Posts

The best bet: cross-platform games

How cross-platform games enable players to become more loyal and allow businesses to thrive.

The conversation around cross-platform gaming is loud, today more than ever. Some players prefer one console to another, some like PC s better, and others love their mobile devices. There has been this rivalry between platforms for years now.

This past year in particular we’ve been watching how, slowly but surely, things are starting to change and although there is still some resistance from some elements in the industry, the evidence is right there . We are watching every day how cross-platform games enable players to become more loyal to games and they are allowing businesses to grow in ways we’ve never seen before. 

From the player’s perspective, having the opportunity to play with friends no matter the device they own, just makes things easier and takes the experience of playing to a whole new level. This accessibility is key in allowing the gaming community to connect with one another and encourages players to become loyal to their favorite games.

So, why aren’t all games cross-platform if its advantages are so obvious? 

For starters, the gaming console market is still worth more than PC games by a few billion dollars. As a matter of fact, with PlayStation releasing PS5 and Nintendo, allegedly, working on an upgraded Switch to release next year, the PC game market is expected to drop (to see the stats click here ).

Not to mention the technical challenge that it represents to build one of these games: for it to run smoothly on different platforms, different technologies are needed. And when it comes to how the game runs, consoles deliver amazing game performance and visuals and are generally cheaper than gaming PCs

Creating a game with this flexibility does not guarantee success , it’s a lot of work, and naturally, very expensive. As a game creator, you really need to consider if it makes sense for your audience and your game’s business model. And if you do your research and it makes sense for your business goals, it is totally worth it.

Removing the restrictions so players can easily connect, allows a network effect  to happen. One person likes a game, he or she invites a friend, the friend invites more friends and so it goes. The kind of organic growth that cross-platform games allow is massive, and it doesn’t compare with platform exclusive games. 

When given the option, a player can switch freely between platforms according to his preference and resources, which leads to an increased time spent in-game and, naturally, an increase in the CLV (Customer Lifetime Value). According to an Epic games article, published by Gamesindustry.biz, users who cross-played Fortnite generated 365% higher revenue than non-cross-players ( See the full article here ). 

Fortnite, Minecraft, Rocket League, Call of Duty, are great examples of this. All these games are universally beloved because they allow people to connect with each other and to play no matter the device they have access to. Not to mention the economic success this represents! We have seen it all these years with our games Call of War and Supremacy 1914 . The level of success on these wouldn’t be possible without them being cross-platform. 

Cross-platform games are shaping the future of the gaming industry and to ignore it, as a business, would be like tying the rope around your neck. 

The best move to do right now, for a game, is to think about ways to be more approachable for the players and how to make it easier for them to connect with each other and to the game itself. Being cross-platform is one way to start.

If you are interested in continuing the conversation or in publishing our games, feel free to contact us at bizdev@bytro.com .

By Cecilia Luna

Bytro announces new title Supremacy 1 – The Great War

Bytro extends “Supremacy” product range with upcoming new title Supremacy 1 – The Great War.

Bytro is proud to announce Supremacy 1 – The Great War, the second title launched under Bytro’s Supremacy brand. Supremacy 1 – The Great War builds upon the success of Supremacy 1914, Call of War, and Conflict of Nations to combine proven features with new and innovative gameplay. Bytro continues to focus on high quality long-term strategy games that share a realistic art style with hardcore depth and complexity.

In Supremacy 1 – The Great War, players experience the deep strategic gameplay that is unique to Bytro games in the setting of World War 1. Bytro recreates the history of warfare by taking players to one of the darkest hours of mankind. Players become head of a mighty nation in precarious Europe after the turn of the century. They challenge other players to become the undisputed sovereign leader using smart diplomacy or brute force. Everyone’s strategic skills are put to test while fighting with diverse units on different terrain and huge historic battlefields.

Supremacy 1 – The Great War is free-to-play and available for browser and mobile platforms at the end of August 2019.

About Bytro
Bytro Labs GmbH is an owner-managed company, which develops and publishes technically sophisticated, browser-based and mobile online games. By now, the games have over 10 million registered users and are available in fifteen different languages. Bytro Labs was founded in 2009 by Felix Faber, Tobias Kringe and Christopher Lörken and is based in Hamburg, Germany. In the past, they were decorated as ‘Founders of the Month’ by the state of Baden-Württemberg and with the ‘Technology Fast 50 Rising Stars’ award by Deloitte.

Press contact:

Phone: +49 (0) 40 36 90 54 02
Email: press@bytro.com

Call of War: Paratroopers darken the skies!

Bytro releases new unit for the popular World War 2 strategy game

The Hamburg-based developer Bytro released one of the most iconic units of World War 2 to the online battlefields of their cross-platform title Call of War. The new tactical unit Paratrooper adds a completely new layer of strategic opportunities to the game, as players can deploy their units behind enemy lines for the first time. There are now more than 120 different historical units in Call of War , which players can command in real-time .

“As one of the most iconic World War 2 units, the Paratrooper was highly desired by our players. We are convinced that listening to the feedback and wishes of players is an integral part of any game’s long-term success. This was also the reason why we’ve decided to have an extended closed beta for the new unit with loyal players to collect and incorporate their feedback. We are confident that the Paratrooper unit will conquer the Call of War battlefields rapidly. says Tobias Kringe, Managing Director of Bytro.

Call of War is a hardcore strategy game set in World War 2, which was able to win over more than three million players worldwide across different platforms. Players take over the control of one of the mighty nations during the times of World War 2. They conquer provinces, forge alliances and build up their economy. All players strive to become the one true superpower! Fans of strategy board games will love playing Call of War. Every player can play multiple rounds at the same time to try out new strategies.

FEATURES

✔ Up to 100 real opponents per map
✔ Units which move in real-time
✔ Many different maps and scenarios
✔ Historically accurate troops
✔ Huge Tech tree with over 120 different units
✔ Different terrain types
✔ Atomic bombs and secret weapons
✔ Regular updates with new content

Call of War is available for the following platforms:

Browser: https://www.callofwar.com/index.php?id=304&r=977
Android: https://callofwar.onelink.me/q5L6/78fc7ac2
iOS: https://callofwar.onelink.me/q5L6/78fc7ac2
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/672680/Call_of_War/

About Bytro
Bytro Labs GmbH is a founder-managed company, which develops and publishes technically sophisticated, browser-based and mobile online games. By now, the games have over 11 million registered users and are available in fifteen different languages. Bytro Labs was founded in 2009 by Felix Faber, Tobias Kringe and Christopher Lörken. They were decorated as ‘Founders of the Month’ by the state of Baden-Württemberg and with the ‘Technology Fast 50 Rising Stars’ award by Deloitte.

Press contact: Name: Marvin Eschenauer Phone: +49 (0) 40 36 90 54 02 Email: press@bytro.com