Recently, a new game has become the latest hot topic, drawing widespread attention in the gaming community and beyond. Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or not, you’ve likely noticed the buzz around Black Myth: Wukong. This AAA single-player action role-playing game reportedly has a development cost exceeding 400 million RMB. Over the past decade, the gaming market has seen rapid growth, particularly with the rise of esports. Now, with the advent of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and generative AI, the gaming industry is undergoing a new wave of innovation. The focus for developers is on effectively leveraging these technologies to enhance the depth and quality of user experiences.
Although there are many AAA game enthusiasts worldwide who prefer to buy physical or digital copies of games for their realistic, high-definition graphics and detailed gameplay, it is undeniable that AAA games have higher development costs and longer development cycles compared to mobile games. Mobile games, with their lower barriers to entry, quicker development iterations, lower risks, and strong profitability, have attracted a large number of developers. Today, we will focus on exploring a war strategy game called Evony: The King’s Return. Released in 2016, this game has been on the market for over eight years, accumulating over 200 million downloads.
Mobile Game “King” Coming：Evony: The King’s Return
Thanks to its strong user retention and robust in-app purchasing capabilities, it generated more than $355 million in revenue in 2023 alone. The game is developed by Top Games, Inc., a global independent game developer. The CEO, David Guo, is a seasoned software developer with extensive experience in the industry.
What is it about Evony that makes it so cool and keeps players hooked spending endless time building their empires and fighting battles? The game’s draw comes from its in-depth strategy historical setting, and tight-knit player community.
Exciting Events That Keep Players Coming Back
Evony keeps things exciting with frequent events that inject fresh energy into the game and get the community involved. Take the Revelation of Horus event, for example. Starting on May 31st, this event promises players the chance to win coveted rewards like the Historic General (Narses), the Epic Historic General (Premium), Meteoric Stones, and other rare items. The event’s structure is designed to keep players intrigued, with quests revealed in stages: ‘Hidden Revelation’ and ‘Revealed Revelation’. Players who complete quests earlier earn higher rankings on the leaderboard, and the rewards include the event-exclusive Horus Gold Coins. These coins can be redeemed for valuable items, adding a layer of excitement and strategy to the event.
Social Interaction and Community Building
Evony stays popular due to its emphasis on player interactions. The game’s team system pushes players to team up, plan together, and help each other in good times and bad. This setup gets a boost from live chat options that work in many languages helping players from all over the world talk to each other. Big events like the Revelation of Horus don’t just add competition – they bring players together to work out plans for getting the most rewards, which makes the community even closer.
Continuous Updates and Player Engagement
Top Games Inc. understands the importance of keeping the game fresh and engaging. Regular updates introduce new content, features, and collaborations, such as events tied to popular movies or historical themes. This ongoing development ensures that even veteran players find something new to explore. Late last year, Evony teamed up with the Napoleon movie, produced by Apple Original Films and distributed by Sony Pictures, aiming to captivate audiences with the grandeur and complexity of the Napoleonic era. This partnership has proven to be a win-win, offering both players and film enthusiasts an action-packed experience. Evony plans to continue pursuing similar collaborations in the future, aiming to provide players with even more exciting and immersive experiences.
