Supercell and Playerunknown answer Elon Musk's call, Peak bets on Ryan Reynolds, and Fortnite avoids Google Play
This weeks hottest article had a bit of everything, from PUBG developer Brendan Greene’s idea for a “Top Trumps-style” card game for Tesla cars to a Pokemon GO title with an "adults in cars anime vibe”. Oh, and Elon Musk.
It all came about after the Tesla CEO put out a call for anyone in games development to consider making “super fun“ games for the car company’s self-driving vehicles.
It wasn’t the only celebrity appearance either, Peak Games has hopped into the realm of celebrity endorsement and tapped up Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds to help promote Toon Blast.
Fortnite, Clash of Clans and Subway Surfers
Elsewhere Epic CEO Tim Sweeney labelled Google Play's 30 per cent revenue share as “disproportionate” as Fortnite bypassed the Android store.
Rounding off, Clash of Clans players are still spending $1.5m a day in 2018, and Subway Surfers' iOS revenue sprinted past $80 million from in-app purchases.
#5: Subway Surfers' iOS revenue sprints past $80 million from in-app purchases
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Subway Surfers' iOS revenue sprints past $80 million from in-app purchases »Kiloo and SYBO's 2012 endless runner Subway Surfers is still, ahem, riding high and has now taken in more than $80 million in revenue on iOS alone.
As previously reported, the title reached the milestone through in-app purchases alone. It should also be noted that revenue gained through in-game advertising isn’t counted in estimates for the $80 million figure.
In the first half of 2018, Subway Surfers reportedly raked in $4.3 million in worldwide revenue on iOS.
On top of that, over half of this revenue came from the US, with the market there accounting for 51 per cent of player purchases. Great Britain followed in second with a nine per cent share.
#4: Clash of Clans players still spending $1.5m a day in 2018
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Clash of Clans players still spending $1.5m a day in 2018 »Despite launching back in 2012, Supercell’s hit mobile game Clash of Clans is still racking up around $1.5 million a day.
The $1.5m figure is markedly lower than the game’s 2015 peak, in which during January and July of that year the title’s revenue averaged almost $5.5m a day.
However, It’s still an impressive feat for a title launched back in 2012, which regularly sits in the top 10 grossing rankings.
The mobile strategy game has still topped the US App Store grossing chart three times this year.
#3: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney labels Google Play 30% revenue share “disproportionate” as Fortnite bypasses Android store
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Epic CEO Tim Sweeney labels Google Play 30% revenue share “disproportionate” as Fortnite bypasses Android store »After rumours circulated that Fortnite was set to ditch dominant Android storefront Google Play, Epic has moved to confirm that it is, indeed, true.
While a release date is yet to be announced, players will need to download the game launcher direct from the Fortnite website when the battle royale eventually hitsAndroid.
This will mean that Epic will not need to pay 30 per cent of revenues it generates from the game to Google.
Speaking to PocketGamer.biz, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said: “physical storefronts and middlemen distributors are no longer required”.
#2: Peak Games’ $100 million bet on Ryan Reynolds to kick Toon Blast up a gear in the US
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Peak Games’ $100 million bet on Ryan Reynolds to kick Toon Blast up a gear in the US »Investing in marketing is no new thing for Peak Games when Toon Blast is concerned.
However, freshly backed to the tune of $100 million following Zynga's acquisition of its card and board games division, Peak Games is kicking it up a notch by tapping up Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds.
But not without due consideration for the long-term in terms of wisely spending the money.
“We spent three months on the process in terms of the scripts and analysing which celebrity would be best for them,” explains Peak’s head of strategy Omer Inonu of the company’s decision to jump into the world of celebrity endorsement.
#1: Supercell and Playerunknown respond to Elon Musk's Twitter callout for Tesla game devs
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Supercell and Playerunknown respond to Elon Musk's Twitter callout for Tesla game devs »The past week saw Telsa CEO Elon Musk put a call out on Twitter for anyone in games development to consider making games for the car company’s self-driving vehicles.
More specifically, anyone who wanted to make “super fun” games that integrate the centre vehicle touchscreen, phone and car itself.
Among those keen was no other than PUBG developer Brendan Greene, who pitched a “Top Trumps-style” card game for Teslas stuck together in traffic.
Clash of Clans developer Supercell was also on hand to throw their collective hat into the ring with a video short.
However, Musk is seemingly more interested in Niantic's Pokemon Go. Only with "more of an adults in cars anime vibe”.