2012 in review: Niccolo de Masi, Glu Mobile

2013 will see the first $100M F2P mobile game

As we consider the trends of the past 12 months and look forward to the next 12 months, we've asked the great and the good in the mobile gaming industry for their opinions.

Niccolo de Masi is the CEO of Glu Mobile, the Nasdaq-floated mobile publisher, which focuses on hardcore free-to-play games for iOS and Android.

Pocket Gamer: What do you think was the most significant event for the mobile games industry in 2012?

Niccolo de Masi: I think it was the integration of Facebook into iOS 6.

This demonstrates the dominance of Apple on its own platform as the only distribution mechanism. Facebook has waned correspondingly. OpenFeint closed. Web success does not translate to mobile.

What was the most significant event for Glu?

Growing our smartphone revenues (at guidance midpoint) over 80 percent compared to 2011.

What was your favourite mobile game of the year?

Deer Hunter Reloaded [released by Glu].

What do you predict will be the most important trends in 2013?

• 2D mid-core gaming gives way to 3D hardcore gaming
• The first $100 million run-rate revenue freemium mobile game will have launched by the end of the year
• China becomes the clear second largest market after the US for freemium mobile gaming

What's your New Year's resolution and what resolution would you suggest for the industry?

Glu's resolution is to increase our ARPDAU and LifeTime Value across all 2013 releases.

For the industry, it should be to support Windows 8 as the third global platform. Competition would be healthy for Apple and Google.

Thanks to Niccolo for his time.

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