Ferhad Erdogan

2025 WINNERS 🏆 BY IAP REVENUE "Follow the market, follow the leader." 🥇 The Follow-the-Leader Strategy is successful in many industries, but it is crucial in mobile gaming. 🎯 In a highly competitive market such as mobile gaming, Follow-the-Leader means leveraging shortcuts to learn and save time. ⏱️ For this reason, today I bring you the list of mobile gaming companies that earned the most in IAP revenue in 2025. 💰 I considered only companies that made last year's 🔝 100. My highlights. 4𝐗 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐭! 🔥 Some gaming companies whose 4X Strategy titles are their flagships skyrocketed last year! 🚀 Century Games has generated nearly $1 billion in revenue🤯 , with YOY growth of more than 86%, driven largely by its two main 4X Strategy games, “Whiteout Survival” and “Kingshot”. In addition, the Chinese giant 🇨🇳 also scored a Merge-2 hit, “Tasty Travels.” Growing by leaps and bounds, “Travel” opens up a new flank of big hits in another genre (puzzle), making Century one of the most promising companies in the mobile gaming market. 💎 Other highlights in 4X Strategy are First Fun, which remained at the top of the charts with its “Last Z: Survival,” and the unknown Florere Games, which exploded last year, accumulating nearly half a billion dollars. 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲. 🧩💵 Here are two highlights. Chinese giant Microfun 🇨🇳 exploded its Merge-2 “Gossip Harbor,” placing it third in revenue among the puzzles of 2025 🥉. And the Turkish giant Dream Games 🇹🇷 began scaling its new Match-3 “Royal Kingdom.” Do you want to break into the puzzle market? 🤔 Then follow these two companies. 𝐈𝐏𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. ®️ This is the case with The Pokémon Company International, which exploded onto the charts with its highly anticipated Pokémon TCG Pocket 🎴 , amassing over $380 million in IAP revenue last year. 𝐇𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥? 𝐘𝐄𝐒, 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐎! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Last but not least, Hybridcasual publishers have firmly established themselves in the mobile gaming market in 2025. Two years ago, surrounded by doubts, the Hybridcasual model is a tested and validated business model today. 💪 Many Hybridcasual publishers grew last year. I would highlight Turkish giant Rollic 🇹🇷, which grew by more than 137% yoy to more than $120 million in IAP revenue, with performance driven primarily by its big hit, “Color Block Jam”. And the Vietnamese iKame Global Zego Studio 🇻🇳, which grew more than 390%, driven by the big hit, “Screwdom”. Did this post help you? 👀 Save and share it with your colleagues. 🫂 👇 Swipe through the slides below to see other mobile gaming companies that stood out in 2025. 👇 Datasource: AppMagic 🫶.

38

4 Comments

At UX is Fine, we grow our UX and UX our growth. This didn’t happen by accident. It’s how we’ve always evolved: by listening closely to our clients and delivering what they actually need. We started with UX, then expanded into UI, art, motion graphics, implementation and engineering, tech art, and full-stack development. Lately, we’ve added several services to help our clients navigate smaller budgets, shorter timelines, and the need to balance innovation with lower risk tolerance. Small playable prototypes help teams evaluate fun before moving into full production. They’re a natural extension of our approach to intuitive UX, immersive UI, and real, in-engine implementation. Audits, including competitive research and reviews of design docs, concepts, prototypes, and vertical slices, surface risk early, clarify direction, and avoid expensive wrong turns. Content pipelines and tools focus on systems that are easy to integrate and maintain, designed to unlock content creators and reduce long-term production cost. Oh, and don't worry… This is in addition to the great UX, UI, and Implementation work that you already know us for. Let's talk at DICE! Calendly and contact info are in the thread. #DICE2026 #prototyping #audit #contentpipeline #intuitive #immersive #inyourengine

11

1 Comment

As reported by PocketGamer.biz, Türkiye launched a new incentive program for mobile studios. Studios based in Türkiye can receive 50% refunds on user acquisition and marketing expenses. Platform fees can be supported up to millions of dollars annually. I grew up in Türkiye and I always believed our talent pool is world class. Now this belief is no longer personal. It is backed by Turkish government. When a government puts real incentives behind an industry, it means one thing. They see global export numbers. And in mobile vertical, Türkiye is proving it. User acquisition and operational costs risk drops. Studios can focus on building hits, not just surviving. For investors, the math is simple. Lower risk, higher margins and better EBITDA. At Scapcher.com, we make it effortless. We connect foreign investors with Türkiye’s top mobile studios. We handle sourcing, negotiation, legal, and transfer, so you can enter secure and structured. 🇹🇷 Türkiye is now one of the world’s most aggressive country in mobile vertical. Talent pool proven. Incentives strong. The bridge between capital and talent is ready. We help you cross the bridge in best way possible. Thanks to Isa Muhammad for the article. https://lnkd.in/dcTZbvEG

18

If you are an independent Web game developer, you are certainly familiar with the pain of implementing publishers' SDK. Often, part of the technical steps is to inject the gamePlayStart() and gamePlayStop() event calls (names may vary). Poki and CrazyGames require this, for example. The gamePlayStart() event should usually be called when the player starts an action or closes menu, while gamePlayStop() should be called whenever the action stops. In this way, the publisher receives information when a player is actively involved in the game, and when the game is paused or the level is completed, which allows them to perform some resource-intensive activities on the page where the game is published and not to disturb the gameplay. Also, this is an important piece of data in game analytics (tracking 'conversions') The problem with these calls is that developers often duplicate them thus making them useless. A common scenario is to call gamePlayStop() when clicking the pause game button. But, if there is also a button for restarting the game within the pause menu, the same call is often bound to it, which duplicates the event. Also, developers usually put a gamePlayStart() call on a menu's close button, but that doesn't necessarily mean the action is actually unpaused (maybe multiple menu windows were still open). Duplicating gamePlay events regularly causes the game to fail QA. Incorrect: gamePlayStart() ... gamePlayStart() or gamePlayStop() ... gamePlayStop() In short - the gamePlayStart() and gamePlayStop() events must be called alternately. The solution is simple - introduce a boolean to recognize whether the game is already paused or not. This way you will prevent redundant calls without having to change the structure of your user interface (see attached screenshot from Construct 3).

17

2 Comments

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁. 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁! In the coming days, I'm breaking down our "ACE" model we use at MeshMasters to evaluate and train artists. It’s the framework that separates the good from the truly great. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 "𝗔" 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹. I'm not talking about your modeling ability. A 3D Modeler can execute an existing design. A 3D Artist can take a brief with a feeling and a purpose, and design something new and compelling from scratch. This is a rare skill. I learned this the hard way on my first studio job designing top-down 3D environments for a browser game (Adobe Flash!). My task was to design a professional office lobby and garden that was clean, engaging, and guided the player's eye. I was completely lost. I had the technical skills but no idea how to design, and the stress was immense. After years of struggle, and now hiring people, I see this same challenge in so many 3D artists. The ability to truly design is what separates the top 5% from the rest. Here’s how to start developing your artistic and design skills: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 Art fundamentals are crucial, but to improve your design ability, look at the world of design itself. Study graphic designers, architects, car designers, etc. Ask yourself: why does that logo feel powerful? Why does that chair feel elegant? They are masters of conveying feeling. 𝟮. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 Start seeing yourself as a concept artist who can also produce an amazing model. You don’t have to be a master concept artist, but you should be able to design your own work. Step into the sketching phase, make your own design guidelines, and learn to convey feelings and purpose. 𝟯. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 Here’s a simplified version of our art test. Try it yourself: - Brief: "Design a vehicle for a culture that is stoic and calm but lives in a world of heavy overpopulation and material possession." Can you design a vehicle that tells that story? 𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱: We are building a design workbook to help you become the best. Here is one of it’s exercises: - Objective: On a square canvas, using a max of three circles (black or white), create 6 compositions that convey: Loneliness, Calmness, Leadership, Fear, Dynamic, Static. Being a great 3D Artist is more than modeling skill, it's about being a creative. Start flexing that design muscle. Next up, we will cover the "C" in our ACE model: Communication & Collaboration. Our mission at MeshMasters is expanding to help artists become ACEs, for example with our upcoming design workbook. If you're interested, reach out here or find us on our site. - Robert #GameDev #3DArtist #ArtDirection #ConceptArt #Design #CareerAdvice

5

Big news! GameWorm Studios selected for the First Incubation Cohort has officially signed a contract with CEGA - Center of Excellence in Gaming & Animation and strategic partners Ignite - National Technology Fund & Hum Network Ltd. It is a strong validation of our vision and ideas we are building towards. We are just getting started, but our goal is clear: To build games! A studio to keep an eye on as we contribute to Pakistan's gaming industry.

22

4 Comments

TOP 5 AI VOICE COACHING TOOLS An AI voice coaching tool analyzes your speech to improve clarity, tone, pacing, and confidence. It gives real-time feedback on filler words, pronunciation, and energy levels. Ideal for public speaking or accent training, it helps users practice effectively, build vocal strength, and communicate more confidently in various settings. Here are Top 5 AI Voice Coaching Tools (as of 2025): 1. YOODLI Best for: Public speaking and presentation skills Key Features: Real-time feedback on filler words, pacing, eye contact (when using video) Scorecards on confidence, clarity, and body language Integrates with Zoom and Google Meet Use Case: Practicing speeches, pitch training, interview prep 🔗 https://www.yoodli.ai 2. ORAI Best for: Speech coaching with gamified feedback Key Features: Instant analysis of clarity, pace, filler words, energy Personalized lessons to improve vocal delivery Mobile-friendly and user-friendly Use Case: Practicing presentations and improving speaking confidence 🔗 https://www.orai.com 3. SPEAKOMETER Best for: Pronunciation and accent training Key Features: AI pronunciation coach using IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Accent reduction with feedback Great for English learners Use Case: Non-native speakers polishing their English pronunciation 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gzQh9d5b 4. POISED Best for: Professional meetings (real-time coaching) Key Features: Real-time feedback during Zoom/Meet calls Tracks filler words, tone, and energy levels Weekly progress reports Use Case: Professionals wanting to speak with more confidence and clarity in meetings 🔗 https://www.poised.com 5. ELSA SPEAK Best for: Accent and fluency for English learners Key Features: AI feedback on word stress, intonation, and rhythm Personalized speaking plans Popular with students and professionals globally Use Case: Improving fluency and American English accent 🔗 https://www.elsaspeak.com TIPS Go with Yoodli or Poised if you want real-time public speaking/live meeting coaching. Choose Orai for a mobile-first, game-like experience. Speakometer or ELSA are ideal for pronunciation and accent improvement — especially helpful for non-native English speakers. This list was generated by HABIB AI using ChatGPT. #speaking #publicspeaking #chatGPT #AI #Communication #ArtificialIntelligence

1

Scopely is unstoppable. Massive cash flow and deep pockets they can plow into acquiring anything that breaks through on mobile. They have almost no competition on the M&A front right now and the West largely to themselves.

9

2 Comments

𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗫 𝗔𝗜 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 (𝗣𝗧. 𝟵) 💵Current monthly revenue: $7K+/mo 💵GOAL MONTHLY REVENUE: $100K/mo 🚀 Just Shipped: 50x Faster File Search Performance I recently identified and fixed a major performance bottleneck in SuperbulletAI’s file explorer. Since SuperbulletAI is built entirely from scratch, every subsystem, down to the file search engine, is hand-rolled. After quickly studying how VSCode handles search, I applied the same principles to our own File Explorer and rewrote the search pipeline with a much more efficient architecture. 📊 The Problem: Every search triggered a full filesystem scan - reading 100+ directories from disk, taking 200-500ms per query. On large projects with 1000+ files, this created a frustrating user experience. 💡 The Solution: I implemented an in-memory file index with: • Map-based storage for O(1) lookups • Pre-sorted flat array for fast iteration • LRU cache (max 5 entries) for repeated searches • Incremental updates on file changes • Zero disk I/O during searches ⚡ The Results: • Search time: 200-500ms → <10ms (20-50x faster!) • Disk reads per search: 100+ → 0 • Index build time: ~150ms (one-time cost) • Memory overhead: <3MB for 1000-file projects 🎯 Key Takeaways: 1. Profile before optimizing - we used performance.now() to identify the exact bottleneck 2. Trade memory for speed - 3MB of RAM for instant searches is worth it 3. Incremental updates > full rebuilds - keep the index in sync as files change 4. Graceful degradation - fallback to disk scan if index fails The implementation took ~600 lines of code and is already making a huge difference for our developers working on large Roblox projects. I'm not the best in optimizing search queries, open for feedback!

4

1 Comment

🎮 Why Turkey Is Emerging as a Global Leader in the Gaming Industry The Turkish government offers some of the world’s most generous grants for studios in the gaming and tech space - especially those focused on international growth. Here’s what you can get as a game studio with a Turkish entity: ✅ Up to $380,000 USD per game/year in marketing refunds ✅ 50% refund on store commissions (App Store, Google Play, Steam) ✅ 60% refund on analytics & UA tools (Adjust, Sensor Tower, etc.) ✅ Funding for localization, hosting, blockchain, AR/NFT tech ✅ Major tax breaks (0% VAT on store income, 4% corporate tax, payroll relief) 🔍 With the right setup, these grants can dramatically cut your user acquisition and liveops costs - while boosting your reach into new markets. High-value industries like gaming need more than talent — they also need good support to grow.

148

16 Comments