Sanlo, a pioneer in financial technology for the gaming industry, recently disclosed the beta release of its innovative webshop tool, tailored for game developers and studios. This new solution integrates seamlessly with current tech frameworks, offering a select group of game creators a turnkey system to enhance their revenue streams. Interested developers now have the opportunity to explore the tool through a scheduled demo.
The conventional model of in-app purchases, which often includes a hefty 30% fee imposed by giants such as Google and Apple, has been a point of contention for smaller gaming enterprises striving for profit. The industry behemoth, Epic, has vocally criticized Apple’s share as excessively burdensome on smaller companies.
In response to these high fees, a shift is occurring among mobile game developers, who are increasingly adopting external webshops. This trend allows companies to sell directly on their websites with considerably lower fees, ranging from 4-10%. This direct sales approach not only circumvents the substantial cuts taken by app stores but also potentially elevates revenues; Sanlo’s data suggests developers could witness up to a 25% increase in revenue through webshops.
A webshop is one of those super tactical steps that actually proved to show that you can implement revenue from,
stated Sanlo’s co-founder and CEO Olya Caliujnaia. She emphasized the value of webshops in engaging the most dedicated players who benefit from exclusive offers, ultimately enhancing their gaming experience.
Sanlo’s webshop tool equips game developers with a suite of promotional tools such as special digital items, bundled packages, discounts, and loyalty rewards to attract more players. Additionally, developers gain access to valuable player data, enabling them to tailor offers to individual user profiles and purchase behaviors.
Sanlo assures flexibility in pricing for the webshops, with no maximum limits, and promises weekly deposits of earnings into developers’ accounts. However, a notable challenge is the restriction by Apple and Google on promoting webstores within mobile games. To combat this, Sanlo provides marketing strategies including in-game prompts, email campaigns, and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) tracking for effective promotion of the webshop.
An undisclosed roster of gaming companies have already been integrated into Sanlo’s webshop platform, among them Fusebox Games, known for mobile titles that draw inspiration from the ‘Love Island’ franchise.
Fusebox Games’ COO, Terry Lee, expressed appreciation for the simplicity and support that Sanlo’s plug-and-play tool offers, citing the vital assistance for smaller enterprises that lack extensive internal technical resources.
Sanlo, established by Olya Caliujnaia and William Liu (CTO) in 2020, is on the path to a full-scale launch of this webshop product by the summer season. The team brings a wealth of experience from notable entities like Capital One, Electronic Arts, and Sony PlayStation. With $13.5 million in funding and support from a range of investors, Sanlo is positioned to make a significant impact on how game developers monetize their creations.
While webstore solutions are not a novel concept, with companies like Xsolla and Appcharge in the mix, the introduction of Sanlo’s tool offers a fresh perspective. It joins the ranks of successful games such as Clash of Clans and Marvel Strike Force, which have already leveraged the benefits of webshops.
