📈 Wuthering Waves at #1 downloads takes on Genshin Impact!

Chinese developer Kuro Games attempts to take on Mihoyo's Genshin Impact in possibly the biggest challenge to date

Hey GameMakers,

This week, we check out Wuthering Waves, which hit the scene hard and burst out of the gates at #1 worldwide downloads—mixed reactions on whether it can effectively compete with Genshin Impact.

A few stats:

• Cumulative Downloads: 46.9M

• Cumulative Net Revenue: $11.8M

• RPD (5 days in): $0.25

Hit?

Miss?

Check out more details below!

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Will Launch Day One On Game Pass

The upcoming Call of Duty title will be available on Game Pass from day one, with a full reveal at Xbox's summer showcase. (Decrypt) (GameInformer) (ONE Esports)

2. Tencent’s DnF Mobile Surpasses Honour of Kings in Revenue

Tencent's Dungeon & Fighter (DnF) Mobile has become a major hit on Apple's China App Store, surpassing the daily revenue of Honour of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite. The game, developed by Neople, achieved $9.86 million in weekly revenue shortly after its May 22 release. DnF Mobile remains the top free-to-download game on the China App Store, significantly boosting Tencent's gaming business, which saw a decline earlier this year. Despite initial server issues, the game's strong debut highlights its popularity among former PC game players. (SCMP)

3. Exploring The Intersection Between AI and Indie Game Development

A look into how indie developers integrate AI into their game development processes and the ethical considerations involved. (GameInformer)

4. YouTube Rolls Out Playables Games to All Users

YouTube has expanded its Playables program to all users, initially exclusive to Premium members. This feature lets users play over 75 games directly on YouTube's website and mobile apps. The games range from chess and crossword puzzles to popular casual titles like Angry Birds Showdown!, Trivia Crack, and Cut the Rope. Players can save their progress and track high scores. This move follows a trend among tech companies that are adding gaming options to attract and retain subscribers. (The Verge)

5. Black Myth: Wukong – Mythical Action RPG, Releasing This Year

A preview of Black Myth: Wukong, an action RPG based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The article discusses the game's stunning visuals, challenging combat, and rich mythological setting. (NextShark)

JK Note: Game Science is one of the major Chinese game studios you should follow. They can potentially be the next MiHoYo.

6. MultiVersus Returns as Free-to-Play Platform Fighter in the Warner Bros. Universe

MultiVersus, the free-to-play platform fighting game, has returned to general availability today. The game, initially released in July 2022, was taken down in June 2023 for redevelopment and is now relaunched with updates, including a shift to Unreal Engine 5, a new PvE "Rifts" mode, and enhanced character moves. (GamesBeat)

7. Wuthering Waves | Hit or Miss?

Hit | Hits Almost $10 Million in Mobile Revenue in Five Days

Wuthering Waves, a new gacha game from Kuro Games, generated $9.78 million in IAP revenue and nearly 6 million downloads within five days of its global launch on May 22. China led in revenue contribution, followed by the US and Japan. The game's peak daily revenue reached $2.7 million on May 24, with most revenue and downloads coming from the App Store. The game's early success indicates a strong start, with expectations to surpass $14 million in its first week. (PocketGamer)

Miss | A Disappointing Wait

After two years of anticipation, Wuthering Waves has finally launched but falls short of expectations. Performance issues, such as frequent crashes and lack of controller support on Android, marred the experience. Despite these flaws, the game features smooth combat mechanics with parrying and dodging. However, the game offers little new beyond combat, borrowing heavily from competitors like Genshin Impact. While the open-world exploration includes improvements like grappling and wall-climbing, the execution feels underwhelming. (AndroidPolice)

8. Moonton Not for Sale as Bytedance Stays in the Game with New CEO

Bytedance, despite rumors of selling Moonton Studios, has appointed Zhang Yunfan as the new CEO, indicating a strategic shift rather than an exit from gaming. Formerly of Perfect World, Zhang will lead Moonton, known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. This move comes as Bytedance restructures its gaming business amid regulatory challenges and high costs while retaining its lucrative assets. (PocketGamer)

JK Note: Don’t be surprised if Moonton carves out rather than staying as a part of Bytedance or being sold.

9. How Supercent’s New Games Made It to the Top in the Stagnating Hypercasual Market

Despite industry stagnation, Supercent's new games, Burger Please! and Outlets Rush, have succeeded significantly in the hypercasual market. Burger Please! garnered 84M downloads, maintaining 2M monthly installs, while Outlets Rush reached 52M downloads. Supercent's success is attributed to strategic user acquisition (UA) using video and playable ads, sub-source optimization, and leveraging small-scale ad networks to manage costs and reach diverse player groups. This unique approach has allowed Supercent to stand out in a competitive market. (AppMagic)

10. Nintendo Game Teams: Organizational Structure and Success

Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) group, established after a 2015 reorganization, consists of ten distinct teams responsible for different franchises. Notable teams include EPD 3, which develops Zelda games, EPD 5, handling Animal Crossing and Splatoon, and EPD 8, known for 3D Mario titles. This structure allows for specialized, high-quality game development, leading to significant commercial success. EPD's decentralized approach promotes innovation and efficiency, contributing to Nintendo's sustained profitability and high employee retention. (Naavik)

Top 10 Mobile Charts (Worldwide, US, and China)

Source: data.ai estimate

• Yo, Wuthering Waves is finally here and starting strong at #1 Downloads.

• Over the past few weeks, the “super profitable” Monopoly Go is losing ground in its grudge match with Royal Match.

• Last War is shockingly holding firm at #2 Revenue. Impressive move up over the past few weeks.

Source: data.ai estimate

• In Royal Match vs. Monopoly and Whiteout vs. Last War, second place in the US seems fine, as those games win worldwide outside the US.

• Surprisingly, Brawl Stars, despite download volume in the US, isn’t ranking for revenue in the US.

Source: data.ai estimate

• At #1 downloads and #2 revenue, Dungeon & Fighter Mobile is the mobile adaptation of the popular PC game by Nexon subsidiary Neople.

• At #7 revenue, 出发吧麦芬-线条小狗联动 (Let's Go, Muffin - Line Dog Collaboration) is an idle game combining adventure elements with idle and offering the collection of in-game items and pets.

Top 10 Mobile Publishers

Source: data.ai estimate

Top 10 Steam Games

Source: Steam Charts

• Total War: Warhammer 3 increased sales last week due to the new DLC Thrones of Decay. Creative Assembly implemented a new pricing model allowing players to purchase the expansion individually or in a bundle.

🔦 Wuthering Waves starts strong, but can it effectively compete against Genshin Impact?

Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play gacha game developed by Chinese studio Kuro Games. It is also known for its previous title, Punishing: Gray Raven.

The game is inspired by Genshin Impact and has many similar features and stylistic choices.

MARKET DATA

In its initial launch week, Wuthering Waves did exceptionally well.

The game officially launched globally on May 22, 2024, and has quickly become the #1 game in worldwide downloads.

Market data based on SensorTower estimates for May 22, 2024 - May 27, 2024:

• Cumulative Downloads: 46.9M

• Cumulative Net Revenue: $11.8M

• RPD (5 days in): $0.25

RPD based on SensorTower estimates

When analyzing the data geographically, we note the clear overperformance from a monetization perspective when we look at Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, China, and South Korea. This is a pretty typical monetization performance for RPG-based games.

KEY FEATURES

1. Open World Exploration

• Expansive Environment: The game features a vast open world filled with diverse terrains, from lush forests to desolate wastelands similar to Genshin Impact.

• Dynamic Weather System: Players can experience varying weather conditions that affect gameplay, such as rain, fog, and storms, adding a layer of realism and challenge.

2. Engaging Combat System

• Real-Time Action: Wuthering Waves boasts a fluid and responsive real-time combat system, allowing players to execute combos, dodges, and special attacks seamlessly.

• Character Abilities: Each character has unique abilities and skill sets that players can master, offering a range of playstyles from melee combat to ranged attacks and magical spells.

3. Deep Storyline

• Narrative-Driven: The game features a rich, narrative-driven storyline that unfolds through quests, character interactions, and cutscenes, drawing players into a compelling fantasy world.

• Multiple Endings: Player choices significantly impact the story, leading to multiple possible endings and enhancing replayability and player engagement.

4. Character Customization

• Extensive Options: Players can customize their characters' appearance, equipment, and skills. This includes choosing different outfits, weapons, and accessories that alter the look and impact combat effectiveness.

• Skill Trees: Each character has a detailed skill tree, allowing for in-depth customization and specialization, enabling players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyle.

5. Multiplayer Features

• Co-op Mode: Players can collaborate with friends or other players worldwide to tackle challenging dungeons and bosses, promoting teamwork and strategic play.

• PvP Battles: For those who enjoy competitive play, Wuthering Waves includes Player vs. Player (PvP) arenas where players can test their skills against others.

6. Graphics & Sound

• High-Quality Graphics: Leveraging advanced graphics technology, Wuthering Waves delivers strong visuals with highly detailed character models, animations, and environments.

• Immersive Soundtrack: The game features an original soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. The music dynamically changes to match the in-game action and settings.

GAME SENTIMENT

Top 3 Positive Comments

1. Stunning Visuals and Immersive Sound: Players praise the game's high-quality graphics and sound design. The attention to detail in the environments and character designs creates an immersive experience that enhances the game's overall enjoyment. The original soundtrack adds depth, making the gameplay more engaging​ (GameBou.com).

2. Engaging Combat System: The fluid and dynamic combat system is a highlight for many players. The ability to switch between characters with unique abilities and the inclusion of quick-time events and strategic dodging add layers of complexity and excitement to battles​ (GameBou.com)​​ (Push Square).

3. Regular Updates and New Content: Players appreciate the developers' commitment to keeping the game fresh with regular updates and new content. This includes new quests, missions, and multiplayer challenges, which keep the gameplay exciting and encourage continuous engagement​ (GameBou.com).

Top 3 Complaints

1. Performance Issues: Despite the game's high-quality visuals, some players have reported performance issues, particularly on mobile devices. Complaints include crashes, lag, and other technical difficulties that detract from the overall experience​ (Push Square).

2. Lack of Controller Support: Many players have expressed frustration over Android devices' lack of controller support. This makes the game difficult to play on mobile platforms, especially during intense combat situations​ (Push Square).

3. Slow Progression and Pay-to-Win Elements: Some players feel the game's progression is too slow and heavily influenced by its gacha mechanics. The reliance on in-app purchases to obtain powerful characters and items can make it feel like a pay-to-win game, which is a common point of criticism in gacha-based titles​ (GameBou.com).

CONCLUSION

Ooof. I can’t play these deep narrative games personally, but I get the anime theme and the appeal, especially to Asian gamers who love all the story nonsense. Lol.

Anyway, Wuthering Waves seems to be a really solid challenger to Genshin Impact, and the developer certainly put a lot of care and effort into the game.

Even with a strong start, it’ll be a major challenge to maintain momentum to take an appreciable share from Genshin. You can check out a more in-depth guide to the game below, and I believe this game certainly has a chance to become fairly significant.

Good luck to Kuro Games!