Hyper-Casual Trend Digest #8
The latest edition of Trend Digest is already here, packed with a blend of exciting news and trends. As usual, we’ve included a thought-provoking insight at the end of the article. This time it’s focused on the significance of testing in ASO. We are also thrilled to share with you that this newsletter now has over 3,000 subscribers. Thank you all for the support 🧡🖤
HYPER NEWS 🗞
🔗 Approved: The EU gives Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard the go ahead
The EU has approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard—a deal which, if closed, would be the biggest acquisition in gaming history at $68.7 billion. At the same time, the USA’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to block the deal, and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opted to block the deal last month. However, China approves Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition.
🔗 Indie classic World of Goo comes to Netflix Games
Indie classic World of Goo, released in 2008, came out on Netflix Games on May 23. It’s free for subscribers, and it offers updated graphics and cloud saving. It seems that Netflix continues to prioritize games and remains ad-free.
Fortnite is making a comeback on iOS via the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service after its removal from the platform during a legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple. By offering Fortnite through Luna, Amazon provides an alternative for players to access to the game on iPhones and iPads, bypassing Apple’s strict app ecosystem.
🔗 600 jobs go as Unity completes their largest round of layoffs yet
Unity has laid off 600 employees, around 8% of its workforce, to streamline operations and to improve financial performance. The layoffs come amidst a decline in Unity stock price and challenging market conditions.
🔗 Will Apple’s iOS sideloading be a Europe exclusive?
Leaks suggest that iOS 17 will bring general performance improvements but no major changes, except for Europe. To comply with European regulations, iOS 17 may introduce the ability to sideload apps, a departure from Apple’s traditionally locked-down approach. The specifics of how this feature will work and its implications for different regions and developers remain unclear.
And some fresh stats for you 👀 :
- Advertising Drives $2 Out of Every $3 Spent on Mobile
- Almost 50 thousand advertisers in the mobile games space created new creatives in Q1 2023, accounting for 92.22% of the total number of advertisers
- In 2023, there was a decline in ad impressions and effective cost per mile (CPM) across platforms, while in-app purchases experienced growth
HYPER TRENDS 📱
Time for movies and TV series
The movie “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has already made a lot of noise on the internet and has gone viral on various media platforms. It was also among the top trends on TikTok recently. The movie will have its premiere this October.
The Flash will premiere on June 16. Interestingly, the Batman mask recently has gone viral on TikTok.
Also, at the end of June, a new adventure awaits us in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”.
Don’t forget about the premiere of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The first movie got a lot of positive reviews. Let’s see how the fans react on the media to the new one.
Various and interesting things on Imgur and Reddit
It’s been a long time since we told you about Reddit and Imgur: you can still find popular videos from factories, featuring construction sites, and some art mechanics there. Of course, these platforms are diverse in sections and topics, and you can find any information. The main thing is to understand what concepts or ideas may be relevant to your projects.
GorgeousGeorgieous | bexxMaker | Wirefish
New TikTok effects
TikTok masks appear literally every week. Sometimes masks with games become a trend, and sometimes masks featuring celebrities or movies go viral.
lukalangabriel |the.yolohouse | starwarsmaniaa
Trends on YouTube and TikTok
CapCut templates continue to get a lot of views and become viral fairly quickly if the user’s favorite characters or celebrities are there.
Game mechanics: using a Mini Cooper for a BIG Surprise, a soccer idea, tasting different liquids.
gettishow | woodyandkleiny | adifishy
Beyoncé’s concert tour is still a popular topic, and people are making videos using her songs. Some masks have appeared with the elements from her show: robots, a hat with a reference to a bee, and microphones.
michaelc.love | djwawamusic | nadinesuliaman
Some videos with the mechanics of drawing:
juliagisella | RajnishSketchArt
A collection of challenges and popular videos:
howridiculous | Jesser | Matt.Larose
Trend-based projects
Some food-themed projects have been spotted lately. Often developers use simple and recognizable dishes like sandwiches, soups, and burgers. What’s interesting is that sometimes they also include national dishes.
It’s also exciting that an old hair accessory trend has taken off. Here are more examples of such projects: Hair Band DIY 3D, Hairband DIY, Hairband DIY 3D.
Fruit Roll Ups → Trend | DIY Hairband → Trend | Kunafa Chef: Dessert Master → Trend
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 🤔
Today, our beloved ASO lead, Daria Pisareva, shares her thoughts on the significance of testing in ASO:
“Many people underestimate the importance of A/B testing for the elements of store listing and often make visual changes without conducting hypothesis testing. However, A/B testing is a superior option for several reasons. Firstly, it saves time by providing clear insights into the performance of different variants, allowing data-driven decisions instead of guesswork. Secondly, it improves accuracy by evaluating multiple variants concurrently, minimizing inaccuracies caused by factors like app positions and competitor landscape. Thirdly, it offers a safer approach by exposing only a portion of the audience to test variants, mitigating potential negative impacts. Lastly, A/B testing reduces subjectivity in decision-making by providing practical assessments based on real-world performance. For example, making graphics changes without testing during holidays can lead to unexpected outcomes.”
