The big Miniclip CEO interview, China stops approving games, and should app stores ditch the 70/30 revenue split?
Apple and Google Play have long held a 70/30 revenue split for their app stores - but is it now time for a change, or do they deserve their share?
That was the question we posed to our Mobile Mavens. It became the most read article of the week, sparking debate over whether it's time for a change.
Next up on our Hot Five is the surprising news that China hasn't approved any new mobile games since March 28th. While there have always been stringent and evolving regulations of the games industry, this latest step has affected both local and international companies.
Miniclip, Doctor Who and Candy Crush
Third up is the return of our Hall of Fame interview series with the mobile games industry's leading lights. This time we spoke with Miniclip CEO Robert Small on building a browser and mobile games industry giant.
Elsewhere, Bandai Namco has soft-launched a new CCG called Doctor Who: Battle of Time ahead of the new TV series, and King generated $1 billion in revenues in the first six months of 2018.
#5: Candy Crush developer King has made more than $1 billion so far this year
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Candy Crush developer King has made more than $1 billion so far this year »King’s world famous Candy Crush IP is still crushing it.
Activision Blizzard reported its Q2 financials recently and showed that for the six months ending June 30th 2018, King had already generated $1 billion in revenue this year.
While not exclusively powered by Candy Crush, the company’s flagship franchise is certainly bringing in the money.
King’s total monthly active user base is now at 270 million, with Candy Crush Saga’s MAUs growing year-on-year - despite its age.
#4: Bandai Namco soft-launches Doctor Who collectible card game on Android
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Bandai Namco soft-launches Doctor Who collectible card game on Android »Doctor Who is coming back to the small screen soon with an all-new cast.
To get in on the excitement for the famous show’s new direction, Bandai Namco has nabbed the licence for its new soft-launched CCG Doctor Who: Battle of Time.
The title is currently available in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Thailand.
It features a unique story written for the project by an unnamed Doctor Who writer and was developed in conjunction with the producers of the TV series.
#3: Hall of Fame: Miniclip CEO Robert Small on building one of the most recognisable names in gaming
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Hall of Fame: Miniclip CEO Robert Small on building one of the most recognisable names in gaming »Our Hall of Fame interview series is back - where we speak to the mobile games industry’s leading lights about their careers to date and get their opinions on the sector at large.
This time we had the chance to speak to Miniclip CEO Robert Small.
He’s helmed the company for 18 years now and steered it from a leading browser games company to also becoming a leading mobile publisher.
Here he discussed how he built up Miniclip into a gaming empire and his predictions for the mobile sector.
#2: China hasn't approved any new mobile games since March 28th
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China hasn't approved any new mobile games since March 28th »China’s stringent regulations on the games industry are no surprise to anyone with an ear to the ground in the market.
It does come as a surprise, however, that China’s new regulatory body responsible for approving games has not provided a licence to a new mobile title since March 28th, according to a report.
The current suspension doesn’t just affect international companies - local developers and publishers are facing the same problems as well.
It’s not clear as to why no approvals have been given and when the body will once again begin approving games for release.
#1: Is it time for the App Store and Google Play to ditch the 70/30 revenue split?
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Is it time for the App Store and Google Play to ditch the 70/30 revenue split? »Apple shook up the games industry for the better when it launched the App Store. Particularly with its favourable (at the time) 70/30 revenue split.
But now that the company is making billions of dollars off the highly profitable marketplace and is worth $1 trillion - is it time for change?
We posed the question to our Mobile Mavens, where opinion generally skewed in favour of the 70/30 split.
It wasn’t all positive about the royalties though - a few key suggestions on how things could be improved were also discussed.