As we venture further into 2023, the mobile gaming market continues to surge forward with an array of prominent titles vying for players’ attention through captivating gameplay modes. During February, games like Marvel Snap, X-Hero, QQ Speed, and Harry Potter: Magic Awakened introduced various new mechanics, including PvP battles, roguelite elements, home features, and minigames.
In our previous discussions, we highlighted how mobile game developers leverage in-game collaboration events to enhance player engagement, and last month was no exception, with several anime-themed crossovers taking place. Notably, Goddess Of Victory: Nikke teamed up with the acclaimed anime series Chainsaw Man, marking Nikke’s first-ever playable collaboration event. The game soared to the 25th spot in the top-grossing rankings, surpassing its competitors.
Across the Japanese market, Umamusume Pretty Derby galloped to the top charts with its second-anniversary update, which introduced a captivating training scenario called Grand Masters. This scenario incorporated new training mechanics, additional story content, and narration by renowned Japanese racing announcer, Kiyoshi Sugimoto.
Now, let’s delve into more details about these updates, as well as other significant mobile game updates from the United States, China, and Japan.
US Market Overview: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang partnered with the popular Japanese manga and anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, offering a task-based Jujutsu Training event. Players could participate in the event to progress through a reward ladder and try their luck with limited-time gacha featuring collaboration-themed hero skins and cosmetic items. The collaboration propelled Mobile Legends: Bang Bang to its highest-ever grossing rank in the US market.
Marvel Snap introduced PvP with its new Battle Mode, enabling players to engage in thrilling battles against their friends. Each player began with ten lives, and the first to deal ten damage emerged victorious. The damage was determined by winning rounds, with the number of stacked cubes equaling the inflicted damage. While currently limited to Friendly Battles, the expansion of this mode is anticipated in the near future.
Marvel Snap also launched its new season, “Into the Quantum Realm,” coinciding with the release of the movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” The introduction of the associated Battle Pass led to a significant spike of nearly 600% in daily revenue.
GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE reached the 25th-grossing rank following its collaboration with the acclaimed anime series Chainsaw Man. The event added three female characters from the show as playable NIKKEs. To incentivize players to invest in these characters’ development, the game introduced manufacturer-specific upgrade materials and limited-time bundle offers. The event took place in a separate area, allowing players to freely explore, hunt for hidden treasures, and access various event menus and content, including story and battle levels, multiplayer features, and a battle pass.