Evony Rushes Through to Seize the Profitable Market Under Guo Yaoqi
Mobile gaming has become the biggest segment of the global gaming market. Recent data shows that mobile games now generate more than half of the industry's total revenue, surpassing both console and PC games combined. This trend continues to grow as more people worldwide gain access to affordable smartphones and faster internet.
More and more developers, including big publishers, are focusing on mobile releases to tap into this profitable market. In the indie space, Top Games, led by CEO Guo Yaoqi, recognized this potential early on. In 2016, they launched the addictive mobile strategy game Evony: The King’s Return, which has continued to grow in both revenue and downloads over the past eight years. Guo Yaoqi's strong vision and ability to oversee the production of high-quality mobile games have set him apart. Not only are the game's mechanics engaging, but its monetization strategy has also impressed many.
Top Games developer announced PC ports for Evony: The King’s Return in 2023, the critically acclaimed real-time war strategy mobile game from 2015. Since its release, Evony has steadily cultivated a sizable following with its deep gameplay, large SvS battlefields, and All-Star battle. Now, fans of the game can enjoy a grand spectacle that shatters visual expectations and immerses players in a true large-screen gaming experience.
Widely credited as one of the best strategy games to emerge in 2015, Evony is a free-to-play simulation game (SLG) where players manage city development, exploration, recruitment of historically renowned Generals, and engage in epic battles. Evony took social interaction in mobile gaming to a new level. Players could compete or collaborate in real-time with others from around the world. They can communicate with their allies on the Alliance page, or with players from other alliances on the World channel, and even make friends with players from other servers. During Server War (SvS), a Server War channel is added to the Chat interface, where players can trash talk before the SvS or just have a friendly chat. These various chat channels enrich the social experience in Evony, leading to greater player engagement and longer game lifecycles, as players return to compete against friends or join alliances. The game has attracted more than 200 million players.
Guo Yaoqi: Balancing Player Experience and Smart Monetization
Guo Yaoqi focuses on player experience in game design while also excelling at monetization strategies. Players enjoy spending small amounts while playing, buying packages or items to boost their progress. For game developers, creating a fun game that also supports monetization is an undeniable goal. With well-planned monetization strategies, developers can use profits from successful games to expand into different types of games. This opens up chances to compete in the market and allows them to focus more on creativity and innovation in game design, leading to more fun and high-quality games.
Evony: Engaging Gameplay with Thoughtful Microtransactions
However, balancing gameplay and monetization is crucial. For example, in Evony: The King’s Return, microtransactions are part of the system. In the latest event, "Great Expedition," players can get Expedition Dice by buying packages or completing quests. They can earn Expedition Medals, which can be exchanged for rare items in the Expedition Shop. Players may also encounter random special events that increase rewards. Shortcut routes are available to help complete laps faster.
A Seasoned Leader Building a Diverse Game Development Team
Guo Yaoqi has over 20 years of experience in software development, game design, and project management. He has brought together a team of talented people with the same goals, including technical leads, game designers, artists, and marketing experts. This team, known for its efficient and organized development style, has launched multiple cross-genre game projects within a few years. These range from strategy games and RPGs to adventure, magic, zombie/mafia, and even fun puzzle games like match-three. Their flagship game, Evony: The King’s Return, generated over $355 million in 2023 and serves players in more than 150 countries with support for 26 languages.
"Keeping players engaged requires breaking free from individual developer bias. We need regular content updates, active community interaction, and ongoing gameplay innovation. We focus on delivering regular updates that introduce new challenges, storylines, and features to keep the game fresh," Guo Yaoqi said.
Since its launch in 2016, Evony: The King’s Return has expanded its player base through Super Bowl ads, building a loyal following. Thanks to the team's ongoing efforts and thoughtful updates, the game continues to attract players over time. It's a fun game where families and friends can spend time together. Under Guo Yaoqi's leadership, the team has created a smart monetization strategy that opens doors for developing other game projects.
