At the end of last month, Kunlun Tech released its 2024 financial report, introducing two new revenue segments: "AI Software Technologies" and "Short Drama Platforms.” The latter proved particularly noteworthy, generating over RMB 167 million (approx. $23 million), accounting for 2.96% of total revenue. Among these, DramaWave, launched in the second half of 2024, received prominent attention. According to the report, by the end of March this year, the app had achieved an annualized revenue run rate (ARR) of approximately $120 million and surpassed 10 million monthly active users (MAUs), placing it among the top five players in the sector. Launched in September 2023, DramaWave entered a market already dominated by early movers such as ReelShort, ShortMax, and DramaBox, all […]

At the end of April, NetEase officially launched the mobile version of its open-world survival game Once Human. Prior to its mobile launch, Once Human had already exceeded 20 million PC downloads globally, with 30 million pre-registrations for the mobile version, according to official figures. This article analyzes the game’s advertising strategy based on data from AppGrowing. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Once Human ran a total of 4,052 ads across 42 regions and 11 ad platforms.The majority of placements were in-feed ads, accounting for over 41%, followed by rewarded videos at over 37%. In terms of creative formats, video dominated the campaign, making up nearly 86% of all ad creatives. Vertical videos alone accounted for close to 39%. Advertising […]

HABBY, the publisher behind global hits like Archero, Archero 2, and Capybara Go!, each of which has surpassed $100 million in revenue, is back with a new title—Wittle Defender. Given the studio’s track record of success, this latest release has naturally drawn industry attention. This article leverages AppGrowing data to analyze Wittle Defender’s advertising strategy in detail. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Wittle Defender has run a total of 2,621 ads across 14 regions and 9 ad platforms. The majority of creatives were in-feed ads, accounting for over 76% of the total, followed by rewarded video ads, which made up over 15%. In terms of ad formats, video made up more than 90% of total creatives, with vertical videos alone accounting […]

On April 22, Level Infinite’s FPS title Delta Force launched across multiple global markets. The game is an officially licensed revival of the classic FPS IP Delta Force, and it shot to the top of the U.S. iOS free games chart on launch day. This article uses AppGrowing data to analyze Delta Force’s advertising strategy. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Delta Force has launched a total of 3,239 ads, spanning 56 regions and 10 ad platforms. The majority of placements were in-feed ads, accounting for over 47%, followed by rewarded video ads, which made up more than 36%. In terms of creatives, Delta Force focused heavily on video formats, which represented more than 75% of total ads. Vertical videos dominated, […]

At the end of last month, LTGAMES established a new company, Keyin Technology, in Shenzhen, holding a 45% stake. The remaining shares are owned by Li Xinyu, who also heads LTGAMES's global short drama division.Notably, Li recently posted a job listing for a U.S.-based producer in Los Angeles. In fact, LTGAMES began laying the groundwork for this move back in October 2023, when it established Shenzhen Yunmeng Film & Television Technology Co., injecting RMB 3 million in capital. Less than three months later, its drama app, DramaLet, launched across multiple global markets. So, as a newcomer from the gaming sector, how has LTGAMES fared in the increasingly crowded short drama space? And what prompted this pivot at a time when […]

According to Sensor Tower, Century Games' Whiteout Survival has raked in a staggering $2 billion in global in-app purchase revenue—this figure excludes China's third-party Android channels. As the title celebrates this milestone, AppGrowing has detected the emergence of a new 4X game from Century Games that is beginning to make waves across global markets. In just one month, the game—Kingshot—climbed from around No. 200 to the top 50 on the U.S. iOS grossing charts. It also broke into the top five of the free games ranking and the top 100 grossing games on South Korea's Google Play store. After hands-on testing, it's clear that Kingshot signals Century Games' ambition to replicate the success of Whiteout Survival. 01.Medieval Theme Meets Casual […]

Last month, IYAGAME launched pre-registration for its prison-themed simulation + 4X mobile game, Lands of Jail, across Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. According to AppGrowing’s "Top Pre-Register" ranking, the game secured 2nd place on the App Store and 1st place on Google Play, demonstrating strong pre-launch momentum. Advertising Strategy Analysis Advertising Performance Based on AppGrowing data, Lands of Jail has deployed a total of 2,355 ad creatives, spanning 35 regions and 6 ad platforms. The majority of ads are In-Feed, accounting for over 95% of the total. In terms of creative formats, images make up 51%, while vertical videos account for 46%, achieving a relatively balanced mix between static and video content. Advertising Volume Peaks The game […]

In the latest global revenue rankings for Chinese mobile game publishers released by Sensor Tower, Leniu Games made its debut at No. 27. Leniu Games has long been associated with aggressive user acquisition, but as the mobile internet dividend fades, the company has actively joined the sweeping wave of transformation. Globalization is one of the key themes of this transformation. However, in previous years, Leniu Games had little presence in the global market—until now, when a single title propelled it to No. 27 on the list. 01.Breaking New Ground with a Single Product I9: 인페르노 나인 (hereafter referred to as I9) was the key driver behind Leniu Games' recent success. Not only did it break into the fiercely competitive South […]

The open-world game Infinity Nikki by Papergames has launched in multiple regions globally. According to Papergames reports, Infinity Nikki garnered over 30 million global pre-registrations before its release. This article leverages data from AppGrowing to analyze its advertising strategy and uncover the reasons behind its success. Advertising Strategy Overview Based on AppGrowing data, Infinity Nikki has deployed 724 ads across 29 regions and 9 advertising platforms. Over the past week, it ran 273 ads, with the daily peak occurring on October 21, when ad placements exceeded 198. Rewarded video ads dominated, accounting for over 44% of total ads, followed by in-feed ads at over 32%. Regarding ad format, Infinity Nikki primarily relied on video, which comprised more than 88% of […]

AFK Journey, an RPG developed by Chinese publisher Lilith Games, has recently achieved notable success in multiple global markets. This article uses data from AppGrowing to analyze its advertising strategy and uncover the reasons behind its success. Advertising Strategy According to AppGrowing, AFK Journey has launched a total of 21,856 ads across 50 regions and 14 ad platforms. Between August 1 and August 30, 2024, the game ran 8,642 ads, with a significant focus on in-feed ads, which made up 60% of the total. In-feed ads are advantageous because they seamlessly integrate into users' browsing experience, enhancing both click-through and conversion rates. This choice of ad format is likely due to its effective performance on mobile devices, especially on social […]