Top 5 Ways To Monetize Android Games
Developing a fantastic mobile game is one aspect, but earning from it is a completely different challenge. There are numerous strategies available to monetize a game, however, not every strategy has proved successful. That's why we've created a list of leading mobile game-earning trends for you. If applied correctly, these approaches can significantly boost your mobile gaming income. Let's get directly to the substance. Here are the best ways to monetize your mobile games. Ads within the App and in-app advertisements will continue to be a dominant mobile gaming earning trend. This strategy has been highly beneficial for game developers.
This model allows players to enjoy a mobile game at no cost, while the developer profits from the ads displayed within the game. Advertisers are also keen on exhibiting their ads and attracting new users.
Users remember in-app ads 47% of the time, which verifies their effectiveness. Additionally, a study conducted by Ipsos demonstrated that 50% of users found mobile ads appealing visually.
In the upcoming years, the focus will be more on user experience. Users don't appreciate disruptive or irrelevant ads. Additionally, an excess of ads can hamper the user experience.
Hence, in the upcoming years, developers must find a balance between the quantity and quality of advertisements. Here are the Top 5 Ways to Monetize Android Games:
1. In-Game Ads
In-game ads can come in various formats, and here are the five most significant ones:
- Rewarded Ads
- Interstitial, or full-screen ads
- Playable ads
- Ads in native banners
- Offerwall, or an array of rewards
The selection of the perfect mobile game ad format depends on the nature of the game and its earning objectives. It's equally important to pick the correct ad network and employ ad mediation to escalate your ad earnings.
2. In-App Purchasing
If you already have a substantial fanbase and a well-established position in the market, it might be a good strategy to charge users to play your game. However, if you're an indie game developer working on your first project, making your game a paid one might not be the most fruitful approach. But this doesn't imply that you can't monetize your game. In-app purchases serve as an efficient strategy if you want your game to be free to download while still generating revenue from it. A projection by AppAnnie states that in 2022, consumers would have spent as much as $156.5 billion in app stores. This approach allows players to engage with the game for free. Once they're invested in the game, they're given the option to buy additional in-game content, extra lives, coins, gems, and so on. For this model to work effectively, it's important to be strategic about pricing. Generally, offering a mix of lower-priced and higher-priced items works best. Time-limited offers and bundle packs also tend to be popular among players as they perceive more value for their money. As a developer, it's essential to communicate from the beginning that your game offers in-app purchases. This helps avoid any perception of deception. Moreover, the introduction of in-app purchases should be paced and gradual. Make sure players understand where the in-game store is located.
3. Paid Games
Although in-app purchases are generally more effective, paid games still constitute a significant trend in mobile game monetization, especially for established game developers with a large fanbase. Take Minecraft as an example. Despite being a paid mobile game, it managed to secure a spot on the list of top-grossing games in app stores. Additionally, it’s worth noting that not all gamers appreciate in-app purchases. Many players are willing to pay a one-time upfront charge to avoid ads or the need to buy coins, gems, or any additional content later. Therefore, as a game developer, it's crucial to weigh whether this monetization model fits your game and its target audience. By understanding your users' preferences, you can choose a model that enhances their gaming experience while also maximizing your revenue.
4. Subscription Model
The subscription model is gaining increasing traction among game developers. Here is how it works. Under this model, gamers make regular payments to unlock additional content, features, and items, or to enjoy an ad-free gaming experience. Certain subscriptions work on an auto-renewal basis, while others do not. One specific type of subscription — battle passes — emerged as hugely popular. Battle passes are non-renewing subscriptions that last for a set period, usually structured around 'seasons'. Throughout this period, players have the chance to unlock various types of rewards. Initially, battle passes were confined primarily to mid-core games. However, they are now seen across a myriad of games and genres, such as Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Archero, and Homescapes. It's important to note that subscriptions often serve as a supplementary monetization model, supplementing other approaches. This ties in perfectly with the next monetization trend — a mixed monetization strategy.
5. A Hybrid Monetization Strategy
This method we're talking about is called a hybrid monetization strategy, and it's gaining a lot of popularity in the world of mobile games. Instead of just relying on one way to make money, developers are using a combination of different methods to earn revenue.
Many game creators realized that they don't have to choose between showing ads, selling in-game items, or offering subscriptions. Instead, they're doing all of these things together. Why? Because different players like different ways of spending money in games. Some don't mind watching ads to get rewards, some prefer buying things directly, and others like the idea of subscribing for special benefits.
But here's the catch: the success of this strategy depends on the type of game you have.
Here are some tips to make this mixed approach work well for your game:
One popular combo is using both in-game ads and in-game purchases. Usually, the main income comes from people buying stuff in the game, while the ads are there to add a little extra.
According to Facebook Audience Network, most developers who added ads to their in-game purchases didn't see any negative effects on their sales. Some even saw more people buying stuff! This means that ads can encourage people to spend money on the game.
The best kind of ad to pair with in-game purchases is called a rewarded video. Studies show that it can make people six times more likely to buy stuff! These ads are great because players choose to watch them, and they get rewarded in the game afterwards. Plus, they give players a taste of the rewards they can get if they decide to buy something.
For example, players might watch a video to get special bonuses that help them progress faster in the game. And when they run out of videos to watch, the only other way to get those bonuses is by buying them in the game.
