From VR Meme to Mobile Empire 👑 How I Am Cat & I am Security Took Over TikTok AND App Stores

What happens when a cat simulator, born as a VR meme on Meta Quest, lands on mobile with aggressive monetization and viral magic? You get a $300,000/day monster hits. I am Cat with I am Security = 300k/day ad revenue!Today, we break down the bizarre and brilliant rise of I Am Cat and I Am Security — the mobile games that took over app stores in March 2025 with:Over 2.6M DAU$170K/day from I Am Cat$120K/day from I Am Security60s interstitial loops and mandatory rewarded adsOrigin story: a team call about cats turned into a Goat Simulator-style sandbox hitFrom VR on MetaQuest to top-ranked free games on Android & iOSAlmost no IAP – ads are the economyInsane virality via YouTube Shorts & TikTok (34M+ views!)Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jakub Remia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠Youtube: https://youtu.be/zVjfrpqeKSwJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Game Overview04:24 The Rise of Astotti and Their Games06:50 Exploring the Success of 'I'm Cat' and 'I'm Security'10:24 The Transition from VR to Mobile Gaming13:10 Ad Monetization Strategies in Mobile Games16:30 User Engagement and Game Mechanics19:31 Revenue Insights and Market Performance20:19 The Rise of Simulation Games23:37 Analyzing Game Revenue and User Engagement24:51 Exploring IAM Security Game Mechanics29:23 Revenue Insights and Market Sustainability32:35 Future of Game Development and Marketing Strategies36:28 Viral Marketing Strategies in Gaming39:56 The Impact of Social Media on Game Popularity43:40 Analyzing Game Monetization and Profitability46:50 The Evolution of Game Concepts and Trends52:06 Conclusion and Future of Gaming---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultant⁠https://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultant⁠https://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultant⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------TakeawaysVR to mobile = untapped goldmine, especially for meme-ready contentAggressive ad placement can work if player retention is fueled by curiosity + chaosLow CPI + high engagement = ideal organic UA funnel"I Am Cat" and "I Am Security" are a masterclass in viral design, zero-to-monetization speed, and how to turn meme energy into millions..---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - [email protected] you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai