Getting new players is vital for mobile game makers. It’s about how these game studios bring fresh players to their games.
Doing well in this challenging field relies on building and keeping a player base. According to a CNBC report, the operating margin for gaming businesses is under 6%. This indicates that companies must be efficient and strategic to stay profitable. Here is the first part of the article.
The Challenge of Standing Out
Over 300,000 gaming apps are available on the Play Store, and over 225,000 are available on the App Store. About 2.2 billion people are playing mobile games worldwide. This tight race has pushed up the cost of getting new players. In 2018, it cost about $1.24 to get one new iOS player and 53 cents for Android. By 2024, these costs went up to $2–$5 for iOS and $1.5–$4 for Android.
Smaller studios struggle the most. In 2020, 28,000 mobile publishers earned less than $1 million, making up only 2% of AppStore game revenue. In contrast, 940 studios that earned over $1 million accounted for a whopping 98% of the revenue. This gap shows how hard it is for smaller studios to compete when they need help to afford significant user acquisition costs.
Source: Delphi Digital
Telegram’s New Approach
To help Web3 developers, Telegram launched “stars,” a built-in digital currency for buying things. This cash works with bots and mini-games, allowing users to buy stuff. Developers keep 70% of what they sell in-app. Telegram then reduces customer acquisition costs by helping pay for ads bought with stars. This makes it an attractive place to market Web3 projects.
Stars can also turn into $TON. With mobile gaming UA costs rising, Telegram’s extensive user base might become an essential source for Web3 games to bring in new users.
Successful TON Games
The TON gaming ecosystem has multiplied with various initiatives. Here are a few standout games:
- Notcoin: Notcoin is a basic tap-to-earn game that has captured Web3 culture and memes. It boasts over 2.44 million on-chain token holders and significant community involvement.
- Catizen: Catizen has drawn in over 20 million signed-up users and excels at making money in-game through IAPs. Players take care of digital cats, complete quests, and take part in mini-games. It plans to launch over 200 mini-games, making it a solid and engaging platform.
- Hamster Kombat: It is famous for its strong social presence. Hamster Kombat attracts players with a simple tap-to-earn gameplay loop. Hamster Kombat has over 200 million registered users and significant YouTube engagement.
- Fanton: Fanton is a fantasy soccer app. Despite receiving less attention, it ranks high in user engagement during the UEFA Championship. It has to increase user engagement but has potential in specific niches.
- Gatto: Gatto also incorporates elements of Tamagotchi, platformer, and farm simulation games. Although it is not as extensive as some of the biggest social networks, its plans for the future seem pretty well thought out. The developers are going to expand RPG content and PVP in 2024.
Source: Delphi Digital
The Future of Telegram Mini-Games
You might compare Telegram’s mini-game ecosystem to WeChat mini-apps in their early stages. But there are significant differences. Telegram will reach a different level of integration and market dominance than WeChat. This is because of the competitive global market and Telegram’s focus on privacy.
Despite these hurdles, Telegram’s massive user community and connection to Web3 stand out. Games that blend social apps with money-making opportunities are big hits. The main goal is to keep users returning and create lasting value, which relies more on good content than going viral.
Conclusions
TON has taken significant steps in the gaming world. Catizen, Notcoin, and Hamster Kombat have sparked a lot of on-chain activity and gotten users hooked. Bringing in stars as a built-in app currency and rolling out various growth plans have sped up progress even more. The latter part of 2024 will play a key role in gaming on TON.
As the initial surge in users levels off, game makers will shift their attention to keeping players and making money long-term. By taking cues from WeChat, creators can build lasting Web3 games.
Disclaimer
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