GameRefinery: Mobile game publishers bypass app store fees
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Apparently it isn’t just Epic Games trying to find ways to get around exorbitant fees on mobile app stores. According to the mobile game analysts over at GameRefinery there’s a trend showing mobile game studios use their own web stores to bypass fees on in-app purchases.
Games like Clash of Clans, Star Trek: Fleet Command, Game of Thrones: Conquest and Marvel Strike Force all have web stores. These web stores allow for purchasing in-game currencies and upgradable items. Some of them even offer web store exclusive deals and discounts meant to incentivize purchases outside of the actual games.
“The vast majority of mobile games are free-to-play titles and make the majority of their revenue through in-app purchases,” said GameRefinery’s Kalle Heikkinen, in a statement to GamesBeat. “Given many of the most popular mobile games make upwards of $100k every single day, it’s no surprise that studios are looking to move their in-app purchases to channels outside of those where Apple and Google can take a fee, especially as larger studios still have to pay 30% fees, rather than the reduced rate of 15% for independent developers and small businesses.”
Data from GameRefinery shows that Marvel Strike Force made $4 million in in-app purchases over the last month. Clash of Clans, one of the most popular mobile games of all time, made $6.7 million over the same period.
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