Corporate Social Responsibility

To give you a short introduction to Call of Duty, let’s just list several of its world records:  the best-selling first-person shooter game seriesthe most successful video game franchise created in the United Statesthe second best-selling video game franchise of all time The game is so well made that real-life soldiers admitted they used it to improve hand-eye coordination and tactical thinking. For us as a game dev company, this is an exciting case in game development and monetization design. The story of Call of Duty starts in 2003, when the first game, a first-person shooter set in World War II, was released. Since then, many have wondered, how much money has Call of Duty made over the years? We’re here to tell you all that is known about the game financial side. A Brief Overview of Call of Duty Franchise Call of Duty 2003. Image source: store.steampowered.com History and Evolution of Call of Duty The first episode, called simply Call of Duty, was developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. The game was a massive success, praised by critics and players. It scored 91 on Metacritic and won Game of the Year at the 2004 Interactive Achievement Awards. Since then, new titles have been released regularly. Looking back at over 30 titles that appeared in the last 20 years, we can trace Call of Duty’s curious evolution. First editions followed the World War II theme and later moved to modern-time war conflicts (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2007), futuristic settings (Black Ops II and Ghosts, 2012 and 2013), and Cold War era (Black Ops Cold War (2020). Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Image source: Activision With every new edition, the games developed cinematic storytelling. Inspired by popular war movies, the creators of Call of Duty tried to make the gaming experience similar to the film, and with advances in technology, this became increasingly prominent. Black Ops II introduced branching storylines with multiple endings affected by player choices to the franchise. From 2007 on, Call of Duty advanced the multiplayer mode. Black Ops 4, released in 2018, was so focused on multiplayer that it removed the single-player campaign. That edition introduced Blackout, the series’ first battle royale mode. The first free-to-play game in the series was Call of Duty Online, released exclusively in China in 2015. In other countries, CoD wasn’t free until 2020, when Call of Duty: Warzone appeared and became one of the most popular battle royale games of the time. As with every big franchise, Call of Duty has more and less successful titles. The developers are not afraid to experiment with different aspects of the game while maintaining a consistent trademark of the series and committing to delivering top-quality results. Key Titles and Their Impact on Revenue The very first edition of Call of Duty, released in 2003, was a commercial success, with 4,5 million copies sold, but new records were set regularly in the franchise. Nowadays, since the revenue comes not just from direct sales but from other sources, it’s hard to have precise data in dollars, so let’s look at the number of copies sold. The 2010 Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold over 31 million copies. It was the first edition set in the Cold War era and the first to introduce a zombie game mode (cooperative survival mode). Image source: https://steamcommunity.com/ Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), Black Ops Cold War (2020), and Modern Warfare (2019), a reboot of the Modern Warfare series, are three games that have sold over 30 million copies each.  The last episode of Call of Duty, Black Ops 6, released in October 2024, was named the biggest Call of Duty release ever by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. It set a record for day one players and Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day. It performed over 60% better in sales than the previous year’s release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. With new complex payment systems, like subscriptions and passes, sales are not as easy to count as they used to be, but the fact that Call of Duty manages to stay on top of the charts after more than 20 years of presence and surprise players with its new release in 2024 is clear. How Much Money Does Call of Duty Make? In 2022, it was announced that CoD revenue had surpassed $30 billion since 2003. In October 2024, Activision Blizzard reported that the Call of Duty series had sold 500 million copies. Based on this and the reported success of the latest episode, we can estimate that by 2024, the franchise has generated no less than $33 billion in revenue. Here is data on revenue generated by the mobile version of the game. The numbers fluctuate month by month, but there is no general tendency to decline or strong growth. However, if we look at the monthly downloads from 2019 to 2024, 2019 had a significantly bigger number than 2023 and 2024. The number of downloads isn’t necessarily directly related to revenue, as Call of Duty: Mobile is free to play. Revenue Streams for Call of Duty Direct Game Sales When the game was launched in 2003, direct sales became a core driver of Call of Duty revenue. Despite changes in monetization trends throughout the years, the game’s new releases have always sold well. In 2019, the new title Modern Warfare brought over $600 million in revenue in the first three days after release. The price of the Call of Duty edition ranges from $60 to $100. For dedicated fans, Collector’s editions are sold, including extras like bonus maps, collectibles, or in-game content. In-game Purchases In-game currency, COD Points, was first introduced in 2010 in Call of Duty: Black Ops, but it wasn’t tied to real-world money then. In 2012, Black Ops II introduced microtransactions, which allowed players to buy personalization packs, maps, weapons, and other downloadable content. The selection of things that could be purchased through microtransactions became bigger in 2014, when “Supply Drops,” a.k.a loot boxes, were introduced. These were sets of random items that players bought without knowing what they would get inside. In 2015, Black Ops III made Supply Drops central to progression, including rare and powerful weapons that could only be obtained through loot boxes. Supply Drop. Image source: callofduty.fandom.com In the following years, these items became increasingly important in the gameplay, which caused a lot of criticism. People felt that the system was shifting to pay-to-win, a strategy that wasn’t appreciated by many fans. What’s more, Supply Drops even were prohibited in some countries like Belgium and the Netherlands because they were similar to gambling. As a result, Call of Duty stopped using Supply Drops, although they were making a lot of profit. Yet in-game purchases account for a big part of the game revenue, even without the loot boxes. In October 2024, the title generated approximately 22.65 million U.S. dollars in in-app purchases, contributing significantly to the Call of Duty annual revenue. Since its release, the mobile version has earned an estimated $1,7 billion through in-app purchases. Battle Pass System When Fortnite and Dota2 proved the success of battle passes, Call of Duty quickly caught up. In 2019, they introduced the novelty with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. By purchasing the pass, players gain access to a set of items that are unlocked progressively through gameplay, adding a sense of achievement. Instead of simply buying items outright, the system offers players an engaging way to earn rewards, keeping them invested in the game. Esports In 2013, Activision, in collaboration with Xbox, hosted the first official global Call of Duty esports tournament, Call of Duty Championship, which had a total prize pool of $1 million and established Call of Duty as a competitive sport. In 2015 the Call of Duty World League (CWL) was created. The modern version of CWL is called Call of Duty League, or CDL. Launched in 2020, the League had buy-in fees of about $25 million per team. Teams representing big cities play in 5v5 multiplayer mode. CDL follows a seasonal structure connected with many online and offline events. Call of Duty League 2020. Image source: STEWART-VOLLAND for Activision Blizzard Entertainment However, in 2024, they decided to change the politics, canceled the fees, and introduced a two-year minimum revenue guarantee for the teams, thus providing more support and building a basis for a strong eSports league. The growing CDL helps increase the franchise’s earnings. eSports events bring additional revenue from sponsorships, media rights, merchandise sales, ticket sales, and online streams. Advertising and Sponsorships Call of Duty started its history of big brand partnerships in 2009 when Modern Warfare 2 introduced promotional campaigns with Mountain Dew and Doritos offering promotional codes on their products. Image source: PEPSICO Later, with the diversification of revenue streams, new partnership opportunities were opened. With the growth of microtransactions, bundles of downloadable content were created as crossovers with brands like Attack on Titan and Terminator. eSports events always attract big corporate sponsors. Call of Duty League was sponsored by Mountain Dew, Game Fuel, and Scuf Gaming. Factors Contributing to Call of Duty’s Financial Success Regular Updates and New Content When many game series release new add-ons and packs every month, and others work for a decade to release a new masterpiece bestseller, Call of Duty has found a golden middle that works just fine. They keep their releases timely and accurate every year. With such a schedule, they can afford the risk of some episodes that don’t succeed and recover the following year. At the same time, seasonal packs and special DLC items are added throughout the year to support the subscription system. Collaboration with Attack on titansImage source: Sledgehammer Games/Raven/Activision Launched in 2003, Call of Duty hasn’t missed a year without release since 2005. That regularity is challenging to maintain in a turbulent gaming world, but it makes subscription revenue work well. When people know there will be a big release once a year, they know it’s worth paying regularly. Regular updates and new content have kept the player base engaged. This strategic approach to releases maintains player interest and ensures that Call of Duty’s profit remains robust, even in a highly competitive market. Diversity of modes Like many best-selling titles, Call of Duty embraced the multiplayer experience and leveraged it to the fullest. There is also a battle royale and zombies mode, with a strong sub-community. For those who prefer single-player campaigns, Call of Duty is a great option, too. Cross-platform availability adds to the versatility of the game. Community and eSports Like all long-playing franchises, the game has a big fanbase of people who would buy every new release as well as subscriptions and merchandise. The Call of Duty team fosters community-building by integrating voice chats, Discord, friends lists, and other elements into the gameplay. There are many events that cement the community, such as in-game live events, double XP weekends, and special challenges. Call of Duty League is also a strong boost to the community. Since its establishment in 2020, CDL hasn’t yet grown to millions of viewers like other eSports events. Yet, it has a solid fanbase and sets a place for CoD in the serious world of eSports. Want to Develop a Game Like Call of Duty? The secret to Call of Duty’s success is hard work and top-quality results. That’s why you need not only a professional and innovative team but also a dedicated one that can deliver results on time. At Kevuru, we have experience working with major AAA titles like Fortnite and Star Wars. Our 3D artists can create game art in a cinematic style like modern Call of Duty. Here is an example from our portfolio. 3D weapon art from Kevuru Games portfolio Contact us if you’re looking for a team of experienced professionals who can apply the latest innovations to the product and deliver the project on time. Summary Call of Duty didn’t get so big by inventing a new genre, revolutionary monetization system, or some groundbreaking innovation. The most important secret of their success is that they release top-quality games and do it regularly. Along with this, they are open to new trends in gaming and adopt them when they have proved to be efficient, as with the multiplayer mode or subscription system. That’s why Call of Duty’s path of success is open to everyone willing to work hard and keep their standards high consistently. This strategy fits perfectly with Kevuru Games’ values. If you feel this way, too, learn more about our company, and let’s see if we match.

Minecraft is the Lego of video games. In times of high-tech toys, Lego manages to sell sets of plastic blocks for hundreds of dollars and is loved by people of all ages. Minecraft has comparable levels of popularity and gives an impression of utter simplicity, just like Lego. However, the game is not that simple, and its monetization system surely isn’t. Let’s find out: how does Minecraft make money? Minecraft revenue streams Minecraft is not a free game, although, like many popular games, it doesn’t limit its revenue streams to just direct one-time purchases. A lot of their income comes from DLC (downloadable content) sales, subscriptions, licensing, and merchandising. The in-game currency is called Minecoins, and it is used to buy cosmetic items in the marketplace — skins, textures, and worlds. Part of these items are produced by Mojang studios, Minecraft’s developer, and include mash-up packs, worlds, and adventures, such as Minecraft x Sonic the Hedgehog adventure, Minecraft x Super Mario Mash-Up, or Simpsons World. The marketplace also includes items created by players: custom skins, textures, adventure maps, pre-built worlds, minigames, and resource packs. That way, creators can earn money on Minecraft, and the company takes a percentage of these transactions. Mojang motivates people to sell their creations through the Marketplace Partner Program. There are even small studios that specialize in Minecraft content creation. Another revenue stream of Minecraft is eSubscriptions. Minecraft Realms is a subscription service that allows players to host private servers for multiplayer gameplay. For $7.99/month, ten players can play together. An original subscription service is Minecraft Education Edition. It is licensed to schools and educational institutions that use the game for teaching purposes. Imagine learning the history of Ancient Egypt while building pyramids in Minecraft. At the same time, teamwork skills and creativity can be trained. Minecraft’s learning potential spans every subject, and the potential is endless—limited only by the imagination of the teachers. Minecraft Education. Image source: the74million.org Thanks to its solid and recognizable brand, Minecraft earns the bulk of its income through licensing and merchandising. Minecraft Lego sets are massively popular, but there is a wide variety of themed products, such as a cookbook or Minecraft Creeper Crunch Cereal. The game occupies many unexpected niches: Minecraft: The Movie is currently in production. Image source: shop.minecraft.netImage source: wkkellogg.com Minecraft has also demonstrated profitability as a freemium model. The Chinese edition of the game is run on separate servers and includes censorship to comply with state regulations. Minecraft China is free to play and makes money solely on in-game purchases, subscriptions, collaborations, and merchandise. How Many People Play Minecraft? At any given time, from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 people play Minecraft, according to Activeplayer count. The game’s popularity has risen during the pandemic, but the number of players remains almost the same now. Here is the Minecraft popularity chart. As of May 2024, Minecraft had generated approximately 4.7 billion cumulative hours watched across live-streaming platforms. In November 2024, people watched Minecraft streams on Twitch for over 37 thousand hours. What Makes Minecraft So Popular? Every time a simple pixelated game takes over gamers’ minds in the world of hyperrealistic 3D graphics, people are truly amazed. Minecraft is one of those singular games that became a cultural phenomenon. So, what are the elements that build its popularity? First of all, there is endless creative freedom. Minecraft is a sandbox open-world game with no specific goals. Players can do what they please, and each one will have a unique experience due to procedurally generated worlds. The creative mode of the game allows people to create absolutely anything. USS Enterprise from Star Trek created in Minceraft by JackethSP Image source: pocket-lint.com However, for those who like more challenging gaming experiences, advanced mechanics exist, including survival challenges and modding. The game can be played in so many ways that it adapts to everyone.  Simple, intuitive mechanics make Minecraft accessible to all ages and gaming skill levels. Low system requirements and affordable prices make it more accessible than many other popular games. The game age limit is 7+, and many people start playing at a very young age. A strong community keeps players engaged for a long time, as the game’s social elements are developed very well. Minecraft communities on Reddit or Twitch are huge. The game allows players to earn money if they are willing to sell their creations. Although it doesn’t appeal to every player, it becomes a strong motivation for some, even if they don’t make as much as expected. How Many Downloads Does Minecraft Have? Although we don’t have recent data on the total number of downloads across all devices, here are some numbers to get an idea of the scale. On the App Store, the game was downloaded over 50 million times, and Minecraft China was downloaded over 500 million times. Daily and Monthly Player Counts On November 28th, 1,357,664 people played Minecraft. With over 188 million monthly active users, Minecraft statistics reveal the sheer scale of the game’s player base. Player Demographics: Who Plays Minecraft? 54% of Minecraft players identify as male, while 32% identify as female. The majority of Minecraft players (43%) are between the ages of 15 and 21, although many are younger than 15. The data is taken from users at registration, and there is no verification. Here is a chart showing the age and gender distribution of Minecraft players. Minecraft Sales and Revenue How Many Copies of Minecraft Have Been Sold? The exact number of copies sold by 2025 is unknown, but in 2023, Minecraft announced that it had sold over 300 million copies, making it the second best-selling video game in the world. The only one that sold even more copies is Tetris, and since many people consider Tetris to be a series of games rather than a single game, Minecraft could also be the absolute best-seller. Minecraft’s Total Revenue: How Much Money Has Minecraft Made? Total revenue data is not disclosed yearly, but here are some numbers that provide insight into how much has Minecraft made in total, giving a glimpse into its financial success. Image source: Statista Here is data on mobile sales. As many games, Minecraft’s sales peaked during the lockdown in 2020 and 2021 and later got back to pre-pandemic levels. In 2014, Microsoft bought Mojang Studios for $2.5 billion, reflecting the immense Minecraft value as a gaming franchise. When discussing how much has Minecraft made, estimates suggest that its revenue over the last 10 years exceeds 3 billion USD, though precise figures are not available. Yet this doesn’t give us a clear idea of the deal’s profitability since we don’t know the expenses. According to different sources, Minecraft’s net worth is estimated at $4 billion or $10 billion. The acquisition was well worth it. Want to Develop a Game Like Minecraft? Like many top games, although the initial game looks simple, all that has grown around it makes it a massive enterprise with hundreds of employees. However, if you want to build a sandbox game from scratch, you can do it with a relatively small team of game designers, developers, artists, QA testers, and project managers. If you want to hire a studio, look for those providing full-cycle game development services and check their portfolios for interesting projects. At Kevuru, we have extensive expertise working with video games of all sizes, from hypercasual to AAA titles and world multiplayer best-sellers like Fortnite. Contact us, and you will be one step closer to starting to develop your dream game. Minecraft cost around $250,000 to develop in 2009-2011, but similar sandbox games released later were way more expensive in development. For instance, Valheim was estimated to cost $1-2 million (developed by an indie team), while No Man’s Sky is estimated at $2-5 million. Summary Minecraft’s financial success comes from its genius ability to combine simplicity with innovation. Put simply, the revenues flow naturally when you have a great game. Here are the main sources of revenue contributing to Minecraft profit: Game salesSubscriptions (private multiplayer server hosting and licensing for educational projects)Licensing and merchandise If you want to learn about other popular games’ monetization strategy, be sure to check out our articles on how Candy Crush and Fortnite make money.

Fortnite is one of the most popular games of our times, and with hundreds of millions of registered players, there’s no doubt that the company makes a good profit from it. But how much do they make and how? Let’s explore its monetization mechanics in depth. Introduction to Fortnite’s Business Model Fortnite is a free-to-play game, and free games always have an interesting business model to discover. Fortnite monetization is key to its success, and money is earned primarily through in-game purchases. “I still think the most brilliant pricing mechanism I’ve ever seen is Fortnite,” said Michael Pachter, video games analyst. But before we jump into monetization topics, let’s zoom out and look at all the franchise games, including the less famous ones.  A Brief Overview of Fortnite Image source: fortnite.com First released in 2017, Fortnite has gained a crazy popularity that hasn’t declined since then. At the end of 2023, Fortnite had over 500 million registered users. At any given moment, at least 1 million people are playing the game. Fortnite consists of six different game mode versions: Fortnite Battle Royale (100 players fight in a constantly shrinking area until the last one remains)Fortnite: Save the World (cooperative survival sandbox game where players team up to fight off waves of zombie-like creatures)Fortnite Creative (a sandbox game where players can design their own worlds, games, and experiences, as well as explore the creations of others)Lego Fortnite (players build, explore, and battle in a Lego-inspired Fortnite world)Rocket Racing (high-speed races on rocket-powered vehicles with Fortnite mechanics)Fortnite Festival (rhythm-based game where players compete performing songs and jam) How Does Fortnite Make Money? According to data revealed in a trial between Epic Games and Apple in 2021, 24.2% of all players spend their money on the game. This is a very good conversion rate compared to many free-to-play games (take a look at our article on Candy Crush monetization strategy). Spending differs drastically between players on different platforms. PS4 players’ LTV was 14 times bigger than Android users’. In-game Purchases and Skins One of the most commonly bought items in Fortnite is skin, a cosmetic item that changes the appearance of the character. It has no practical function, as players don’t get gameplay benefits with a new skin. People would often assume a person with a default skin to be a novice; however, this is not always the case. The skins are divided into Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Also, there are special series like Dark, Frozen, Lava, Shadow, Star Wars, Marvel, Gaming Legends, and others. Chance. Character concept for Fortnite developed by Kevuru There are different ways of buying skins: Item Shop, Battle Passes, special events, and exclusive promotions. There are around 2,000 skins in Fortnite, and new ones appear constantly. A price range for a skin is from 800 to 2,000 V-Bucks for rare ones, which can be converted to 7 to 18 US dollars. A survey by LandEDU revealed that 58.9% of purchases made in Fortnite were of skins. Other popular items are gliders (18%), harvesting tools (13.5%), and emotes (9.5%). All of these are cosmetic items that don’t provide gameplay advantages. Kevuru Games created over 120 skins for Fortnite. Our game artists developed each one as a character with a unique personality, such as Bushranger, Bunnywolf, and Globe Shaker. Our concept art team worked on the project for 10 months and got so excited with Fortnite characters that ended up delivering more skins than promised. Bushranger. Character concept for Fortnite developed by Kevuru An excellent trigger for sales is the exclusivity and scarcity of items. Since virtual clothes and accessories take zero resources to produce once designed, you would imagine they sell them endlessly to maximize revenue. But human psychology doesn’t work like that. Players buy more when there is a sense of urgency and scarcity. The skins available today may not be in the item shop the next season or even tomorrow. Battle Pass Revenue The Fortnite Battle Pass is a subscription that gives a player access to exclusive seasonal items. At the price of 1,000 V-Bucks (about $8.99), a player can earn 1,500 V-Bucks by gaining XP, which gives an impression that it makes a good ROI. If they consistently complete all the tiers (which takes 75-150 hours of playing), they can buy next season’s battle pass with earned V-Bucks. Image source: www.sportskeeda.com We don’t know precise numbers on battle pass revenue, but here is some data from previous years. It was announced that in February 2018, on the first day of a new season, Epic sold more than five million battle passes, which converts to more than US$50 million. Fortnite wasn’t the first game to use battle passes, but it made them broadly popular. There might be several reasons why they worked so much better for Fortnite than for its early predecessors, like Dota 2. Before anything, let’s not forget that Fortnite is free to play, making players feel it’s fair to pay some extra. What’s interesting about Fortnite battle passes is that buying one doesn’t instantly give you access to all the seasonal items. You must play and progress to open the items at all 100 levels. It increases the competitive element of the game. Each season’s theme is well thought out and adds a lot of novelty to the gameplay, keeping the players engaged. Also, there are many incentives to keep the players coming back to the game all the time because if they don’t engage for some time, they lose what they have already earned. Collaborations and Partnerships Fortnite is known to leverage collaborations at its best. It partners with celebrities, movie franchises, or entities like the NFL to promote the game and sell a new limited edition of themed cosmetic items. Although we don’t have precise data on the profitability of each collaboration, some available numbers are quite impressive. Fortnite’s partnership with the NFL brought in 50 million in two months by selling 3.3 million skins. Engaging stars like Travis Scott and Eminem brought many new players to the game. For instance, the collaboration with Travis Scott attracted over 27 million unique players. Image source: fortnite.com However, not all collaborations were as successful as expected. For instance, Ghostbusters and Matrix items didn’t sell very well. Yet we don’t know if this resulted in losses for Fortnite. Esports and Competitive Events Massive esports events like the Fortnite World Cup and Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) support the community and take the game to a whole different level. In 2019, the Fortnite World Cup had 2.33 million viewers and a $30 million prize pool, one of the biggest compared to similar competitions. Arthur Ashe tennis stadium in New York where Fortnite World Cup took place. Image source: Epic Games Apart from these mega-events, there are competitions and seasonal tournaments at all levels. The events are designed so that even players with little experience can participate. It goes without saying that the events significantly boost sales of cosmetic items. Merchandise and Licensing When you start googling Fortnite merchandise, you find Lego constructors, Fortnite Monopoly, bean bag chairs, piñatas, figurines, pajamas, and all sorts of clothes and toys imaginable.  Image source: target.com As with many other popular franchises like Star Wars or Marvel, merchandise sales account for a large bulk of revenue, but in the case of Fortnite, we don’t have precise data. What is sure is that sales of virtual clothes and accessories—skins and gliders—bring way more profit than actual real-world items. Subscription Models In 2020, Fortnite introduced Fortnite Crew, a new subscription model. For $11,99 a month, it gives a player access to all the active battle passes and provides V-bucks, a pack of exclusive cosmetic items, and other perks. Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQUCfOaexPU Some players liked the new model, but many weren’t happy, as often happens. They were concerned that their battle passes would be lost once they stopped the subscription. However, it seems like the subscription model had a positive effect on increasing Fortnite revenues. Users who prefer battle passes could play by buying just them and paying $8,99 once a season instead of $11,99 every month. Fortnite Revenue Statistics Annual Revenue Breakdown When asked how much money is Fortnite making, the numbers speak volumes. Epic Games doesn’t share its revenue regularly, but the scale of the Fortnite business is evident from the data revealed in the anti-trust suit against Apple. According to the data from the court documents, Fortnite made $5.5 billion in 2018 and $3.7 billion in 2019, which totals $9 billion in two years after launch. Monthly Active Users and Their Spending Fortnite’s fanbase is quite active. The average user spends 8-10 hours a week in the game. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced during his speech at Unreal Fest 2024 that Fortnite reached its peak of 110 million monthly active users over the holidays. The number of active users varies depending on special events, reaching up to 44 million at a time. Events also contribute greatly to revenue, which can grow by 23% when something interesting happens. On average, a US player spends $102.42 a year on in-app purchases (the information disclosed is from 2020), an increase from $84.67 in 2018. Fortnite’s Position on the Market & Competitors Due to Fortnite’s many modes, the competitors are also quite diverse. In the battle royale genre, the main competitors are Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. Some other competitors are sandbox genre leaders, such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Genshin Impact. The number of competitors in racing and rhythm games is even higher. Yet Fortnite maintains excellent results among its rivals regarding the number of players. None of the abovementioned games has been even close to Fortnite’s 650 million registered users. Minecraft and Roblox have 140 and 216 million monthly active users, respectively (estimated), but battle royale hit Apex Legends has 65 million monthly active users, far less than Fortnite. Want to Develop a Game Like Fortnite? As mentioned in the beginning, Fortnite has several game modes of different genres. So, let’s focus on the one that made it so popular and profitable – Battle Royale. A rough time estimate would be 1.5 to 3 years of development from scratch to release. The budget could range from $2 million to $10 million. If you have an idea for a game, contact us, and we’ll give you a precise estimate. We are familiar with this type of game, having worked with Fortnite before. Read more about it in the case study. Character concept developed by Kevuru Key Takeaways There’s a lot we can learn from Fortnite, one of the top-grossing video games of our time. Here are some lessons you could learn from these statistics: Top games that grow fast do so, not necessarily because they brought a breakthrough innovation to the gaming world. A game can take elements of existing games and invest into making them more money than ever — like Fortnite did with Battle Royale.Extensive promotion and events spending pays off. Engaging top celebrities and running competitions with millions of prize funds is worth it when you want to grow your fanbase.Free-to-play games can earn a lot of money without following the criticized pay-to-win model. Cosmetic items that do not benefit players can still be sold for $20 and higher. In the case of Fortnite, the secret to big sales is a wide variety of items available for limited periods of time. The Future of Fortnite’s Revenue Model Fortnite’s revenue model works pretty well for them, but the company is looking forward to finding new ways of development. Tim Sweeney said that Epic Games invests heavily into changes and “growing Fortnite as a metaverse-inspired ecosystem for creators.” This new direction is powered by Fortnite Creative Mode and Unreal Editor for Fortnite, tools that allow users to create their own art, maps, games, and experiences. In 2023, Epic introduced the Creator Economy 2.0 program to pay creators based on the time other players spend on maps and games created by them. The program motivates people to develop high-quality, engaging content and fosters a live UGC ecosystem.The future of game economics is shifting from the battle royale tricks described above to a business based on creator content. The latter may be less profitable in the short term but is more sustainable in the long run. Do you want to know more about the shifts in video gaming? Read our article about top industry trends.

Everybody wants to know how others make their money and how much they make. The question is even more interesting when it comes to free products. Candy Crush is a product that millions billions of people use daily without paying anything. So, how much money has Candy Crush made, and how they do it? Candy Crush: All You Need to Know What is Candy Crush? Candy Crush is a popular puzzle game. The screen of Candy Crush is a grid full of candies of various colors. The game’s main challenge is to match three elements of the same color and shape to make them disappear and gain points. This type of game is called simply ”match-three” or “tile-matching” format. Source: candycrush.fandom.com Who Made Candy Crush? The game was developed by the game studio King. King Digital Entertainment is a Swedish company best known for developing and publishing social and casual games. In addition to the famous Candy Crush, they are the authors of Bubble Witch Saga, Farmville, and Pet Rescue Saga. In 2016, King was acquired by Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, and in 2023, Activision was acquired by Microsoft, making King and Candy Crush part of the Microsoft empire. When Did Candy Crush Come Out? The game was initially launched on Facebook in April 2012 as a browser-based game. It gained popularity instantly, having over 4 million players in just a few weeks. Motivated by the success of the browser version, King released a mobile version of the game later in 2012. In 2015, the game became available on Windows OS. How Much Does Candy Crush Make a Day Based on data from company quarterly reports, Candy Crush is estimated to generate almost 3 million dollars in revenue daily, which has grown more than twice since 2016. Popularity and User Engagement For years, the game has maintained extreme popularity. Candy Crush has a steady number of monthly active players. In 2024, 12 years after its release, over 200 million people play it every month. The number of players has decreased slightly, but it didn’t affect revenue. The data showed that in the first seven years, people spent 73 billion hours (8.3 million years) playing Candy Crush. Some people claim that the game became a real addiction. Some years ago, Alex Dale, a senior executive at King, said that one player spent on Candy Crush $2,600 in one day. Dale noted that “the player was thinking rationally and taking advantage of a sale in the game’s store.” Source: candycrush.fandom.com Why is Candy Crush So Popular? There is nothing revolutionary about Candy Crush, and there wasn’t anything when it first launched in 2012. A decade earlier, another match-three game, Bejeweled, was a top-downloads hit. These games help people distract and are a perfect pastime during the commute. Yet only one in thousands has become so popular. Claiming to know the secret of Candy Crush’s popularity would be speculation, but there are some facts that definitely contribute to its success. The King team never stopped developing the game, adding new levels, and perfecting the sales funnel. Although from the outside, the game doesn’t seem to have changed in years, there is a big team working on it continuously. The Candy Crush team doesn’t just sketch new levels. They analyze large datasets of their users to learn players’ behavioral patterns and later use this information to design a more engaging and addictive game that people want to play again and again and spend more time and money on. Along with data analysis, they use AI to help them design new levels and test them, modeling different user behaviors. With all these technologies hidden behind tiles of candies, the game captures the attention of so many people. “It’s great to start your day by winning at something,” said Paula Ingvar, head of Soda Saga. How Many Downloads Does Candy Crush Have? In 2023, King announced that Candy Crush Saga had over 5 billion downloads. This number becomes even bigger if you add other games of the franchise, like the Jelly and Soda sagas. In 2024, the number of quarterly downloads plunged compared to the beginning of 2023, but it’s not the first time it happened to Candy Crush. In 2016 there was already some decline in the number of downloads, but later, the numbers went higher again. The Business Model Behind Candy Crush The business model that Candy Crush and similar games use is freemium. The game is free, yet players can access more gaming experience if they are willing to pay a little extra. Let’s take a closer look at this game economy design. How Does Candy Crush Make Money? Candy Crush makes money through in-app purchases. Users can buy extra lives and other bonus items to help them complete the levels. The in-game currency is called Gold Bars. 50 Gold Bars are sold for $1.99, while 500 are worth $14.99. Source: candycrush.fandom.com In the beginning, Candy Crush also used to have ads, but in 2013, they decided to remove the apps as they brought in a small part of the revenue but annoyed users. Inside Candy Crush’s Monetization Strategies Free games earn the bulk of their income from a small percentage of players. In the case of Candy Crush, over 96% of users never buy anything. Among the percentage of those who do purchase bonus items, the vast majority would spend very little. A tiny percentage of paying users, called “whales,” brings them a disproportionately large share of the revenue. Some people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars monthly due to the game’s addictive nature. When looking at the data that compares the most popular games in the US by the number of gamers who made in-app purchases in them, you can see that Candy Crush Saga is leading the list with 11%, and Candy Crush Soda Saga occupies 4th place with 7%, thus making the franchise absolute leader of the list. It wins over other popular mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokémon Go. This graph demonstrates that Candy Crush manages to attract an enormous number of players and does an excellent job of stimulating people to buy Gold Bars. Let’s take a deeper look into Candy Crush’s secrets and find out how it achieves such a high level of conversion. The Role of In-App Purchases (IAPs) When looking at Candy Crush’s revenues, one can see how efficient IAPs are. Even if all 5 billion users paid the standard price for the download, they wouldn’t have made as much money as they do by selling Gold Bars. The price would have to be $4 to reach the same revenue, but then there would be much fewer players. The Cost of Developing a Game Like Candy Crush Developing a casual puzzle game is much easier than a complex modern triple-A RPG with movie-like 3D graphics. With simple visuals and game mechanics, the price is quite accessible. However, it’s not a straight way to the billions fortune. It is obvious that Candy Crush takes a lot to maintain. Scalable servers that can handle millions of players add to the cost, as do continuously added levels, marketing, and overhead. For the sake of simplifying the task, let’s imagine we want to launch a game that’s similar to Candy Crush without the ambition to jump to the same level of customer base instantly. Core development would cost somewhere from $30,000 to $70,000, while graphics, animation, and sound design could range from $12,000 to $30,000. Add level design and testing, and the price would start at $50,000, increasing to $100,000, $150,000, and more if you need more sophisticated visuals, gameplay, smart monetization, etc. Want to Develop a Game Like Candy Crush? The revenue of Candy Crush is close to that of a major candy company like Haribo, although the sweets they make are not real. Given the massive success and impressive revenues, it’s no surprise that many people are tempted to create a casual game with a similar monetization system. Now that you know all the insider info on their monetization strategies, it’s time to dare and try making it with your idea. To develop a game like Candy Crush, you need a team of game designers, developers, artists, animators, sound designers, QA testers, and a project manager. The team could consist of 7-15 people, depending on the game’s complexity and timing. If you don’t have prior experience with such products, find a game development studio with a portfolio of quality casual games. If you don’t have a clear idea yet, here is an expert tip. How to succeed in the market of match-3 games? Kevuru expertise In our portfolio, there are simple match-three games like Candy Crush along with more sophisticated projects. An example of a simple casual game is Juicy Fruits, like a healthy diet version of Candy Crush. Kevuru Games made a full-cycle game development ob this mobile game. It runs on Unity and is available for Android and iOS. Since the niche of match-3 games is quite busy, gaining success with a new product as simple as Candy Crush is hard. To stand out from the competition and capture the attention of players, you can add an original storyline. For that, you need well-developed characters and animation. Quality 2D art can be your competitive advantage. At Kevuru Games, we have experience with such projects. Some of the games we’ve been working on have match-3 elements, as well as an engaging narrative and interesting characters. For example, the game Shade is an interactive novel with match-3 elements. Here is a scene created for the game by our artists. 2D art by Kevuru Games for Shade Mystery Match Village is a game that combines match-3 elements with hidden objects and a storyline based on Agatha Christie’s novel. Our artists created mesmerizing 2D environments for this game. 2D environment art by Kevuru Games for Mystery Match Village Are you ready to jump into work on your project? Contact us and let’s get on this journey together.

AAA games are the blockbusters in the world of video games. They have a huge fanbase and massive marketing campaigns, and AAA studios work hard to make them top-quality. That’s why they have become the benchmark for the entire industry. Let’s take a look at some examples of AAA games of different genres, platforms, and years. Popular examples of AAA games To choose the most popular games, we need to check gamers’ reviews and sales data. For reviews, Opencritic is great as it shows the average score based on reviews from many sources. Fortnite Source: fortnite.com Platform: PC, Xbox, PS, Nintendo Switch, mobile Genre: survival, battle royale, sandbox, racing, rhythm Publisher: Epic Games Fortnite is an umbrella of games of different genres and models, all based in the same universe and all cross-platform play compatible. There are six game modes: Fortnite Battle Royale, in which many players fight each other to the last surviving; Fortnite: Save the World, where several players have to cooperate to survive the environment; Fortnite Creative, where players have freedom to create worlds and game elements; Lego Fortnite, a survival sandbox game; Rocket Racing, a racing game on the Fortnite engine, and Fortnite Festival, a rhythm game where players play and sing songs. Most modes are free to play, and Fortnite has 221 million monthly active players. The revenue comes from game currency, V-bucks, used to buy battle passes and cosmetic items. The game has numerous character skins. As a game development company, we collaborated with Fortnite to create 120 skins of different characters (read the case study here). Sims 4 Source: instant-gaming.com Platform: PC, Xbox, PS, Nintendo Switch, mobile Genre: simulator Publisher: Electronic Arts The Sims human life simulator gained fame with its first edition in the 1990s. Each new version offered new details and graphics, while the main focus remained the same: creating a family and leading its life. Regular extension packs, stuff packs, and massive amounts of downloadable content keep the fans engaged for decades. The basics of the game suggest that players don’t need to struggle for survival. Still, fan communities have developed many challenges and scripts that bring the gameplay from relaxing family management to real action games. In 2023, The Sims 4 had more than 85 million players. It doesn’t match the scale of giant free-to-play games like Fortnite, but it’s a massive success for its genre. Grand Theft Auto V Source: https://store.playstation.com/ Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, PC Genre: Action-adventure Publisher: Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto is a well-known game series set in the city of San Andreas, in the environment of Southern California. The characters of the main story are three criminals that players can shift across. They steal cars, rob banks, and fight the police on their way to completing the missions. Grand Theft Auto V’s fame is in its extensive open world, which was unprecedented at the time. Since then, the franchise has grown, with every new game becoming a success among AAA releases. Hogwarts Legacy Source: www.hogwartslegacy.com Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, PC Genre: Action RPG Publisher: Warner Bros. Games The game is set in the famous wizard school, but, unlike in other games of the franchise, you don’t play the character of Harry Potter. The player creates their own character who sets out on an adventure as a five-year Hogwarts student. They learn spells, discover the castle, and fight evil powers that attack the wizard world. The open-world game offers many hidden spots and characters to interact with. As in many modern RPGs, the player’s decision affects the storyline. Hogwarts Legacy sold 24 million copies in one year, becoming the bestseller of 2023. The reviews and sales of this game have overshadowed the previous games in the Harry Potter franchise by a wide margin. Baldur’s Gate 3 Source: /www.playstation.com/ Platform: PC, PlayStation 5 Genre: RPG Publisher: Larian Studios Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of many games that are part of Dungeons & Dragons universe. Baldur’s Gate 3 is noted for its superior combat mechanics, storytelling, and graphics, as well as the significant amount of freedom and variations in the storyline, which makes gamers replay it numerous times. The game has been widely discussed in the past year and has received many top prizes, including The Game Awards and Golden Joystick Awards. Although each edition of Baldur’s Gate is a true masterpiece, the developers manage to surprise players every time and keep up with the highest level. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Source: /www.playstation.com/ Platform: PC, Xbox, PS, Nintendo Switch, mobile Genre: Action RPG Publisher: CD Projekt The Witcher’s story is based on the fantasy novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, and the game’s world is based on Slavic mythology. The main character, the Witcher, is searching for his lost adopted daughter and gets involved in numerous adventures and side quests. Players’ decisions affect the storyline, and the game has 36 different endings depending on the choices made. The game uses the newest tech advances: it has responsive, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and dynamic environments. In the third edition, the developers did their best to deliver top quality. Even though the production budget wasn’t very high for an AAA game (about $81 million), the level of the game is impressive. The music for the game is performed by the Brandenburg State Orchestra, and more than 500 actors were engaged in the voiceover in 15 language localizations. The game features AI environments and many other tech innovations. The efforts paid off: The game received over 200 Game of the Year awards and will surely go down in history as one of the best AAA games. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Source: gamepressure.com Platform: PC, Xbox, PS, Google Stadia Genre: Action-Adventure Publisher: Electronic Arts The Star Wars franchise has over 100 video games, the first of which was released in 1982. The most successful thematic game is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, with an 81 score on Opencritic. It sold over 10 million copies in the first months after its release in November 2019. Although such a legendary story is guaranteed to succeed, given the enormous fanbase of the Star Wars universe, game developers invest heavily in delivering a top-notch product. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order stands out with its engaging story, excellent combat mechanics, and richly detailed universe that immerses players into the Star Wars universe. NBA 2K Series https://newsroom.2k.com/ Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS, Nintendo Switch, mobile Genre: basketball simulation Publisher: 2K Sports The game is famous for its highly realistic sports simulation. NBA 2K Series gives players the possibility to experience different aspects of the basketball world. They can control a player, dive into strategy, or choose a character and guide him through his entire basketball star career. A number of celebrities appeared in the NBA 2K series game. Some of them were top basketball players like LeBron James, rappers like Travis Scott, and filmmaker Spike Lee. Although the latest editions of the game received some criticism due to its aggressive monetization strategies, it is still considered one of the best sports simulators and is loved by basketball fans all over the world. Which platforms have the best examples of AAA games? While some AAA game publishers want to maximize the success of their successful titles by porting them to different platforms, some others choose to stay on one platform. For example, Nintendo Switch, which is both a publisher and a producer of consoles, prefers to keep its products exclusive to Nintendo consoles to boost hardware sales. Each platform has its benefits, and here are some examples of AAA games on different platforms.  PC. Total War: Warhammer III Source: store.epicgames.com Publisher: SEGA Genre: Real-time strategy, turn-based strategy The third legendary strategy and battle game, Total War: Warhammer III, engages its players in a strategy aimed at fighting or dominating the Realm of Chaos. The game’s map is enormous and full of fantastical creatures, wizards, and legendary heroes who form armies and engage in strategic warfare. The battle gameplay mechanics were so complex and resource-demanding that SEGA decided to make it a PC-only game. Although some games in the Total War franchise were ported to mobile and tablets, the main editions are played exclusively on PC. Console. Super Mario Bros  Source: https://www.nintendo.com/ Platform: Nintendo Switch Genre: Side-scrolling platformer Publisher: Nintendo When the first Super Mario game was released in 1985, the term AAA didn’t exist. The game was very basic and surely didn’t have big production and marketing budgets associated with top games. Since then, it has had many editions and has grown into a huge franchise. Nowadays, it’s an example that not only sophisticated RPGs with complex gameplay can be called AAA. In 2023, the most recent edition of the franchise, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, excelled in sales, selling a whopping 4.3 million copies in the first two weeks after release. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was also a huge success at the box office, becoming the absolute best-seller among animated movies. The reviews from critics confirm the high quality of the game: on Opencritic, the Top Critic Average Score for the last edition is 91. Mobile. Call of Duty: Mobile Source: www.techlusive.in Publisher: Activision Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS), Battle Royale Although the shooter genre is not the easiest to develop for mobile, Call of Duty creators did a great job. The game has multiplayer modes, battle royale, and seasonal content updates. According to the reviews, the mobile version is no worse than the console and PC versions. The game was positively received by the players and had over 100 million downloads in the first month. Released in 2019, it now has many fans and gets regular updates of new maps, weapons, events, and battle passes. Kevuru Games’ expertise in AAA video games Working with AAA titles is a sign of quality for every game development company. We are proud to have collaborated with AAA game publishers and developers such as Epic Games, Bandai Namco, Lucasfilm, Housmarque, and others. Kevuru Games created art for some famous games from the list above, like Fortnite and Star Wars (read the case study here). If you are a fan of these games, you might recognize these characters created by our 3D artists. Character art for Star Wars. Kevuru Games portfolio However, we don’t only work with character art. Here is the complete list of our services in AAA game development: Full-cycle game development3D characters, skins, outfits, creatures and animalsEnvironment art and props Our artists work in different styles, and our developers have experience with various technologies used in modern game development. If you are curious about what we offer, check out our portfolio. If you are developing a game that aspires to be among the top AAA titles and needs support, contact us. Our experienced team is open to collaboration. Conclusion AAA games exist in all formats and genres. Often, it’s unclear whether the game is triple-A or not if the marketing team doesn’t stress it. And this title doesn’t always mean the highest quality and popularity. Sometimes, non-AAA games gain more success than top-budget ones. An example of this can be Minecraft or Among Us.However, some games with moderate budgets that become widely popular get bigger investments for sequels, and those are clearly AAA titles. In fact, many triple-A titles of recent years have been sequels to blockbuster game series. To see some examples of the recent top releases, read our article about the best AAA games 2023/2024.

When you want to find an answer to such a dubious question as “What is an AAAA game?” the most curious opinions you will get will be on the forums. As with many new words, the quadruple-A game doesn’t have a clear definition, but at least we can learn how people react to it. Commenters on Quora and Reddit often explain it with another abbreviation–BS. Source: Reddit AAAA may not be a real thing for now, but it is even more interesting to find out where it comes from, what it is used for, and guess what the potential is for AAAA to become the next level in the gaming world. Quadruple-A game meaning When people refer to the AAAA meaning in video games, they imply that it surpasses the level of traditional AAA games in terms of budget, production value, or scope. However, the real AAAA game meaning is rather cloudy. How the concept of AAAA games emerged While the actual “concept” of the AAAA game hasn’t taken shape yet, we can look back at where it all started to get a better picture. To figure out what makes a game AAAA, it’s fun to explore its early mentions. As game journalist John Scalzo on VGC claims, the first mention of AAAA was in 2012 by Microsoft’s Black Tusk Studios when they were hiring a team. The studio claimed that the project they were working on would be an AAAA game. We don’t know if it was a top-level approved idea or a copywriter’s innovation, and the game was never released as planned. “Game stuck in development hell” is another definition of an AAAA game coined by Reddit user Asmongold, who noticed that game publishers who promise their next release will be quadruple-A tend to postpone those releases for years. AAA vs. AAAA game It would be helpful to start with triple-A to understand quadruple-A games better. Two key elements make a game AAA: big production and marketing budgets. The most expensive game of recent years is Genshin Impact (2020) by miHoYo, which totaled USD 751 million (adjusted for inflation). This is more than Final Fantasy VII (released in 1997 and named the first AAA game), whose total development and marketing cost was USD 152–275 million (adjusted for inflation). By making a simple guess, we would expect quadruple-A games to be a lot more expensive than triple-A. On one hand, the industry is tired of the high resources and time required to produce AAA titles, as they can result in massive losses if they don’t sell well. On the other hand, the production price doesn’t show any trend of reduction. That’s why naming the release AAAA is sometimes used to justify high production or sale costs, as with Skull and Bones. World’s first AAAA game Image source: Ubisoft Skull and Bones by Ubisoft was in development for ten years and reportedly cost USD 200 million to produce. However, there have been claims that the actual cost was much higher—USD 650-800 million. This could be the reason why they described the game as the first quadruple-A game in a report to investors and then, before the release, to justify the high price tag (the game went on sale for USD 70). Released in February 2024, Skull and Bones wasn’t very successful in sales. The data on Steam shows that the game has mixed reviews, with 32,9% negative reviews. Even if the development wasn’t as high as rumored, Ubisoft won’t recover money spent on the production.  Challenges in Developing AAAA Games Ubisoft’s stock has significantly declined in recent years, with the unsuccessful launch of Skull and Bones and some other games that didn’t perform as well as expected. Source: Google Finance For big publishing companies, the high production costs of AAA games are already a challenge, as they pose a risk to a company’s financial stability in case of a flop. If AAAA games mean even higher budgets, then for most businesses, it wouldn’t be sustainable. However, cost is not the only consideration. Tech innovations in recent years haven’t been breakthrough enough to bring video games to a completely new level. The art of game development is perfected every year, but it’s still the same AAA games, polished to shine. To sum up. The future of quadruple-A games Ubisoft claimed to have created a AAAA game to justify its price and got busted. Raising people’s expectations is a sure way to get lower reviews. This is not to say that higher expectations were the main cause of low reviews, but it certainly didn’t work wonders, as may have been expected. We’ve seen publishers and developers name games AAAA and make fun of one another because of this. Karolina Gnaś, investor relations VP of CD Projekt Red, joked that their next title would be AAAAA after Ubisoft’s AAAA announcement. This story teaches us that simply “naming” a game AAAA doesn’t work. Game developers who want their titles to become the next big thing in the industry should work on creating the best game but expect praise from the audience and not from the CEOs. So, start by finding top game developers, take calculated risks when adopting new ideas, and see what the gamers will say about the result. Who knows, maybe in 1997, when the term AAA game was used for the first time, it wasn’t perceived seriously either. However, with time, the term took its place in the industry. Will AAAA become a thing, too? We can only wait and see where it goes.And since the AAAA game Skull and Bones hasn’t turned out to be the top title, we suggest you check our list of best AAA games 2023/2024 for inspiration.

If you ever wondered what are AAA games, you likely have visited the Wikipedia page that defines AAA as a “buzzword” used for video games from mid-sized or major publishers with high development and marketing budgets. When defining “buzzwords,” Wikipedia says they “often have much of the original technical meaning removed through fashionable use, being simply used to impress others.” Calling AAA games a buzzword is a bit unfair. Is it used to impress others? Often yes. Does it have a technical meaning? Often yes. Yet there are some requirements to using this name. If you want to know what is a AAA game and what makes a game truly triple-A, read on. But first, let’s go back in time and see the term’s origins. History and evolution of AAA games The first AAA game is widely agreed to be Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997. This RPG followed previous editions of the popular game series Final Fantasy created by Japanese video game developer and publisher Squaresoft. The production budget was about $40–45 million. At the time, it was the most expensive video game production ever. Source: https://roarsandechoes.com/2024/04/09/final-fantasy-vii-1997-video-game-review/ An unprecedented development budget was possible due to the partnership with Sony. With all the money invested in the production, game creators applied all the technologies available at the time to introduce complex gameplay mechanics and quality graphics. The marketing campaign budget was even bigger than that of production. In the 2000s, AAA games started expanding to open worlds. The narratives, storylines, and characters have been developing continuously. In the 2010s, many video games were like immersive movies, with intricate scripts, scenes, high level of detail, drama, and so on. Production budgets have risen, with an average AAA title cost of around $200 million. What makes a game triple-A? Since the release of the first blockbuster game, AAA games have evolved a lot. Yet many standards set by Final Fantasy VII remain the same. Here is what defines a triple-A game and gives AAA games meaning: High production budgetsMassive marketing campaigns However, understanding what does triple-A game mean involves looking beyond just budget and scale. It’s about a development approach. From the two principal features go the ones that come as a consequence: Long development cycle (3-5 years or longer in some cases)Large development team (about 500 people for an average AAA game, going up to over 1000)Top-notch graphics, technology, gameplayTargeted at a broad audience (to sell enough copies to make up for the production costs, you have to go for big markets)Continuous support AAA games are a long story. Publishers want to keep gamers engaged with sequels, expansions, DLC, merch, online communities, etc. This is necessary to generate more revenue than just direct game sales. The AAA video game industry AAA game development is a highly complex process that requires experienced teams, substantial budgets, and cutting-edge technology. No company can jumpstart to launch such a massive project without specific experience. Most AAA games are developed by AAA studios. What is a triple-A studio? An AAA studio is a game development company that primarily works on big projects with high production costs and long development cycles. Major AAA publishers, such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, and Microsoft Gaming, count with over 10,000 employees. They often operate several internal development studios, each one focusing on separate titles, employing several hundred people. Electronic Arts office in Orlando. Source: www.thestrategicfirm.com How AAA games shape the video game industry Massive budgets spent on production put much pressure on game publishers to return the money invested. When a company spends hundreds of millions on one game, it can’t risk failing the market.  So, when companies don’t take risks, they often opt for sequels of famous stories with a big loyal fanbase who would buy the game anyway. It’s safer to go with something that guarantees success instead of risking and trying something completely new. That’s why games follow the same path as blockbuster movies: constant remakes, endless sequels, and similar stories. For the industry, this means that risky, innovative games are left to smaller indie publishers, who spend less on production, and therefore, the loss in case of bad sales is minor. The impact of AAA games on gaming trends, technology, and market  An AAA video game isn’t just about big budgets—it’s also about setting new standards in the gaming world. With top developers, artists, and marketers working on them, the result is an inspiration for many industry professionals—an example of a trend set by Grand Theft Auto III, released in 2001.  Source: www.theknowfresno.org/ The game featured an extensive open world and was widely popular. Since then, many other game developers followed the example and invested in creating open worlds with side missions, rich narratives, and seamless exploration. Kevuru expertise in AAA game development 3D characters by Kevuru for Star Wars: Tales From the Galaxy’s Edge As game developers, we love working with AAA titles. In the past, we had projects with Star Wars and Fortnite. You can see more images in our portfolio. Our AAA games services include: 3D character creation (including skins, outfits, creatures, and animals)Environment art and props (such as vehicles, weapons, and detailed object elements)Full-cycle game development Do you want your AAA game to become the next big thing everybody’s talking about? Contact us, and let’s go on this adventure together!

In the ever-expanding universe of video games, standing out isn’t just about creating the next blockbuster title—it’s about making sure your target audience can find you in the vast digital landscape. That’s where SEO comes in, and not just any SEO—you need game industry specialists who speak your language and understand your unique challenges. Why Game Developers Benefit from Tailored SEO Services In today’s digital landscape, game development companies encounter a unique array of hurdles: Intense Competition: With numerous games hitting the market annually, standing out is essential.Diverse Audiences: From die-hard RPG enthusiasts to casual mobile gamers, attracting the right player base is vital.Ever-Evolving Trends: SEO tactics must adapt swiftly to keep pace with the gaming sector’s constant changes.Multi-Faceted Marketing Journey: From discovery and engagement to purchase decisions and community building, each phase requires optimization. By partnering with a specialized SEO agency, you can navigate these obstacles with ease, increase your visibility, and engage your desired audience more efficiently. The challenge now lies in finding the ideal match for your game development company. Qualities to Seek in a Top-Notch Game Development SEO Agency When on the hunt for an SEO partner, look for these game-enhancing traits: Deep Gaming Industry Insight: Opt for agencies with a solid background in the gaming realm.Expertise in Technical SEO: Ensure your agency grasps the nuances of game websites and optimizing app stores.Stellar Content Creation: They should excel at crafting and optimizing content that speaks to gamers.Community Engagement: SEO goes beyond rankings—it involves nurturing a community around your games.Data-Driven Approach: The ability to dissect data and swiftly pivot strategies is essential in the fast-paced gaming industry. Ready to level up your online presence? Let’s dive into some of the leading SEO agencies that are revolutionizing the game for developers like yourself. List of TOP 7 SEO Agencies for Game Studios Embark on a journey towards game development success with our exclusive compilation of the top 7 premier SEO agencies crafted specifically for game development companies. Explore the experts who can skyrocket your online presence and forge powerful connections with gamers in the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry. Luxeo Team Luxeo Team is an SEO outsourcing agency providing a range of services to businesses in the IT industry. Luxeo is an expert SEO agency offering tailored solutions for diverse industries. Their key focus areas include: Gamedev: Specialized SEO strategies for gaming companies.Healthcare: Improving visibility for healthcare providers.Fintech: Targeted solutions for financial technology companies.E-commerce: Enhancing online presence for retail businesses.Cryptocurrency: SEO for blockchain and crypto platforms. Company by numbers: 50+ active clients10+ years of experience300+ cases in different niches40+ team members100% client satisfaction rate Services: Comprehensive SEO auditsLink building & outreachOn-page optimizationContent creation & strategyData-driven keyword research Luxeo drives measurable growth by leveraging industry expertise and advanced SEO strategies. Netrocket Netrocket is a results-driven digital marketing agency specializing in SEO across various industries. Key focus areas include: Game Development (Gamedev): Tailored SEO strategies to enhance the online visibility of game studios and publishers.E-commerce: Boosting online visibility for retail businesses.Fintech: Customized SEO solutions for financial services.Healthcare: Enhancing digital presence for healthcare providers.Cryptocurrency: SEO strategies for blockchain and crypto companies.Local Businesses: Improving rankings for location-based services. Company in numbers: 200+ completed projects7+ years of experience20+ dedicated SEO experts95% client retention rate Services: Comprehensive SEO auditsLink building & outreachOn-page SEO optimizationContent marketing & strategyKeyword research & competitor analysis Netrocket delivers tailored SEO solutions, helping businesses drive organic growth and achieve lasting success in competitive markets. Reach out today to elevate your online presence! RankFast RankFast is a leading digital marketing agency focused on delivering impactful SEO solutions across various industries. Core niches include: Game Development: Specialized SEO strategies to enhance visibility and reach within the competitive gaming market.E-commerce: Tailored SEO approaches to drive traffic and sales for online retailers.Health and Wellness: Boosting online presence for healthcare providers and wellness brands.Travel and Hospitality: Improving search rankings for travel agencies and hotels.Technology and Software: Customized SEO services for tech startups and software companies.Local Businesses: Enhancing visibility for local enterprises to attract nearby customers. Company in Numbers: 150+ successful projects5+ years of industry experience25+ skilled SEO professionals90% client satisfaction rate Services Offered: Comprehensive SEO auditsKeyword research and analysisOn-page and off-page SEO optimizationContent creation and marketingLink building strategiesLocal SEO services At RankFast, they use data-driven strategies to help businesses achieve higher rankings, increase organic traffic, and drive growth. Partner with RankFast today to elevate your online presence! Firestarter SEO Firestarter SEO is a dynamic digital marketing agency specializing in driving organic growth for businesses across various industries. Primary niches include: E-commerce: Enhancing online visibility and sales for retail businesses.Local SEO: Helping local businesses attract customers in their area through targeted SEO strategies.Health and Wellness: Optimizing online presence for healthcare providers and wellness brands.Hospitality: Boosting bookings and visibility for hotels and travel services.Real Estate: Elevating search rankings for real estate agents and property listings.Game Development: Tailored SEO strategies to improve reach and engagement in the gaming sector. Company in Numbers: 200+ successful projects completed8+ years of industry experience30+ dedicated SEO experts95% client retention rate Services Offered: Comprehensive SEO auditsStrategic keyword researchOn-page and off-page optimizationContent marketing and strategyTechnical SEO solutionsLocal SEO optimizationLink building services Partner with Firestarter SEO to ignite online presence and achieve digital marketing goals effectively. Resignal  Resignal is a leading digital marketing agency committed to elevating brands through innovative SEO strategies and data-driven solutions. Key niches include: Game Development: Specialized SEO services for game studios, enhancing visibility and driving player engagement.E-commerce: Optimizing online stores to drive traffic and increase sales.B2B Services: Boosting visibility for businesses targeting other businesses.Health and Wellness: Improving search presence for healthcare providers and wellness brands.Travel and Hospitality: Maximizing bookings and online visibility for travel-related businesses.Technology and Software: Focused on SEO for tech firms and software solutions. Company Highlights: 150+ successful projects completed10+ years of experience in digital marketing40+ skilled professionals85% client satisfaction rate Services Offered: Comprehensive SEO auditsCustomized SEO strategy developmentContent creation and marketingTechnical SEO optimizationLocal SEO servicesAnalytics and performance tracking Unlock your brand’s potential with Resignal’s expert digital marketing solutions tailored for growth and visibility. SEO Berlino SEO Berlino specializes in delivering tailored SEO solutions to drive growth and online visibility for businesses across various sectors. Key niches include: E-commerce: Optimizing online stores for higher visibility and conversion rates.Technology: Focused SEO strategies for tech companies and startups.Real Estate: Enhancing search rankings for property listings and real estate services.Finance: Improving organic traffic and lead generation for financial institutions.Legal Services: Increasing online presence for law firms.Game Development: Specialized SEO services for gaming companies to boost audience engagement. Company Highlights: 5+ years of industry experience100+ successful SEO projects85% client retention rateMultilingual SEO services available Services Offered: SEO audits and competitor analysisOn-page and technical SEO optimizationLink-building strategiesContent creation and optimizationLocal SEO and international SEO servicesPerformance tracking and reporting SEO Berlino helps businesses maximize their online potential with data-driven SEO strategies designed for long-term growth and success. Vertify Agency Vertify Agency specializes in delivering cutting-edge SEO and digital marketing solutions for a wide range of industries. Main niches include: E-commerce: Driving traffic and improving conversion rates for online stores.Technology & SaaS: Tailored SEO strategies for tech companies and SaaS platforms.Healthcare: Boosting visibility and credibility for healthcare providers.Real Estate: Optimizing property listings for better search rankings.Game Development: Enhancing search visibility and engagement for gaming companies.Finance: Targeted SEO campaigns for financial services to attract quality leads. Company by the Numbers: 7+ years of digital marketing expertise200+ completed projects90% client satisfaction rateGlobal reach with clients across 10+ countries Services Offered: SEO audits and competitive analysisOn-page and technical SEO optimizationContent marketing and copywritingPaid advertising (PPC)Link-building and outreachConversion rate optimization (CRO)Local and international SEO strategies Vertify Agency delivers data-driven SEO strategies and digital marketing services that accelerate business growth and increase online visibility. Conclusion Elevate your game development company’s online presence with the right SEO agency by your side. Partnering with a team that is well-versed in the gaming industry can be the game-changer you need to attract the perfect audience. From creating customized strategies that enhance visibility to driving traffic and turning players into devoted fans, the ideal SEO agency will pave the way for your success. Whether you’re introducing a new game or aiming to expand your reach, collaborating with a top SEO agency will set your game development projects apart in a crowded market, setting the stage for lasting achievements.

At Kevuru Games, we specialize in high-quality game porting. Each of our projects meets industry standards and delivers an exceptional player experience. Our team focuses on optimizing performance, maintaining visual fidelity, adapting controls and design, and building a user interface that complies with platform standards. The priority is to create a consistent experience across platforms. Our collaboration with Poppy Playtime showcases our porting expertise at its best. About Project Poppy Playtime is an episodic survival horror game. The first episode was released in 2021 by Mob Entertainment. The adventures in the abandoned toy factory won players’ hearts immediately, with 77,000 positive reviews on Steam and 2.3 million units sold. The second episode release followed in 2022, and the third in 2024. Mob Entertainment decided to port Poppy Playtime 2 to the console that same year. When looking for professionals to do the job, they found us. About Client Mob Entertainment, formerly EnchantedMob, Inc., is a multimedia company known for creating the hit game Poppy Playtime. Two founders, brothers Seth and Zach Belanger, started with a YouTube channel and have grown into a full-scale gaming company. The goal: Ensuring a seamless PC-to-console transition with enhanced performance While the PC version had some performance limitations, our objective was to address these issues during the porting process and make the console versions lag-free. Porting doesn’t have one-size-fits-all solutions. The unique features of each game can make it more challenging to adapt to other platforms, often requiring custom approaches. Here are some of the challenges we encountered while porting Poppy Playtime 2. Challenge 1: Lighting The original game featured dynamic lighting. Special lighting volumes were also utilized to distribute it more efficiently. These volumes required ray tracing, a technology unavailable on consoles. Solution: Since using lighting volumes was not feasible, we replaced dynamic lighting with static lighting. The trick was to maintain as much similarity to the original as possible. Wherever possible, the lighting was baked to ensure consistent performance across all platforms. Challenge 2: Geometry The location geometry was very complex, which hindered light baking and optimization. Solution: We optimized the geometry and reworked the light maps for optimal performance and visual fidelity. As a result, we were able to perform light baking at nearly all points. Challenge 3: Rendering We encountered a large number of draw calls, causing significant performance issues in some locations. Solution: We employed static mesh combining, drastically reducing the number of draw calls. To further enhance location performance, we added instance levels. This trick helped preserve the quality of the geometry. Challenge 4: Physics To access the functionality of Unreal Engine’s new generation, we migrated the project from Unreal Engine 4.27 to version 5.4. This transition introduced inevitable issues with physics. Solution: We updated the entire physics system to the latest version of Unreal Engine, ensuring an optimal gameplay experience. While this introduced some additional bugs in the game’s functionality, fixing them was well worth the final result.  Extra Adjustments: Shaders: Some shaders were incompatible with the console, so we remade them to fit the new system while preserving the original look and feel.Characters: The original characters were overly heavy with too many polygons, so we optimized them for the console by removing unnecessary bones from their skeletons and adjusting their hair for better performance.Video Player: The original game’s video playback solution would crash on the PS4. To resolve this, we implemented a more universal and reliable approach to ensure smooth playback on consoles. Team structure Our star team of over ten professionals include: DevelopersQA testersTech artistUI designerProject manager They dedicated seven months to the project, working autonomously and meeting with clients only to present builds and gather feedback. Work process Research Our porting process for Poppy Playtime 2 started by gathering information on the game’s features. We then analyzed the source code to identify areas needing adjustments, like gamepad integration and performance tuning specific to each platform. Pre-development  At this stage, we upgraded the game engine to the new generation of Unreal Engine (version 4.27 to 5.4). This involved fixing all the bugs in the game’s physics that inevitably appear with such an update.  Main porting phase In the main phase, we refined the game’s physics and visuals, addressed high-priority bugs, and adapted the controls and UI for console play. The ready builds for each platform were presented to the client monthly.  Stabilization phase Once the build works without any blockers, we polish other smaller bugs, optimize the performance, and adjust all minor flaws according to the client’s feedback. The builds are ready for the final submission. Certification/final Versions for different console types were certified one by one. The game was released on four platforms in five months. This way, we completed our work on time according to the agreements with the client. Result: Successful release and high reviews We successfully ported Poppy Playtime 2 to four platforms: X-Box One, X-Box Series, PS4, and PS5. Upon release, the console versions received better reviews than the original PC version. Our porting team is proud of this achievement. They not only delivered a successful project but also enhanced its graphics and performance beyond the original. Looking for professionals to trust with your porting project? Contact us and witness the magic our team can bring to your video game.

Two last years have seen releases of great games, and here we will give you our top list from the point of view of industry professionals. The number and quality are so high that limiting the list to the top 10 is difficult. We asked our game developers team to name their favorites and created this subjective list of the best AAA games 2023/2024, explaining why each of them became a hit. Even if you are working on indie or niche games, you would follow the news about AAA games anyway. Not just because it’s hard to avoid but because they have a massive impact on the industry. With huge budgets and the expectations to deliver top-notch player experience, the publishers use the newest tech advances to reach the top in a crowded gaming market.  AAA games’ developer teams try hard to create the most original storylines and high-quality graphics. After gaining success, these titles go on in sequels and often get a new life in TV series or award-winning movies, such as The Last of Us or The Super Mario Bros. AAA, or Triple-A games, are typically made by big publishers who can afford high production costs. In return, these products bring extra revenue through downloadable content, merch sales, and other revenue models that can help bring more profit than just simple game sales. That’s why their marketing budgets are pretty big as well. Given all this, top AAA games often set trends for the whole industry, both in technology and creative aspects. Let’s start with the best triple-A games of 2023. 5 best AAA games of 2023 In 2023, the gaming industry saw quite some big releases in all genres. When looking at all triple-A games 2023 had to offer, not just action RPGs but also 2D platformers became hugely successful. Here is our selection, based on Opencritic reviews, awards, and of course, the opinion of our lead game developers. Hogwarts Legacy Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, PC Genre: Action RPG Publisher: Warner Bros. Games Source: www.hogwartslegacy.com This is the best-selling game among AAA games released in 2023, but that’s not the only reason why it’s on this list. Naturally, a massive part of its popularity comes from the immense fanbase of Harry Potter and everything related to him. The interesting part is the place that Hogwarts Legacy found in this universe. The game doesn’t follow any of the books about Harry Potter and doesn’t even have familiar characters. Hogwarts Legacy plays on the dream of all Harry Potter fans: to go to the wizard school themselves. In the game, players can create their wizards, attend classes, explore Hogwarts and the wizard world, and fight evil themselves. 15 million sold copies serve the best review possible. Super Mario Bros. Wonder Platform: Nintendo Switch Genre: Side-scrolling platformer Publisher: Nintendo Source: https://www.nintendo.com/ The game maintains a perfect balance between preserving the vibe of the old game that everybody loves and bringing new elements, such as Wonder Flowers, to entertain fans and enhance gameplay. The graphics and mechanics of the game were polished to perfection.  Super Mario Bros. Wonder was massively successful in both reviews and sales. It sold 4.3 million copies in the first two weeks after release, becoming the fastest-selling game in the Super Mario franchise. On Opencritic, it has a 91 Top Critic Average score. In 2023, the Super Mario Bros. franchise was indeed flourishing. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released the same year, grossed $1.02 billion globally, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of the year. Baldur’s Gate 3 Platform: PC, PlayStation 5 Genre: RPG Publisher: Larian Studios Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3/ Baldur’s Gate 3 is a long-awaited CRPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. The main character is infected by a mind flayer parasite and goes on a quest to find a cure while trying not to turn into a mind flayer themselves. The game features rich storytelling, superior tactical turn-based combat, and extensive freedom. All of this results in high replayability, which makes gamers addicted for a long time. Of all triple-A games released in 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 got the most Game of the Year prizes from respected awards such as The Game and Golden Joystick. The reviews from players are as high as critics’. The game continues the tradition of Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, each of which was truly remarkable. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Platform: PlayStation 5 Genre: Action-Adventure Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment Source: store.playstation.com Following two previous games in the Insomniac’s Spider-Man series, Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020), this edition includes both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Each has a unique skill set, and the player can switch between the two.  The game introduced an expanded open-world exploration of New York City, including Queens and Brooklyn. Players can swing through the city using the new Web Wings traversal mechanic and fight classical Marvel villains — Venom, Kraven the Hunter, and The Lizard. Both old fans and new gamers loved the game for its rich storyline. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Platform: Nintendo Switch Genre: Action-Adventure Publisher: Nintendo Source: www.nintendo.com The game is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Long-term fans of Zelda can continue Link’s journey in the kingdom of Hyrule, where players can explore new floating islands and subterranean environments. The game introduced innovative gameplay mechanics such as weapon fusion and time manipulation. Like many other top AAA game sequels, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes a deeper dive into the story, opening new characters and developing their stories. Altogether, the game has earned a spot on the list of new triple-A games of 2023. 5 best AAA games of 2024 This year is full of great titles. 2024 AAA games include sequels to classics Star Wars, Final Fantasy, and Call of Duty, along with other interesting releases. Here is the selection of the Top 5 from Kevuru game developers and gamers (based on average rates on Opencritic). Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Genre: First-Person Shooter Publisher: Activision Source: www.tomshardware.com The game is set in the early 1990s, a time of global transition after the end of the Cold War. Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 feels like being in a spy-thriller. Exciting story twists take players to different locations all around the world. Black Ops 6 has 16 new multiplayer maps that provide much space for continuous gaming. One of the most interesting features of this edition is Omnimovement, a new movement system that allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction. It makes the combat process more fluid. Also, the control system is easier and more accessible for players of all skill levels. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One Genre: Action RPG (Role-Playing Game) Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Source: www.instant-gaming.com The game is an expansion for the action RPG Elden Ring. The story is set in a vast open world called the Lands Between. Players navigate through fantastical landscapes filled with dangerous creatures and ancient ruins. Shadow of the Erdtree makes a deeper dive into the story of the Elden Ring universe with new narrative threads, characters, and backstories.  With a score of 94 on OpenCritic, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the highest-rated game release of the year as of October. High-level visual design of fantastic landscapes and complex level design will surely earn this game a spot on the list of top AAA games 2024. Frostpunk 2 Platform: PC Genre: Strategy Publisher: 11 bit studios Source: https://store.epicgames.com Frostpunk 2 blends survival, city-building, and resource management genres. Players take on the role of the Steward, leader of the city of New London. The world is in conditions of harsh cold, and city life is impacted by complex social and political dynamics. The reviews claim that Frostpunk 2 is twice as hard as its predecessor, which makes players love it twice as much. The game features a story campaign and “Utopia Builder” sandbox mode, allowing for infinite gameplay outside the main storyline. Star Wars Outlaws Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Genre: Action-Adventure Publisher: Ubisoft Source: https://en.idcgames.com/star-wars-outlaws%E2%84%A2/ The legendary franchise is so productive that a new game is released yearly. Star Wars Outlaws followed the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, released in 2023. The reviews for the latter were often superior, noting its immersive narrative, fluid combat mechanics, and story depth. On the other hand, Outlaws was criticized for its limited combat options, as players couldn’t use lightsabers or Force abilities, and for the unbalanced role options and lack of a traditional progression system, which affected gameplay variety and overall balance. The reason why Outlaws is present on this list is that it introduced the first open-world game in the Star Wars franchise (and because having two Star Wars games on one list is a bit too much). However, with all the imperfections, it has a 76 points Top Critic Average score on Opencritic. At Kevuru Games, we have a special sentiment for the Star Wars franchise as we have collaborated with Lucasfilm to create 3D characters for Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge VR-based game. You can read more about this project in our case study. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Platform: PlayStation 5 (exclusive) Genre: Action RPG Publisher: Square Enix Source: https://games.mxdwn.com/reviews/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-review/ The game is based on the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII, which was recently continued with Final Fantasy VII Remake. Critics note the “nostalgic recreation of key moments,” but the secret of the game’s success is not just nostalgia. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth introduces several vital features that expand the world from the previous version. The game offers a larger, open-world structure, allowing players to explore new locations like the Gold Saucer and Cosmo Canyon. The combat system improved with Synergy Abilities, which enabled two characters to perform combined attacks. Another innovation is the “Dynamic” mode, which adjusts to the player’s progress, providing a tailored experience. Which games will pass to history as the best AAA games of all time? For our short and subjective list of the best triple-A games of 2023 and 2024, the prediction would be as subjective. The games that will mark these years in the future of gaming will most likely be Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Out of upcoming AAA games in 2024, the one likely to take place on this list is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a survival horror by GSC Game World. With its focus on immersive environment graphics, intense survival mechanics, and a vast open world set in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, it promises to be a major contender for numerous awards in its genre. Kevuru Games Expertise in Triple-A Games Over the years, we have worked with many AAA games publishers and developers, such as Lucasfilm, Housmarque, Epic Games, Bandai Namco, and others. Key areas of our expertise in this niche are: 3D characters (skins, outfits, creatures and animals)Environment art and props (vehicles, weapons, individual elements to objects)Full-cycle game development Our favorite projects are the characters for Star Wars mentioned above and skins for Fortnite. We created 120 unique skin concepts for the latter, from girl-next-door Chance to fantastic Bushranger. Character art for Fortnite. Kevuru Games portfolio We work with both realistic and stylized game art, which makes our range of projects very wide. Contact us to find out how our team can help you create one of the best AAA games of all time. Conclusion Each year, we see top publishers competing with each other by introducing new tech innovations and polishing graphics to perfection to provide the best possible gaming experience. The vast majority of new AAA games 2024 published recently are sequels of famous games and, therefore, need less effort to attract gamers compared to brand new stories. Nevertheless, each one jumps higher every time to deliver the best product. And we will stay on watch for the next big thing.

A thrilling announcement – Kevuru Games will be sponsoring gamescom asia! The event will take place at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from the 17th to the 20th of October. We plan to attend both the business expo and the conference, and we are always open to meetings. You can schedule one via email of through the conference gamescom biz app. About the event Gamescom asia is the fourth edition of this renowned conference held in Singapore. Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the world. The event presents a great opportunity for industry players to connect and establish new collaborations. The conference agenda is full of with insightful talks. Our top picks include Anthony Hilkmann, founder and lead game designer of Radiobush, discussing puzzle games, and Soo Jeong Bae, CEO of Loadcomplete, sharing how a data-driven approach can fuel creativity.  The conference talks are just a part of the agenda. The event features a business expo, an indie area with developers and publishers, an investment circle, and a pitch competition. Gold sponsors of gamescom asia are Games from Spain and Xsolla. About Kevuru Games Kevuru Games is a global game development company. We have 13 years of experience in custom engineering and game art services. Our expertise covers full-cycle game production, 2D, 3D, AAA art and animation, characters and environment creation. We have collaborated with many clients, including top companies like Epic Games, Bandai Namco, Electronic Arts, and Lucasfilm. We welcome new collaborations and are excited to discuss your ideas and projects.Send us an email to schedule a meeting or meet us at the b2b party on 18 October if you’re also attending gamescom asia.

We are happy to announce that we will visit the legendary Tokyo Game Show for the first time, not just as a visitor, but as a sponsor. Kevuru games will be exhibiting at the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan from the 26th to the 29th of September, 2024. If you plan on attending the show, we will be happy to see you. Please email us to schedule a meeting. About the event Tokyo Game Show has been present for 28 years, growing with every event. Organized by the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications and is one of the biggest gaming industry events not just in Asia, but worldwide. Held twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, the total number of shows held over the decades is over 50. September edition will host a record number of 3,190 exhibition booths. 731 exhibitors will participate in the show, 283 of them from foreign countries. Over 250,000 people are expected to visit. This year’s show will host events by industry giants such as Aniplex, Koei Tecmo games, and Gamirror games. A key highlight of the program is a discussion on Death Stranding 2: On The Beach with Hideo Kojima, hosted by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Another exciting event is the Sense of Wonder Night (SOWN), showcasing innovative and experimental games from indie developers worldwide. Special Sponsors of the Tokyo Game Show are Monster Energy, YouTube, and Cybozu. We are looking forward to joining this incredible line-up of industry leaders and showcasing our work. Whether you’re an industry professional, a game enthusiast, or a potential partner, we invite you to stop by our booth and check out the work we’re proud to share. About Kevuru Games With 13 years of experience, Kevuru Games specializes in custom engineering and game art services. With expertise in full-cycle game production, art creation, and animation services, we have worked on numerous projects across various genres, including AAA titles. Kevuru Games has earned the trust of over 100 partners, including industry leaders such as Epic Games, Electronic Arts, and Eternal Horizons. We are always open to new partnerships and opportunities, so feel free to reach out with your ideas.