Pixel P&L: The Truth Behind Evony, What Lies Beyond the Horde-Shooting Ads

Ever downloaded a mobile game expecting fast-paced shooting, but it is actually a base-building game with little resemblance to the frenetic battle scene you were sold on instead? Misleading ads are everywhere—and they’re raking in billions. Our feature explores why these deceptive tactics work so well, how they generate massive profits, and whether players are being misled or if it's just clever marketing.

We also report on Krafton’s college campus tours and a League of Legends esports roadmap for India.

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We’ve all been there—scrolling through social media, watching a mobile game ad where you're asked to save a character by pulling pins or solving puzzles. The gameplay looks simple, even frustratingly easy, and you’re convinced you could do better. But after downloading the game, you realize it’s nothing like what was promised. Instead of brain-teasing puzzles, you're matching candies or building a virtual base.

This bait-and-switch tactic might seem infuriating, but it's incredibly profitable. Mobile games like Gardenscapes and Evony have amassed billions in revenue by luring players in with deceptive ads. Gardenscapes alone has pulled in over $5 billion, while Evony is closing in on $2 billion. 

Our feature story today takes an in-depth look at why deceptive mobile game ads continue to thrive, how they effectively drive downloads, and the massive revenues they generate for developers. Are players being misled, or is this simply smart marketing in action? We explore the tactics behind these misleading ads and explain why, despite frustrations, they remain a dominant strategy in the industry.

Krafton India has launched its Esports Campus Tour 2024, taking competitive gaming to 64 colleges across India in a move that spans Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities. The games on offer include popular titles like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), Real Cricket, and Road to Valor: Empires, with a total prize pool of ₹2 crore. Each participating college gets ₹2 lakh, making it a notable event for students across the country.

The tour kicked off in August and has already hit 14 campuses, including big names like IIT Kanpur and K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering. It’s set to keep rolling through to March 2025, pushing esports deeper into the heart of India's student culture.

But beyond the cash and competition, there’s a broader agenda at play. Karan Pathak, Krafton India’s Associate Director of Esports, explained that the tour is as much about building a long-term gaming scene as it is about crowning champions. “This initiative is about creating opportunities and experiences,” Pathak said, as the tour looks to integrate esports with college cultural festivals.

The Esports Club Lays Out League of Legends Roadmap for India, South Asia

The Esports Club has outlined its roadmap for League of Legends in India and South Asia, focusing on long-term community engagement. While the TEC Community Cup’s July and August Opens and the Streamer Clash Invitational have already wrapped up, the upcoming Influencer Driven Community Clash and December’s TEC Community Clash are the next big events. A key feature of this roadmap is the TEC Rift Rulers Leaderboard, which will track the region’s top teams. The top four will secure direct invites to the TEC Community Clash in December.

Ambrus Studio’s E4C: Final Salvation Rises in Indian Gaming Post-Beta Launch

E4C: Final Salvation, a 3v3 MOBA developed by Ambrus Studio, has quickly gained traction in India following its beta launch. According to a release, the game ranked second in concurrent viewership for game streaming in the country, with an October 20 community showdown amassing over 200,000 views in just two hours and peaking at 31,000 concurrent viewers on YouTube. The game is currently available for download on the Google Play Store.

SOGF Seeks to Bring International Esports Championships to India

The Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF), backed by India’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, is pushing to host the International Esports Championships in India for the first time. According to a release, in a recent meeting with International Esports Federation (IESF) General Secretary Boban Totovski, Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya expressed support for the move, noting its potential impact on India’s esports ecosystem. SOGF aims to position India as a key player in the global esports scene, with discussions focused on organizing world-class tournaments and expanding opportunities for Indian gamers on the international stage.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Expected to Boost Xbox Game Pass Subscriptions

The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass is projected to drive a surge in subscriptions, though at the cost of game sales, according to industry analysts. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, speaking to GamesIndustry.biz estimates that while Xbox could lose up to six million game sales, the move may attract three to four million new Game Pass subscribers. The challenge, analysts say, will be retaining these subscribers beyond the initial draw of the game, which will ultimately determine the long-term success of the strategy for Microsoft's gaming service.

George Fan, the designer and creator of the beloved Plants vs. Zombies game, was fired by EA in 2012 for refusing to embrace microtransactions. Fan was against the idea of making Plants vs. Zombies a "pay-to-win" game, where players could buy in-game advantages. He believed that such a model would ruin the integrity and fun of the game, which was originally designed to be accessible and enjoyable for everyone without needing to spend money to succeed.

When Plants vs. Zombies became a hit after its release in 2009, it garnered millions of fans for its charming graphics, strategic gameplay, and humor. However, when EA acquired PopCap Games in 2011, the company shifted focus towards monetization strategies that included microtransactions.

Fan’s refusal to compromise his vision for the game ultimately led to his departure from PopCap. His stance against predatory monetization practices has earned him respect within the gaming community, especially as concerns over microtransactions and "pay-to-win" mechanics have grown. Today, Fan continues to develop games at his own game studio ‘All Yes Good’ and remains an advocate for consumer-friendly game design.