Gaming
mod.io reaches 100 million mod downloads served since opening its UGC platform to games on consoles
mod.io, a cross-platform pioneering mod support service has surpassed the impressive milestone of 100 million UGC downloads on consoles following the launch of mod support for Skater XL and SnowRunner on Xbox and PlayStation in December. The first of its kind, catering to developers, modders and players alike, mod.io expands where UGC can be supported and makes it easy for game developers to seamlessly adopt, and interact with their creators in a brand safe and positive manner. The launch day of both games shattered expectations with 1.6 million downloads and 300,000 players participating. Skater XL is a skateboarding simulation game from Easy Day Studios, that aims to give players unparalleled control of the skating experience in iconic real-world locations. More than 250 unique pieces of modded content including decks, clothing, and new locations are now available through an in-game mod menu, across PC, Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
SnowRunner is a popular off-roading simulation game, developed by Saber Interactive, and is a sequel to the hugely successful MudRunner. Mods have been available on the PC since its release in April 2020, and have recently become available to enjoy on consoles for the first time.
âSnowRunnerâs modding community has greatly expanded the gameâs experience for dedicated players. The constant influx of fresh content is certainly a key driver of the titleâs long-term success,â said Tim Willits, Chief Creative Officer of Saber Interactive. âWe could not have achieved this without mod.io â their tech and support are unmatched.â
Console players already consume as much UGC content as PC gamers on mod.io, which is incredible given itâs still early days. Making support more accessible, giving studios greater control to launch their own UGC community beyond just PC where mods have traditionally thrived, will remain a core focus of mod.io.
âIf studios arenât thinking of games as a place for players to hang out, create and express themselves theyâre missing the direction the whole industry is moving in. Since launching our mod.io integration in one month, weâve had 6.5 million mod downloads, this is a huge part of what drives the life and vibrancy of the Skater XL world.â said Dain Hedgpeth, CEO of Easy Day Studios.
UGC is fast becoming the latest video-game trend, as a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-house content creation such as DLC. mod.io believes these launches have proven that mods and UGC on consoles are a clear path for growth â and that this will only continue as more titles bring their UGC communities to console over the next few years.
âUGC has the potential to become a major positive disruption in the ways games are made and consumed in the gaming industry,â says Scott Reismanis, co-founder of mod.io. âBut it needs to be accessible, cross-platform, and moderated, with detailed metrics, creator events, and marketplaces attached. Weâre here to push the boundaries with UGC, and enable game developers to do the same across every platform.â
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Gaming
Getting ready for Xmas: SplitMetrics partnership with Wargaming helps World of Warships app sail to new heights with 15% uplift in organic conversions
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Gaming
Nolimit City revisits the brutal factory life in Outsourced: Slash Game
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Nolimit City takes you back to the grind with its latest release, Outsourced: Slash Game. For those who thought their consumerist cravings were a safe indulgence, think again. Following in the footsteps of Outsourced, this new addition pulls back the curtain on the sweat and sacrifice lurking behind those everyday luxuriesâthis time with a dash of danger. Outsourced: Slash Game is the studioâs second venture into crash-style gameplay, the first being xCrash⢠in Skate or Die â but this time itâs a standalone crash game!
In Slash Game, players have to make some cutthroat decisions as a laser traces the outline of their hand, increasing the multiplier with every pass. Players hit âstopâ to cash out, locking in the multiplier when they feel the timing is right. After which, they will be shown the potential winnings if they wouldnât have stopped. But hereâs the catch: if players hesitate a second too long and the laser slips, all the winnings are lost. A live scoreboard displays the Top Win, Top Miss and Last Round, so that players can keep track of their previous rounds.
Outsourced: Slash Game is not a familiar Nolimit City slot to some players but could cause some excitement with an increasing multiplier and a maximum payout of 1,500x the base bet. Outsourced: Slash Game, unlike Nolimit Cityâs high-volatility slots, is rated as âMedium Volatilityâ but donât let that fool you as it still includes the risk of losing your hand.
Per Lindheimer, Head of Product at Nolimit City, said: âGet back to work, will you? Weâre bringing players back to the unrelenting factory floor of Outsourced with an all-new twist. Slash Game is a standalone take on our crash-style games, and itâs packed with plenty of heart-stopping moments (and maybe a few hand-stopping ones, too). Weâre thrilled with how it turned out and we hope that our fans will be too!â
âOutsourced: Slash Gameâ will be available to all Nolimit City partners on November 5th, 2024.
The post Nolimit City revisits the brutal factory life in Outsourced: Slash Game appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gaming
The mobile gaming market is growing and attracting new companies. GAMIVO is the latest example
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Usually, consoles and PCs come to mind when discussing the gaming industry. The mobile sector is often treated as a child of a lesser god, even though it generates almost as much revenue as console and PC combined. Some companies can see this potential. For instance, the e-commerce platform GAMIVO has recently entered the mobile market, allowing players to buy in-game items cheaper.
Back on course
The entire video game industry has evolved incredibly, but the most spectacular has been the growth of the mobile sector. It expanded from 36.9 million dollars in 2016 to 93.2 billion in 2021. Unfortunately, the gaming market suffered from a decline that stemmed from the overoptimism of the pandemic era. As a result, the mobile gaming industry revenues dropped to 92.2 billion in 2022 and to 90.5 billion in 2023. Recent information has indicated this was a necessary correction rather than a long-term trend.
The latest Newzoo report, issued in August 2024, shows that the industry is on the right track again. According to analysts, the mobile sector will generate revenues of $92.6 billion, representing +3.0% growth year-on-year. Itâs nearly half of the entire gaming industry.
Billions of players
Revenues are crucial, but they only show part of the story. To fully understand the size and potential of mobile gaming, itâs necessary to consider the number of players, which constantly grew even when revenues dropped. Newzoo estimates that it will reach 2.8 billion in 2024. It means that almost twice as many people play on mobile devices than on PCs and consoles combined. Currently, every third person on Earth plays on mobile devices, and thereâs still space for further growth.
âThere are emerging markets where smartphones and mobile networks can expand, providing new potential players. Furthermore, this type of entertainment has a low entry barrier because most popular games are free and donât require high-end devices,â explains Mateusz ĹmieĹźewski, the CEO at GAMIVO.
One hobby, different habits
GAMIVO is an example of a company that has recently joined the party to get a piece of the mobile pie. âWe examined the mobile market for a very long time, trying to find a suitable place for us. Itâs essential to understand that mobile gaming and mobile gamers differ from their PC or console counterparts. You canât do the same things you do with PC and consoles and hope to replicate your success,â said Mateusz ĹmieĹźewski.
Studies confirm this observation. Average PC and console players spend about 2.1 hours a day in virtual worlds. Itâs half an hour more than mobile gamers. However, things get interesting when we take a look at playtime per week, which is the same for mobile and console (5.4 hours) and slightly longer for PC (5.7 hours). Moreover, typical PC and console owners play 2.6 and 2.7 days a week, respectively, while mobile players play 3.4 days per week.
Those statistics prove that PC and console players are more dedicated, spending more time in gamesâ worlds once they enter them. However, mobile gamers prefer shorter but more frequent sessions. They play while commuting or have a short amount of free time.
âMobile players are more willing to uninstall games and give another title a chance. Hence, the gameplay has to be captivating and designed to provide quick but intense sessions.
Furthermore, even though the average weekly playtime is identical to PC players, many mobile players donât think of themselves as gamers,â clarifies Mateusz ĹmieĹźewski.
Another major difference regards the way in which revenue is generated. PC and console games traditionally represent the premium model, where players buy the game. Most popular mobile releases are free and generate revenue with microtransactions. Almost all titles allow players to spend their real money on virtual coins, crystals, and other items that can be used to unlock additional content or reduce cooldowns.
Entering the mobile market
Those contrasts and nuances scare most companies from the mobile market. Letâs see how GAMIVO has coped with this.
âWe decided to launch a new product category dedicated to mobile gamers. Our model allows them to top up in-game accounts cheaply. As a result, they can save up to 30% on buying virtual items, upgrades, and other content. The GAMIVO offer includes the most popular mobile titles, such as Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile, and still extends,â describes Mateusz ĹmieĹźewski.
âWe dedicated a lot of time to research and analyses. Also, the development process required a lot of work to provide GAMIVO customers with safe transactions and a user-friendly environment. The first reactions are very positive, confirming our belief that our decision was right and there is still more space in the mobile game market,â concludes the GAMIVO CEO.
The post The mobile gaming market is growing and attracting new companies. GAMIVO is the latest example appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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