The recent mobile launch of “Balatro,” a poker roguelike game developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, has quickly demonstrated the potential for premium mobile games to generate substantial revenue. Released on September 26 for $9.99 on both iOS and Android, Balatro has swiftly climbed to the top of the paid game charts in multiple major Western markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Based on estimates from Appmagic, the game has already amassed over $500,000 in net revenue, translating to over $710,000 in gross spend, which suggests approximately 71,000 downloads within just five days of its release.
This impressive performance underlines the market’s readiness to embrace high-quality, paid mobile games, even with Apple and Google taking a significant 30% cut from sales. The developers and publishers have still managed to secure earnings of around $100,000 per day, a testament to the game’s appeal and strategic timing of its release. Moreover, these figures do not take into account the additional income from the Apple Arcade version, “Balatro+,” which ranks first in Apple’s ‘Top Arcade Games’ chart in the UK, further suggesting robust interest and strong player engagement.
The Impact of Subscription-Based Gaming Models
The recent mobile release of “Balatro,” a poker roguelike game by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, has showcased the revenue potential of premium mobile games. Launched on September 26 at $9.99 for both iOS and Android, Balatro quickly rose to the top of the paid game charts in major Western countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. According to estimates from Appmagic, the game has generated over $500,000 in net revenue and around $710,000 in gross spend, which equates to about 71,000 downloads in just five days.
This remarkable performance illustrates the market’s readiness for high-quality, paid mobile games, even with Apple and Google taking a 30% cut from sales. Despite this, the developers and publishers have managed to earn roughly $100,000 daily, highlighting the game’s allure and timely release. Additionally, these numbers don’t include the extra income from the Apple Arcade version, “Balatro+,” which ranks first in Apple’s ‘Top Arcade Games’ chart in the UK, indicating robust interest and strong player engagement. This success paints a promising future for premium mobile games.
