Fire Emblem

Week in Mobile Games E66 - UGC platform revenue share and app store competition

The mobile gaming landscape is currently defined by shifting revenue models and the persistent resilience of developers operating under extreme geopolitical instability.

• Epic Games has launched a creator payout model for Fortnite UGC that offers a 74 percent revenue share, with a planned reduction to 37 percent by 2027.
• The 37 percent long-term revenue share for Fortnite creators raises questions about Epic Games' ongoing legal and public advocacy against the standard 30 percent platform fees charged by Apple and Google.
• Mobile platform holders are updating their storefronts to enhance game discovery and social integration in response to rising regulatory pressure and the growth of alternative distribution marketplaces.

Week in Mobile Games E42: Brawl Stars' highs, Squad Busters' struggle, & AppLovin's $900m games sale

Supercell has achieved a significant financial turnaround in 2024, reporting €2.78 billion in non-GAAP revenue as every title in its portfolio experienced year-over-year growth for the first time in a decade.

• Supercell reported €2.78 billion in 2024 non-GAAP revenue, marking the first time in a decade that every title in its portfolio achieved year-over-year growth.
• AppLovin is divesting its apps business for $900 million to focus exclusively on its high-growth advertising division, signaling a strategic retreat from direct game development.
• DeNA experienced an 8,000% quarterly profit surge driven by the strong market reception and high player retention of Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.

Plus: One Piece Odyssey - A Trad Hit for Namco

One Piece Odyssey has demonstrated a strong market debut, signaling that traditional, high-priced JRPG adaptations of major anime franchises remain highly viable.

• One Piece Odyssey is a commercial success for Bandai Namco, with first-week Steam sales projected between 150,000 and 200,000 units and a top position on U.S. PlayStation digital charts.
• The success of One Piece Odyssey at a $60 price point without live-service mechanics proves that traditional, premium-priced JRPG adaptations of major anime franchises remain highly viable.
• Chinese-developed titles are showing significant market traction on Steam, with Jianghu11 reaching over 10,000 concurrent users and Sailing Era achieving 6,000 concurrent users.

Financial Results for the First Half of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2023

Koei Tecmo’s financial performance for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2023 reflects a strategic transition toward large-scale global expansion and long-term intellectual property development.

• Koei Tecmo aims to reach 100 billion yen in sales and 40 billion yen in operating profit by the end of FY2024 through a medium-term management plan.
• Operating profit grew 11.6% to 18.32 billion yen in the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2023, despite a 6.6% decline in net sales to 34.76 billion yen.
• The company is prioritizing global expansion, with overseas markets projected to account for over 71% of total unit sales for upcoming titles like Wild Hearts and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.

Mario Kart Tour Approaching $300 Million in Revenue

Mario Kart Tour has reached a significant financial milestone, generating $293 million in global lifetime player spending on iOS and Android platforms.

• Mario Kart Tour has reached $293 million in lifetime global player spending, positioning it as Nintendo’s second highest-grossing mobile title.
• Nintendo’s physical game sales remain robust at 45.5% of total volume as of 2026, significantly outperforming the industry trend toward digital-only distribution.
• Fire Emblem Heroes remains Nintendo’s top-performing mobile game with over $1 billion in lifetime revenue.

Financial Results for the First Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2023

Koei Tecmo Holdings reported record quarterly operating profit for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2023, covering the period from April to June 2022.

• Koei Tecmo achieved a record quarterly operating profit of 11.66 billion yen for Q1 FY2023, a 19.9% year-over-year increase, despite a 9.1% decline in net sales to 18.65 billion yen.
• The company's bottom line was impacted by a ~50% decline in both ordinary and net profit, driven by non-operating expenses related to a strategic portfolio restructuring.
• Console software unit sales grew by 26.1% to 3.09 million units, with overseas markets accounting for over 72% of that volume.

News Mash-Up: Week 25

This summary provides an overview of key developments in the global video game industry for the week of June 20, 2022.

• Fall Guys reached 20 million players within 48 hours of transitioning to a free-to-play model across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch platforms.
• Sony has officially withdrawn from Gamescom 2022, joining other major publishers like Nintendo, Activision, and Take-Two in skipping the physical event.
• Microsoft is developing 'Direct Capture' technology for Xbox Cloud Gaming, which has already reduced streaming latency by 72ms with the goal of enabling 4K resolution.

Take Your Game's Retention to the Next Level With Collaboration Events

Promotional collaboration events serve as a strategic tool for mobile game developers to enhance player retention and increase lifetime value through live operations.

• Collaboration events can drive significant revenue spikes, as seen with Identity V, where a Persona 5 event increased US iOS revenue from 3K to 49K and a Danganronpa event boosted it from 9K to 65K.
• Dragalia Lost leveraged partnerships with major franchises like Fire Emblem, Megaman, and Monster Hunter to achieve peak US iOS revenues exceeding 60K per event.
• Collaboration events function as powerful live ops tools to re-engage existing players through unique, limited-time content and to acquire new users with high affinity for the partner brand.

Nintendo Mobile Games Reach $1 Billion in Lifetime Player Spending

Nintendo has surpassed $1 billion in lifetime gross revenue across its mobile gaming portfolio, according to data from Sensor Tower Store Intelligence.

• Nintendo’s six mobile titles have generated over $1 billion in lifetime gross revenue across the App Store and Google Play, supported by 452 million total downloads.
• Fire Emblem Heroes is the primary revenue driver, accounting for 61% ($656 million) of total lifetime mobile earnings despite representing only 4% of total downloads.
• Japan is the most significant market for Nintendo’s mobile revenue, contributing $581 million (54% of the total), followed by the U.S. at $316 million (29%).

Nintendo Financial Results Briefing: Six Months Fiscal Year Ending March 2020

The Nintendo financial results briefing for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2020 highlights strong momentum for the Nintendo Switch platform, driven by the successful launch of the Nintendo Switch Lite and a robust software library.

Nintendo Consolidated Financial Highlights: Six Months Ended September 30, 2019

Nintendo’s consolidated financial results for the six-month period ending September 30, 2019, demonstrate strong growth driven primarily by the expansion of the Nintendo Switch platform.

Financial Results for the First Half of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2020

Koei Tecmo reported a 4.8% year-on-year decrease in sales to ¥16.56 billion and a 26.6% drop in operating profit for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2020.

• Koei Tecmo reported a 4.8% decrease in sales to ¥16.56 billion and a 26.6% drop in operating profit for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2020, driven by higher development costs and lower console sales.
• Despite the initial operating profit decline, the company maintains its full-year sales forecast of ¥43 billion, a 10.3% year-on-year increase, supported by strong performance in mobile and online segments.
• The company is targeting an operating profit of ¥17 billion by the end of the next fiscal year, anchored by a goal of selling five million units for a major AAA console title and generating ¥1 billion in monthly revenue from a top-tier mobile title.