTV: High LTV […]

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Gaming Layoffs by Job Role

💀 Devs laid off in 2025: 𝟭𝟭%• Hardest hit discipline: 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (19% of layoffs)• Second hardest hit: 𝗔𝗿𝘁, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (tied at 16%) Devs working on PC Games: 66% -> 80%Working on Browser games: 10% -> 16%Source: GDC's State of the Industry 2025 Report

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Production Deadlines: What Matters Most to Publishers?

Delivering on time isn’t just about meeting milestones, it’s about building trust. Publishers invest heavily in your success, and sticking to deadlines strengthens partnerships, ensures smooth launches, and maintains cash flow.So, what do publishers prioritize when it comes to production timelines?📑 Setting Realistic Expectations – The Statement of Work (SOW)Every publishing contract includes a milestone-based SOW outlining:🔹 Project Milestones – MVP, retention, monetization, soft launch, and global launch.🔹 Feature Deliverables – Core gameplay, new features, economy, and live ops.🔹 Technical Requirements – Performance optimization, stability, and QA-passed builds.The biggest mistake? Overpromising and underdelivering. Publishers prefer transparency over unrealistic deadlines.📌 Rule #1: A solid plan leads to smoother execution and fewer delays.⏳ The 30-Day Extension RuleMost publishers allow a 30-day grace period for missed milestones, but:🔹 Miss once? You get an extension.🔹 Miss twice? The publisher can terminate the contract.If this […]

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Kill or Pivot: A Comprehensive Guide for Mobile Game Devs

Making your first mobile game is an emotional journey, but holding onto a game that isn’t making money for too long can be a big mistake. Many indie developers hope that one more update might just fix things, but the reality is different. In 2025, the mobile gaming market will be tough, and only a few titles will succeed. With AppMagic’s Success Meter, we can see how many games make good revenue. In our example, we set the benchmark at $100K in-app revenue per month. The data shows that in most casual game genres, only no more than 1% of games reach this level, meaning thousands of titles fail every year. The same holds for Hybridcasual and Hypercasual. Even with a lower benchmark of 100K installs per month, 5% of games at most manage to reach it. This guide will help you […]

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