NEW DELHI: Microsoft recently decided to consider including in-game advertising for Xbox Games. Following Microsoft, Sony is also planning to include advertising in Playstation games. Both gaming The giant is supposed to only put ads on free games on their respective consoles. These ads will appear in these games and will be designed to provide game developers with a way to monetize their work and encourage them to continue building free games. Players also have the ability to receive rewards for viewing ads, and these ads will be sold through the private market. Both companies are expected to introduce ads in free games later this year. However, it’s important to note that the in-game ads that Sony and Microsoft are planning to offer will appear in conspicuous places in the game, such as billboards. These ads will be different from the in-game ads used on play mobile games. But what? In-game advertising And how do they help developers? Here we will discuss different types of in-game ads and how they are useful to mobile game developers.
Freelance app developers can also use mobile game advertising as a user retention tool to incentivize users to return to their games by offering users certain rewards when interacting with ads. For example, developers can prompt users to engage with a rewarded ad unit that will give them the exact amount they need to keep playing.
What is in-game advertising?
Game developers use in-game advertising as a monetization strategy to increase revenue from their games. When a user sees a mobile game ad on their game, the developers earn and get paid per view. An IronSource survey found that 73% of gamers are satisfied with the existing ad-based game model.
Types of in-game ads in mobile games
Developers can use different types of mobile game advertising strategies and ad formats to drive revenue from mobile game ads. Developers can integrate different types of ads including – rewarded video ads, offer wall ads and interstitials among others. We’ve listed a few here:
Playable Ads – These types of ads are like mini-games that users can try out before deciding to install. These ads are often interesting, deliver a good user experience, and even deliver the highest eCPM or effective cost per mille (thousand) in the industry.
Rewarded Video Ads – These ads provide the user with a clear value return when the user watches a video ad and redeems it for a reward. However, these types of ads are opt-in ads that users can choose not to see. Rewarded video ads drive in-app purchases (IAPs) and encourage users to return to the game.
Offerwall – Offerwall is almost like a small store inside the game. These ads aggregate tasks that users can complete to receive in-game rewards. These types of ads are completely user-initiated, greatly extending the length of a gaming session, and can even deliver large eCPMs.
Interstitial Ads – These ensure minimal disruption to the user experience. With a natural pause in the app flow, interstitials engage users with rich, customizable, and engaging in-app or static video ads.
How do in-game ads help developers?
In-game advertising helps game developers generate additional revenue through mobile game advertising. Some users don’t play for pay, however, aside from IAP, mobile game advertising is a great monetization strategy that developers can use. Experts reveal that games with strategically placed ad placement can generate eCPM close to $50-$100 using in-game ads.
The survey also mentioned that a proper mobile game strategy supported by in-game ads can increase IAP by 6x. Some ad units act as part of the in-game economy, for example – rewarded video ads, giving users a feel for the IAP the game offers and showing them the importance importance of in-game gadgets. Instead of interacting with the rewarded video, gamers often have to pay for the IAP.
Developers can also use mobile game advertising as a user retention tool to incentivize users to return to their games by offering users certain rewards when interacting with ads. For example, developers can prompt users to engage with a rewarded ad unit that will give them the exact amount they need to keep playing.
Finally, these ads also enhance the user experience, especially the ad units that are included in the game loop for the best results. For example, developers can offer users free rewards like coins for viewing or interacting with ads at specific points in the game. The survey also mentions that according to 71% of gamers, watching video ads is the preferred way to ‘pay’ for in-game content.
