Every year, as the days get shorter and colder, player engagement and spending heat up.
December sets the tone, and January hits the peak — with ARPU spiking across both the App Store and Google Play.
And the reason?
The holiday spirit, extra downtime, and gifting energy create the perfect storm for LiveOps success.
Let’s look back at what kept players hooked last winter and how to make the most of this one.
1. Albums
Royal Match and Merge Mansion proved how collectible albums with random drops and gacha-style rewards keep players hooked, always chasing that one last card
2. Passes
Royal Match’s Winter Pass and Hay Day’s Farm Pass showed how seasonal passes tie events together and turn daily play into steady monetization
3. Co-op Events
Monopoly Go! and Survivor,io turned festive fun into social fuel, proving that teamwork, light competition, and shared rewards create lasting engagement
Preparing for Winter 2025?
● Make it complex: Layer systems that reinforce each other (like albums + passes)
● Make it natural: Weave seasonal content into your game’s native tone
● Make it social: Tap into the holiday spirit of teamwork and giving
For deeper insights, check out AppMagic’s article:
🎯 https://lnkd.in/gDGpgyJE
Takeaway:
Winter isn’t just another content season — it’s the ultimate retention engine
Get your pacing, emotion, and event mix right, and your coldest months will become your hottest revenue window