Summoners War
Documents about Summoners War
FTUE: Summoners War
Summoners War, a long-standing mobile RPG developed by the Korean studio Com2uS, serves as a primary case study for the successful implementation of the free-to-play model within the global mobile gaming market.
- Summoners War, developed by Korean studio Com2uS, serves as a primary case study for the successful implementation of the free-to-play, games-as-a-service model in the mobile RPG genre.
- The game’s design philosophy prioritizes long-term player investment and deep, grind-heavy progression systems over casual, short-term engagement.
- The user experience features a dense, PC-influenced interface that immediately exposes players to complex meta-game systems, including monster summoning, elemental combat, and equipment engraving.
Puzzle & Dragons did $1B in 2015, but is now in decline
GungHo Online Entertainment maintains a dominant position in the global mobile gaming market, anchored by the sustained performance of its flagship title, Puzzle & Dragons.
- Puzzle & Dragons generated $1.3 billion in 2015, yet it accounted for 89% of GungHo Online Entertainment's total revenue, highlighting a dangerous lack of product diversification.
- GungHo is experiencing a clear financial contraction, with 2015 year-over-year sales falling 11% and operating profit dropping 23%.
- The company's heavy reliance on the Japanese market has limited global growth, as evidenced by the failure of Puzzle & Dragons to replicate its domestic success in North America despite nine million downloads.
Biz Daily: How Com2uS become a world player
Com2uS has successfully transitioned from a localized South Korean mobile publisher into a significant global industry player, driven primarily by the sustained performance of its flagship RPG, Summoners War.
- Com2uS reported Q2 2015 sales of $97 million, representing a 16% increase quarter-on-quarter and over 100% growth compared to the same period in 2014.
- The RPG 'Summoners War' is the primary driver of company growth, necessitating an increase in quarterly marketing and user acquisition spend from $15 million to $18 million.
- Com2uS has successfully pivoted from a local Korean publisher to a global player, with 82% of its Q2 2015 sales generated outside of Korea.
Korean winners Com2uS and Gamevil, and King's good/bad IPO timing
The mobile gaming industry experienced significant financial shifts in late 2014, highlighted by the quarterly performance of Korean publishers Com2uS and Gamevil, alongside the market challenges faced by King.
- Com2uS achieved significant growth in late 2014, doubling its quarterly revenue to $85 million with a 50% profit margin, driven by the success of 'Summoners War' and 'Ace Fishing'.
- King reported a 13% decline in quarterly sales despite generating $514 million in revenue, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining growth after a peak driven by a single franchise, 'Candy Crush Saga'.
- To address investor concerns regarding its reliance on a flagship title, King highlighted that its non-Candy Crush business generates $1 billion in annual revenue and initiated a dividend strategy to provide shareholder value.