Miniclip launches a flurry of new games, so what’s that say about what they have in store?

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Miniclip launches a flurry of new games, so what's that say about what they have in store?

  • Miniclip, the flash game site-turned hit mobile dev, have released a flurry of new games
  • Whether that’s ghost hunting, heroic tactics or a new bike game, it’s a lot in the space of a few weeks
  • But what’s it say about their work going forward? Let’s discuss

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the mobile gaming landscape evolve at an incredible pace. From humble beginnings on Flash game sites like Miniclip, to the current juggernauts of mobile gaming we have today, it’s been an exciting journey.

Towards the end of the week, we’ve been checking out several newly released mobile games, such as Zenless Zone Zero and Heian City Story from Kairosoft. Additionally, we’ve revisited Squad Busters. This month has seen an abundance of fresh and intriguing mobile game options.

One thing that stood out to us was mobile game developer Miniclip and their sudden release of three new games recently, even in soft launch. This is worth mentioning as it represents a significant number of new offerings from Miniclip in quite some time.

Miniclip is well-known for having developed the popular games, 8-Ball Pool and Agar.io. Originally based on Flash technology, Miniclip has since transitioned into a significant player in mobile gaming.

So what’s it about? And why have we taken notice? Let’s dig in.

Why so many?

Now, we should note this isn’t exactly some sort of stunning news story. After all, “prominent game developer launches games,” doesn’t exactly stand out. However, it’s perhaps the number that’s most intriguing.

In the past three weeks, we’ve introduced or previewed new games: Bike Games – Racing Games with an appealing title, Hero Tactics: 2 Player Game boasting an enticing name, and Ghost Invasion: Idle Hunter. These games are clearly targeting a more relaxed player base.

Based on the information given, It seems that Miniclip may be releasing several new titles in response to this year’s heavy mobile gaming market. While we value their existing catalog, the competition is fierce with major releases like Zenless Zone Zero drawing in high-paying audiences.

Considering this, releasing games promptly into a soft launch allows them to leave a greater impact. Additionally, there exists a demographic, consisting perhaps of older individuals or more casual gamers, who may be deterred by the anime-inspired aesthetics of a game like ZZZ. Instead, they seek the uncomplicated enjoyment offered by titles such as Ghost Invasion and Hero Tactics.

Changing times?

Something we’ve been floating in discussions around PocketGamer towers is the possibility that times are changing on mobile. After all, Apple has pushed the envelope by making the latest console-quality games available on their devices, and miHoYo helped set a new standard (alongside other developers) for what mobile can be.

Lately, there’s been a decline in the number of people playing casual and hyper-casual games. This could be the reason behind Miniclip’s recent actions. However, it doesn’t mean that these game genres are disappearing completely. The business world has shown renewed interest in them due to their low production costs and high potential for profit.

In today’s market, they face tougher competition than before, and their longevity is uncertain. Unlike past dominating games such as Clash of Clans that remained popular for years, presently, there’s a trend of emerging and disappearing casual and hyper-casual games. Miniclip manages to keep up with the latest trends by releasing new games regularly.

More likely, more mobile

Miniclip launches a flurry of new games, so what's that say about what they have in store?

Without a doubt, Miniclip’s strongest contender, in our opinion, is their advancement into mobile gaming. For those old enough to remember, Miniclip was previously famous for its Flash Games website. And for the younger crowd, these games could be accessed through web browsers with the help of Adobe Flash plug-in.

When that site closed down, I was among the many who expressed sadness, but Miniclip didn’t seem to be affected much. They had already been raking in substantial profits through their popular game, 8-Ball Pool. Although they are mainly recognized for their sports games, you might have noticed a few of their latest releases venturing beyond that genre.

In summary, it appears that Miniclip is significantly increasing its focus on mobile gaming. This strategy could potentially allow them to increase their market share, as they have successfully done with 8-Ball Pool. By broadening their game offerings beyond sports and offering more licensed titles, they can attract a larger audience.

The Sybo connection

And of course, there’s one thing we need to add. And that’s Miniclip recently buying Sybo, the developers behind Subway Surfers. Usually, you’d expect them to lean on a company like that for further development, but it seems they’re intent on keeping them mostly independent while working on their own stuff.

The story takes an intriguing turn with Sybo’s claim to having the most popular mobile game globally. However, instead of relying on this success, Miniclip continues to innovate. They might be privy to some insider information. Perhaps so.

In conclusion

We did discuss around the water cooler whether or not Miniclip might be angling for something else, another push on mobile. Commensurate with what we said above, this would make sense. With Supercell’s Squad Busters sagging behind and being one of their weakest launches, and other mainstays of mobile slipping into the background, relative newcomer Miniclip has a chance to shoot forward.

With hit games like 8-Ball Pool and Agar.io keeping them at the pinnacle of app rankings, Miniclip boasts sufficient resources. Will they persist as prominent background developers, or are they on the verge of breaking through to become something much larger?

Based on the last three contests, it seems that 2024 could be Miniclip’s most significant year. However, we need to be patient and find out if this is just a fleeting success or the start of something much larger for them.

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2024-07-19 12:48