We continue our review of 2024 together with top managers and experts from the games industry (and related fields). Up next is an interview with Artur Beresnev, CEO of Alternative Stores Publishing at Mamboo.
What was 2024 like for Mamboo Games? What would you like to highlight in terms of achievements?
One of the company’s most successful areas has been publishing on alternative stores. As of November 2024, we have published over 600 games on alternative stores, achieving more than 15 million installs.
How has the market for publishers changed over the year?
The market has recovered since 2022 and continues to grow. More publishers are attempting to enter alternative stores, but not all succeed, as each alternative store is a unique ecosystem that can differ significantly from Google Play and the App Store.
Have there been any changes in working with developers, or have the developers themselves evolved?
There is a noticeable trend toward self-publishing, primarily on web platforms. Developers rely less on PPP (pay per prototype) / burn-rate models and focus on creating higher-quality products with a strong emphasis on IAP monetization. Overall, the dynamics are positive — the strongest developers have survived after the 2022 downturn, and the entry threshold for newcomers has risen. This translates into more effective collaborations with each new developer, with our company partnering with several dozen developers worldwide. In 2024, we successfully signed contracts with top publishers such as Voodoo, Azur, Amanotes, and Gismart for publishing their games on alternative stores.
What trends in game publishing do you expect to emerge or intensify in 2025?
The trend toward hybridizing the economy across all genres is expected to strengthen. Fewer developers are willing to pay store commissions and will seek ways to bypass this through third-party payment systems integrated into their products. Additionally, more developers will aim to launch on as many platforms as possible, generating steady income even from small revenue streams.
What are the company’s plans for the coming year?
In 2023, we focused solely on mid-core/hybrid projects, but we have now launched casual games on alternative stores. The plan is to scale casual, mid-core, and hybrid projects on alternative stores, with an emphasis on casual games. We aim to expand to new platforms, continue signing top developers, and ultimately become the #1 publisher on alternative stores.