Squad Busters is Pay to Win: True or False? LEAKED Global Launch strategy. Big game review! (#107)

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #107. 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 Lancaric⁠ Youtube: https://youtu.be/UPH0nu1Mm9o Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2ftcc85es-CesThaafn9k0BIFSVAV8FQ Agenda 00:00 Epic intro 07:04 Soft Launch Strategy and Global Launch Announcement 13:56 Plaza, Character Progression, and Fusion 36:19 Monetization System and PvP Win Condition 55:35 Launching Parallel in China 01:04:53 Creative Concepts for Advertising 01:13:26 Influencer Marketing and Soft Launches --------------------------------------- Matej Lancaric User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant ⁠https://lancaric.me Felix Braberg Ad monetization consultant ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com Jakub Remiar Game design consultant ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar --------------------------------------- Takeaways Squadbusters has undergone significant changes between beta builds, including the introduction of a new gacha system and character progression through shards. The game features mega units that are consumable and have powerful stats, adding a pay-to-win element. The Battleback feature allows players to open chests and upgrade characters using consumables. The Beach World introduces new maps, units, and mods, and the Squad Journey provides a progression path for players. The hosts express excitement about the game but question the impact of certain features on the competitive Supercell community. The hosts enjoy playing Squad Busters but highlight issues with PvP battles, such as lack of readability and incentive. The game's monetization system, including the gacha system, is praised, but the PvP win condition needs improvement. The potential impact of Squad Busters' global launch on other Supercell games, particularly Brawl Stars, is discussed. The game's target audience is likely to be different from that of Brawl Stars, with Squad Busters appealing to a more casual and approachable player base. Monetization strategies should be tailored to the Asian market, as pay-to-win mechanics are more accepted and successful in that region. Influencer marketing, particularly on platforms like TikTok, can be a powerful tool for promoting Squad Busters. Advertising channels such as TikTok, AppLovin, Google, and Facebook should be utilized to reach a wide audience. Creative concepts for advertising should focus on storytelling, showcasing characters and progression, and incorporating humor. Soft launches can provide valuable feedback and data, but given Supercell's expertise and the similarities to their other games, a soft launch may not be necessary for Squad Busters. Supercell's strong retention rates and high day 30 percentages indicate the potential for long-term success with Squad Busters. The success of Squad Busters will ultimately depend on the execution of marketing strategies and the quality of the game itself. --------------------------------------- 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] --------------------------------------- If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lancaric.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/how-to-soft-launch-a-mobile-game?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true