Tencent isn’t going anywhere soon, as the game company continues to roll in big bucks between its PC and mobile game divisions, to the tune of RMB 2.6 billion (U.S. equivalent $424 million) for the third quarter. However, PC has taken a healthy chunk of that, while mobile revenue is actually down a bit, mainly due to “delayed launches of upgrades,” according to Tech In Asia.
The company has proven that it can monetize its PC games, fitting in with the likes of World of Warcraft and League of Legends with ease. However, in the mobile market, it’s struggling a little bit, due to the fact that Chinese gamers are more likely to stick with longer-lasting PC efforts than games on their phones. In fact, quite a few of them delete said games from their devices, moving on to the next big thing that’s being offered.
Only a handful of Chinese mobile games have proven profitable, forcing Tencent to produce or license multiple games in order to see which ones actually “stick” with the intended audience. And even when one does manage to gain interest from an audience, it can take quite a bit of time for profits to emerge from said game, and by that time, some people may lose interest, moving on to whatever download is next in line.
However, there’s a fine line to walk with monetization, according to the article. Developers and publishers may feel pressure to try and create a system that relies heavily on monetization, but, as a result, could push certain gamers away, or overdo on the system, to the point it eclipses the game’s content.
Tencent believes it’s a work in progress, however. A strategic shift has to be planned out to keep the attention of mobile gamers, relying more on an improved user experience rather than a demand for increasing revenues. Now it’s just a matter of finding that system to put in place, one that works just as well as it does on the PC front, but without forcibly pushing away those turned off by the idea they have to pay so much to continue the game.
We’ll have to see how the company’s 2015 roll-out plays out. Here’s hoping it can make it work.
