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The best bet: cross-platform games

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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 cooperates with War Child UK

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No matter whether you play Call of War or Supremacy 1914, chances are high that you love these games as much as we do here at Bytro. We like to spend our free time conquering the world and challenging other players in global conflicts. At the same time we are aware that we only play a game and that we are fortunate not to have to experience these simulated events in real life.

Unfortunately, there are many people out there who are not as lucky as we are. Aware of this fact, we at Bytro feel obliged to also do our share and help where we can. This is why we are teaming up with our friends at War Child to raise awareness and support children affected by conflict.

War Child delivers vital child protection, education and psychosocial support and is present in more than a dozen countries where violence and armed conflict are a fact of life. Everything War Child does is designed to have a lasting impact and help children build a better future – both for themselves and their communities.

To help the good cause we had a dedicated War Child sales event in November. For each sale 10% are going to be donated directly to the War Child charity.

We would like to thank all our players for your support of the War Child charity. It was great to see everyone coming together to help. Your efforts and commitment were truly inspiring. We managed to raise awareness for the great cause of War Child among 125.528 members of the community and raised 2.211 donations throughout the campaign period! Thank you very much!

In case you missed the opportunity to participate in our War Child sale, but would like to help War Child to support children, feel free to head over to their website and donate directly!

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!

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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