In recent years, mobile game development has seen a significant shift away from premium indie games and towards casual offerings tied to popular IP. This change is largely attributed to the decline of subscription-based gaming services like Apple Arcade and Netflix's gaming initiative.
Historically, these services have provided a haven for high-quality, premium mobile games that had become rare in the wake of the microtransaction-stuffed free-to-play model. However, as their once-enviable lineups of indie games dwindle, it appears that this haven is shrinking.
Netflix, which launched its gaming initiative in 2021, initially offered users a chance to play games through the streaming service's mobile app. Apple followed suit with Apple Arcade just two years prior. Both services promised an interesting value proposition: pay a monthly subscription fee to access a library of premium games, some of which were exclusive to the platform.
The games themselves covered a wide range of genres and topics, from strategy games featuring depression and dodgeball to finding one's place by literally rearranging the space around you. The inclusion of titles like Harmonium: The Musical, a game about a Deaf girl's love of music, signaled that Netflix was taking its gaming initiative seriously.
However, it appears that Netflix is now focused on games tied to its own content. In its most recent quarterly earnings report, the platform highlighted its continued investment in titles like Squid Game: Unleashed and Thronglets – games tied to Netflix-produced Squid Game and Black Mirror, respectively.
This shift comes at the expense of adding existing original games from independent developers. While it's easy to understand this change, given that most users never engaged with Netflix's gaming offerings, it's concerning for indie game development as a whole.
Apple has followed a similar pattern, opting for more casual offerings and fewer original or indie games in favor of those attached to big, family-friendly IP like Uno, Angry Birds, and Bluey. Payouts from Apple Arcade have reportedly been shrinking while developers have complained that it's hard to get their games noticed on the platform.
The free-to-play model has conditioned users that spending money for gaming content can be optional. Casual games like Monopoly Go make money through in-game advertisements or opt-in consumer spending on microtransactions, and few traditional paid games outside of Minecraft are now able to break through this mindset.
Subscription services were viewed as a kind of equalizer, providing a platform for quality games that could be brought to market without the need for monetization. Developers could fund their vision while consumers could access those games with a monthly subscription and no added costs.
However, it appears that these services have adjusted their aims, and casual games designed to keep eyeballs on an app for as long as possible or promote the latest streaming series have won out. Despite strong lineups of indie games, neither Netflix nor Apple could really cut through the noise, and their offerings are no longer unique.
Worse still, the unique games they did have now have fewer places to go, making it challenging for mobile game development studios to find a platform that will showcase their work. As the mobile gaming landscape continues to evolve, it's crucial for developers to adapt and find new ways to bring their vision to life.