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Every time a user makes an in-app purchase or buys an app from the App Store or Play Store, Apple or Google takes a portion of the revenue. This App Store Tax has caused complaints for some developers, but with Apple and Google in the middle of antitrust hearings, tensions are continuing to grow.
Apple has a strict set of App Store Guidelines that developers must follow in order to avoid being removed. Recently, it was announced that the guidelines will prevent developers from selling cloud gaming apps on the App Store. This could have an impact on app marketing, development and App Store Optimization.
Apple Arcade, the App Store’s subscription game service, provides users with unlimited access to over 100 games for the price of $4.99 a month. Yet Apple can afford to be choosy, as it's cancelling several Arcade game contracts in the company’s effort to maintain subscribers.
Shortly after Apple released Apple Arcade with iOS 13, Google Play launched the Google Play Pass. Now both stores have a subscription service for apps, both of which have been inviting select developers to contribute games. The new subscription options can influence the App Store Optimization strategies for games and apps on both stores.
Google Play is preparing to launch a new subscription service, which will provide users with access to premium Android apps and all in-app purchases for a monthly fee. While the Play Pass service is still underway, it may create future opportunities for app developers to reach new audiences when supported with App Store Optimization.
When people think of gaming companies, the first names that come to mind are brands like Nintendo or Sony. However, Apple now ranks among them as the fourth largest gaming company in the world. The reason for this is due to the number and quality of games on its App Store, which means that App Store Optimization can play a large role towards success in the gaming industry.
With the 2019 Game Developers Conference (GDC) concluding another successful year, attendees left with new insights and looks at the latest in gaming of all shapes and sizes. Everything gaming related was on display, from large studios showcasing their latest games to advancements in virtual reality, and especially the latest in mobile gaming. These are some trends in mobile gaming showcased at GDC, and how developers can use App Store Optimization to capitalize on them.
Epic Games has announced the Epic Online Services, designed to bridge the gap between console, PC and mobile gaming. What this means is that mobile games will not only face more competition from console and PC games, but games going from console to cross-platform mobile will need to understand App Store Optimization in order to compete.
With the 2018 Game Developers Conference (GDC 2018) a fond but recent memory, it’s time to look back on what happened at this year’s event. From the latest in AR and VR to mobile marketing, there was never a dull moment throughout the week of the conference.
The App Store and Google Play Store are teeming with millions of apps, a great deal of which are mobile games. The gaming industry has come a long way since old-school arcade games and even home or portable consoles. In fact, games have been accessible on-the-go since the original 1976 version of Snake launched on mobile devices in 1998. The mobile gaming industry has boomed, generating $59.2 billion dollars in 2017. Additionally, Google reported $4.5 billion dollars in revenue in Q3 of 2017 alone. This explains why competition has skyrocketed within the industry over the past few years. Game developers want to take advantage of this lucrative industry, but to do so, they need a way to beat their competition. In order to stay competitive in downloads, search results and players, developers need to utilize App Store Optimization (ASO), which will help put their game ahead of the competition.
There’s nothing quite like an action game – the intense concentration, the quick decisions that determine victory or defeat, and the feelings of joy when you finally complete a level or conquer a challenging foe. Mobile action games are a very popular genre, meaning that the market is teeming with competitors that are trying to encourage users to download their game instead of yours. Those that stand out from their competition leave the rest to uncover what tactics they took to succeed. There are many App Store Optimization (ASO) factors at play, but one of the keys to standing out is a strong description. Not only does it highlight the game’s core features and encourage users to download, it needs to be formatted to engage the audience on both the App Store and Google Play Store. Developers can achieve this level of engagement by utilizing high-volume keywords that draw in users and make them interested in downloading.
When you're bored and looking for a way to kill time while improving your quick-thinking skills, what do you do? Do you pull out a crossword and start testing your vocabulary? Do you grab a deck of cards and enjoy what could be a frustrating game of solitaire? Now that we have handy mobile devices at our disposal, we're quick to forget about these physical objects and go for their digital counterparts. These are often found in the form of mobile puzzle games. Since the puzzle game genre can span across categories such as casual, board games and puzzle itself, we should first give puzzle games a definition for the purpose of this article. These games are oftentimes a test that assesses an individual's problem-solving skills, ingenuity and knowledge to arrive at the correct solution. But since there are so many games that can fall under the puzzle umbrella, how do competitors in the current ecosystem stand apart? This is where creatives come in - they play a key role in helping users easily recognize the app while understanding its core feature and functionality. By looking at how top puzzle games are creating icons, screenshots and even preview videos, we'll surely find some commonalities that can be used by others looking for a shot at the spotlight.
The number of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality apps available on Google Play and the Apple App Store is growing fast, and saw an increase of over 200% in 2016 alone. Still, when compared to other app categories, AR and VR are still in their infancy. With GDC 2018 closing in on us in less than two weeks, developers are scrambling to make last minute optimizations to their apps, and also come up with unique ways to stand out both on the show floor and in the app stores. Traditional mobile app marketing may not be enough, however, so developers are looking to new and innovative ways to market their AR or VR apps. Here are four ways to help market a Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality app, both online and in person.