Discover how Playsome utilized Metaplay's backend platform to seamlessly expand their user base, navigate app store fees, and launch their hit game, Friends & Dragons, across multiple platforms.
Playsome is a Finnish game development studio and publisher specializing in mid-core strategy RPGs.
Founded in 2019 by industry veterans from Next Games, Housemarque, and Bugbear Entertainment, Playsome has quickly made a name for themselves in the gaming industry.
Their latest title, Friends & Dragons, exemplifies their commitment to delivering deep, strategic gameplay.
Keep reading to find out more about Playsome’s experience choosing Metaplay as their backend service of choice, all the way from initial hesitation to integration and white-glove feature implementation.
Inital challenges
When launching Friends & Dragons in 2020, Playsome faced several significant challenges. They needed to create a seamless cross-platform experience that would work smoothly across both mobile and web platforms.
The game’s complex mechanics - such as hero collecting, server-side battles, and matchmaking - required a robust backend infrastructure that could handle the demands without overwhelming their development team.
Additionally, they needed to navigate the growing issue of app store fees, which can significantly reduce revenue for game developers.
Initially, Playsome considered building an in-house solution. However, they quickly realized that this approach would be too time-consuming and resource-intensive, delaying their launch by years and resulting in lost revenue.
Metaplay from the get go
By partnering with Metaplay from the outset of their project, Playsome was able to accelerate the development of Friends & Dragons significantly.
Metaplay’s dedicated tools and technology enabled them to build and launch the game in just six months - a fraction of the time it would have taken to develop an in-house solution.
This allowed Playsome to focus on what they do best: Creating captivating gameplay and fostering player engagement.
Metaplay allowed them to manage the game’s intricate mechanics, including inventory management, guilds, and chat features, all in one place.
Additionally, Metaplay’s collaborative approach led to the development of PlaysomeID, a custom solution that enabled players to save their progress and make purchases effortlessly across platforms.
Collaborative Innovation: The Development of PlaysomeID
The biggest hurdle on the road to seamless cross-platform gaming was the implementation of a fully functioning ID-system.
While Metaplay didn’t initially offer this as part of their standard tooling, it became clear early on that there will be an increased demand of ID-systems, with cross-platform game releases winning ground every day. This led to the creation of the PlaysomeID.
As a full white-glove implementation Metaplay developed the PlaysomeID, enabling seamless account transfers, progress saving, and login management across devices, contributing to the success of Friends & Dragons,
Metaplay's CompanyID system is currently under development and will be launched as an officially available feature in late 2024.
The increased importance of browser-based games
As app store fees continue to rise, browser-based games have become increasingly important for developers. The current situation with EU's new Digital Markets Act has changed the stakes for apps and has proven to be a powerful stance in keeping big players such as Apple and Google in check.
If you want to learn more about the DMA and what it means for your business, check out the breakdown at PocketGamer.biz here.
The prospect of being able to expand the userbase while also increasing revenue is a no-brainer to most of us, although it does require a a dedicated third-party payment provider.
By expanding Friends & Dragons to the web, Playsome was able to reduce their reliance on app stores and cut their in-app purchase (IAP) fees significantly.
This significant reduction in fees allowed Playsome to offer better value to their players, reinvesting the savings into the game to provide larger value packs and enhanced player rewards.
When considering platform fees, it’s crucial to recognize that the impact is even more significant if your game attracts high-spending players, often referred to as 'whales'.
Unlike app stores, which typically cap in-app purchases at $100, third-party payment providers often have no such restrictions. This flexibility allows you to offer larger, more valuable bundles to your players, maximizing revenue and enhancing their experience.
What's next for Playsome?
With Metaplay’s backend technology, Playsome successfully launched Friends & Dragons to millions of players worldwide.
The game has been continually refreshed with over-the-air content updates, and has been praised for its addictive strategy gameplay and active community.
This success has solidified Playsome’s reputation as one of the key players in the live service RPG genre.
As Playsome continues to grow Friends & Dragons, they are also working on their next title, which will follow a similar cross-platform strategy. Once again, they are building on Metaplay’s robust backend platform to ensure a smooth and scalable launch.
Interested in recreating Playsome's success?
Metaplay’s managed service plans start at just €995 per month and include full access to the Metaplay SDK. To try Metaplay yourself, head to portal.metaplay.dev, evaluate the Metaplay SDK at no cost, and start shipping commercially in just a few steps.
