Research Summary
The report discusses the successful launch of Match Factory, a game developed by Zynga-owned Peak Games. The game, which is a fast-follow of Triple Match 3D, was exclusively launched on the App Store. The report analyzes the early performance of Match Factory and the strategy behind its exclusivity.
Key Takeaways
Performance of Match Factory
- Strong Start: Match Factory has shown a strong start with higher total downloads and revenue compared to Triple Match 3D. It has also taken second place in the connect tiles subgenre of puzzle games with a monthly revenue of $6.7M.
- Retention Rates: Match Factory has higher retention rates compared to Triple Match 3D. For U.S. iOS players, Match Factory’s D1 and D3 retention rates of 45% and 32%, respectively, easily top Triple Match 3D’s comparable figures, 27% and 19%.
Exclusivity Strategy
- App Store Exclusivity: Match Factory was exclusively launched on the App Store, focusing on its best performing audience. This strategy has helped Peak Games to scale Match Factory revenue beyond current genre leader Triple Match 3D.
Peak Games’ Performance
- Rebounding: Peak Games is rebounding with the success of Match Factory, which now represents 17% (and growing) of Peak’s monthly IAP revenue. Toon Blast’s IAP revenue rose 61% year-over-year for January to $26.7M.
App Store vs Google Play
- Revenue Comparison: In 2023, each App Store download brought in, on average, 440% more revenue than its Google Play counterpart. This indicates the potential profitability of focusing on the App Store for game launches.
Actionable Insights
- Consider Exclusivity: The success of Match Factory suggests that game developers could consider platform exclusivity as a strategy to focus on their best performing audience and maximize revenue.
- Focus on Retention: Match Factory’s high retention rates highlight the importance of creating engaging and polished gameplay experiences to retain players and boost revenue.
- Explore App Store Opportunities: Given the higher revenue per download on the App Store compared to Google Play, game developers might want to prioritize the App Store for their game launches.
