Did you miss a session from GamesBeat Summit 2022? All sessions are available to stream now. Learn more.
We know all about how big Game of War has been for MZ, but it turns out that Mobile Strike has also done well, grossing over $1.3 billion since its 2015 launch, mobile research firm Sensor Tower estimates.
In a blog post today, Sensor Tower founder Oliver Yeh shared that his group found that Mobile Strike was strongest in the United States, where the free-to-play game (it makes money off microtransactions) bagged 55 percent of its revenue. Japan accounts for 13 percent, and that’s not a bad showing at all for a Western game in one of the strongholds of a mobile market that research firm Newzoo expects to hit $70.3 billion this year, showing that games from outside Asia can not only find global followings but also monetize on them as well.
It joins the likes of Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Game of War, Honor of Kings, Monster Strike, Puzzle & Dragons, and Pokémon Go as games to gross over $1 billion, says Sensor Tower. Clash of Clans is also a strategy game, while Candy Crush Saga and Puzzle & Dragons are match-3 games, though Puzzle & Dragons (and Monster Strike) add in combat and Pokémon-like collecting and evolving of monsters.
Mobile Strike is nowhere near as big as it once was, Sensor Tower found. It grossed more than $4 million worldwide in August, and while you might think that sounds pretty dang respectable, it’s a pittance compared to its salad days in 2017 — that March, players shelled out almost $90 million on purchases in the game. It no longer appears in the top 50 of iOS free or grossing charts.
Mobile Strike debuted on iOS and Android in 2015. Like Game of War, it’s mobile strategy game in which you build a base and take part in missions and alliances with other players. Some players enjoy this sort of gameplay, but others criticize it for being more of a “busywork” simulator than an actual strategy game that leans to hard on microtransactions.
MZ turned to action star and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for commercials to hype up its take on modern warfare. He even starred in a Super Bowl ad for Mobile Strike. It’s one of three games in MZ’s stable along with Game of War and Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Learn more about membership.
