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Game Growth

The mobile apps market is booming, with mobile games making up over half of the indie segment and projected to grow at 17% CAGR through 2030. On the surface, it looks like a golden opportunity. But for small studios, turning that growth into actual revenue isn’t as simple as it seems.

The Everyday Challenges of Lean Teams

Competing on crowded app stores, paying ever-rising UA costs, and trying to grow alongside AAA players with large marketing budgets is already a stretch of resources. And for lean teams, it’s also piling up with internal challenge:

  • No room in the budget for specialists. With revenue unstable, there’s no budget for ad ops managers, so monetization falls on already busy developers.
  • Limited time resources. Every hour spent testing networks or adjusting waterfalls is time taken away from building the game itself.
  • Mistakes are costly. Compliance issues, wrong setups, or bad reporting don’t just take time to fix — they cut directly into revenue.

So, for small teams, the challenge isn’t just growth — it’s achieving it with limited time and money.

MAS Can Save The Day

MAS by Yodo1 is a monetization solution that connects your game to top ad networks and optimizes performance through a mix of AI and expert support. It takes care of waterfalls, bidding, ANRs and network testing — saving lean teams both time and money while reducing the risk of costly mistakes.

How MAS Meets the Needs of Small Teams

MAS is built to support lean teams with their everyday challenges, so you can stay focused on game development:

  • Removes the need for additional hires by taking on the work of ad ops specialists.
  • Saves developers’ time through automated mediation and testing.
  • Keeps budgets on track with compliance, smooth integrations, and accurate reporting.

Externally, MAS helps teams:

  • Compete in crowded marketplaces by maximizing revenue from existing players instead of relying solely on UA.
  • Offset rising UA costs by boosting ad efficiency and creating budget headroom to reinvest in growth.
  • Levels the playing field with professional-grade monetization at a fraction of enterprise-level costs, helping smaller teams grow sustainably even in AAA-dominated markets.

Real Teams, Real Results

We’ve seen the benefits of MAS monetization optimisation across both gaming and non-gaming apps:

  • Kenpasoft (Brasileiro Apps): Before MAS, the team experienced low ROAS and was operating with a limited mediation setup, using only one ad network. After integration, ARPDAU grew by 59% in just one week, while eCPM nearly doubled. More insights are available in the full case study.
  • ActFirst Games: Recently, we worked with ActFirst Games, the studio behind the hit Obsidian Knights, which wanted to explore if there were untapped ad revenue opportunities. After the full MAS integration, ARPDAU increased by 48%, revealing significant monetization potential. Learn more in the case study.

Ready To Boost Your Revenue?

For lean teams, every resource counts. MAS automates mediation to drive faster ad revenue growth, while your team stays focused on making great games.

Ready to improve your monetisation strategy results?

Game Growth

Every year, mobile games leave millions of dollars on the table — not because their titles lack players, but because their ad stacks aren’t optimized. According to industry estimates, poorly structured mediation and outdated SDKs can reduce ad revenue by 20–30%, meaning that for a game generating $1M annually from ads, up to $300,000 could be lost without developers even noticing.

Why is this revenue hidden?

There’re few common reasons from the technical side:

  • Fragmented mediation setup: Many developers rely on a single network or outdated waterfalls, leaving demand sources untapped.
  • Lack of transparency: Without proper reporting, it’s hard to know which ad units underperform.
  • Unbalanced ad strategy: Too many interstitials can hurt retention, while too few rewarded ads miss monetization opportunities.
  • Slow SDK updates: Networks release optimizations regularly, so it’s essential to update your SDKs to avoid draining eCPMs. Heavy SDKs can also slow performance, frustrating players and causing churn.

And a few more from the development team side:

  • Hard to keep up with ever-changing ad tech (SDK versions, bidding adoption).
  • Limited time or expertise to A/B test ad placements.
  • Difficulty analyzing regional performance — what works in the US may flop in Brazil.
  • Fear of hurting player experience when experimenting with new formats.

How to capture hidden revenue with MAS?

That’s where MAS (Managed Ad Services) comes in. MAS connects your game to multiple ad networks through one SDK and automatically optimizes placements, formats, and bidding for more effective revenue effect.

More precisely, here’s how MAS helps developers spot and capture hidden revenue:

  • Full mediation coverage: Full mediation coverage: MAS integrates and manages multiple top ad networks—and keeps adding new ones—so you never miss demand from the highest bidder.
  • Always up-to-date SDKs: The MAS team handles all updates, so your game runs on the latest optimizations without dev headaches.
  • Smart ad strategy: MAS places and balances ad formats to boost ARPDAU while maintaining retention, turning rewarded ads into both revenue and engagement drivers.
  • Global performance insights: With MAS, you can compare monetization across regions and adapt strategy for every market.
  • Hands-off growth partner: MAS continuously audits, tests, and adjusts your ad stack, so you’re not leaving 20–30% of potential revenue on the table.

Win This Hide and Seek

Getting the most from your ad stack means more than just chasing higher eCPMs — it’s about keeping monetization smooth without burning developer time. Having experienced these challenges firsthand as a publisher, we built MAS to take care of the complex parts in the background and make our insights available to everyone, so you can focus on making great games.

IP Licensing

Look back on IP Collabs during October | Powered by IPverse

Players are not just chasing brands. They are chasing feelings. Fear in the dark with friends. Pride in a story that feels like home. The studios that win are building an IP operating system—one that turns collaborations into sustained growth, not one-off fireworks.

The IPverse Framework: World, Moment, Mechanic

Use this three-lens test before you sign any collaboration.

  • World: Does the partner IP extend or enrich your game’s fantasy rather than sit on top of it?
  • Moment: Is there a cultural or calendar moment that naturally amplifies discovery and earned media?
  • Mechanic: What new behaviour will this IP unlock in your LiveOps or economy that persists after the campaign?

If you cannot answer all three with specifics, you do not have a collaboration. You have a poster.

Case Reads and What to Steal

Fortnite × Scream (Ghostface)

Fortnitemares 2025 brings transformation mechanics that move beyond a skin. That matters. Cosmetics lift ARPDAU for days. Mechanics shift cohorts.

Yodo1’s take: Build IPs that change how players behave. A seasonal fear theme is the excuse—the real win is repeatable design space.

What to steal:

  • Tie a limited transformation to a social trigger such as proximity voice or squad downs.
  • Run a creator challenge rewarding creative kills or stealth routes—the content loop is the marketing.
  • Keep one mechanic fragment as a permanent unlock to create post-event stickiness.

Honor of Kings × Sanxingdui

Four limited skins inspired by archaeological bronzework for the 10th anniversary. This is not heritage as wallpaper. It is heritage as meaning.

Yodo1’s take: Cultural authenticity builds trust and frequency. It also clears regulatory review with ease.

What to steal:

  • Co-create with museum partners so the visual language and lore are precise.
  • Design progression that teaches without preaching—drip lore through quest breadcrumbs and AR filters outside the game.
  • Treat heritage IP as a long arc. Return to it annually with new chapters rather than a one-off celebration.

Azur Lane × DanMachi V

Anime fandom meets gacha discipline. New story missions and limited ships are almost too easy, yet they work because both communities are mobilised.

Yodo1’s take: Anime crossovers are mature territory. Differentiation now comes from narrative cadence and pity-system tuning, not just the guest star.

What to steal:

  • Build a three-beat narrative arc that escalates daily, not over weeks.
  • Make shard acquisition routes legible—confusion kills spend in time-boxed events.
  • Commission two influencer micro-series in parallel: one lore-focused, one gameplay meta.

Magic: The Gathering × Jaws

Secret Lair turns nostalgia into a recurring revenue machine. Small drops, sharp art direction, confident curation.

Yodo1’s take: Micro-drops are the ultimate IP sandbox. You test appetite without retooling the core game.

What to steal:

  • Pilot micro-drops around film anniversaries and soundtrack remasters.
  • Offer a collector path and a player path. The art variant is a trophy; the rules variant is the meta.
  • Use scarcity honestly—short windows, transparent print numbers, zero false FOMO.

Market Signals to Watch

  • Q4 horror beats Q4 cosy in share velocity across social and creator platforms, especially for ages 13–24.
  • Heritage collaborations in China sustain longer DAU tails because they live inside cultural conversation, not just game news.
  • Cross-platform synchronisation now defines reach: if cosmetics and entitlements aren’t portable, you pay twice to win once.

Deal Mechanics That Maximise Upside

  • Licence for the system, not a skin. Secure rights to reuse motifs, SFX stems, VO lines, and UI widgets in future events.
  • Bundle the moment. Lock in promotional beats on partner channels, plus music rights for short-form edits and creator remixes.
  • Own your metrics. If you cannot tag partner posts and track inbound traffic, your incrementality study will be folklore.

Measurement That Actually Proves Value

Don’t stop at immediate revenue—prove you changed trajectory.

  • Leading indicators: Day-zero and day-three install lift versus control geos, creator clip velocity, wishlist adds for upcoming modes.
  • Cohort shift: 30- and 60-day reactivation from lapsed players who engaged with the collaboration.
  • Economy health: Spend distribution across price tiers to confirm you didn’t over-skew whales.
  • Cultural footprint: Share of voice inside the partner IP’s community, not just your own.

Risks to Manage

  • Aesthetic mismatch: Gorgeous art that breaks your UI readability will tank ranked modes.
  • Regulatory drift: Heritage IPs need provenance and disclaimers integrated early.
  • Over-rotation: Too many back-to-back collaborations train players to wait for the next one—space them strategically.

The 12-Month IP Calendar Playbook

Think in seasons and families, not single hits.

  • Q1: Identity & tech — sci-fi, mechs, gadgets; aligned with esports cycles.
  • Q2: Adventure & travel — outdoor brands, film tourism boards, social referral loops.
  • Q3: Music & fashion — festival capsules and avatar expression; prime UGC window.
  • Q4: Fear & legacy — horror, heritage, and awards season; double down on narrative and micro-drops.

Where BiG and IPverse Help

We treat IP as a system. IPverse identifies high-fit partnerships through data on audience overlap, cultural moments, and mechanic feasibility. BiG negotiates the deal terms that secure reuse rights, data visibility, and promotional muscle—then helps your team ship the live ops that make it profitable.

Closing Thought

Master the World, Moment, Mechanic framework, and every collaboration becomes more than a campaign—it becomes part of your game’s DNA. To translate any of the above into a live plan, we can map partner shortlists, calendar slots, mechanic concepts, and measurement blueprints in one working session.

Want to learn more about making the most of IP's in your game?

Case Studies

IP Licencing

How Attack on Titan IP Supercharged Idle Slayer’s Community Growth and Engagement with Yodo1’s Mediation

We watched it, you probably watched it — at this point, the whole world seems to have watched Attack on Titan. And even if you somehow missed the anime, you might have come across Idle Slayer during its month-long Attack on Titan integration in the summer of 2024.

Why are we so sure? Because during the event, Idle Slayer’s downloads jumped by 70%, and new users grew by 72% — a clear sign that the collaboration reached far beyond the core fanbase.

How did we create such a massive wave of engagement together with Pablo Leban and Kodansha Ltd.? We broke it down below, covering:

  • Background on the game and the IP
  • Integration overview
  • Key results
  • Yodo1’s mediation role

About the Game and the IP

It’s easy to hurt a game by choosing the wrong IP for a collaboration, but when the match is right, it can genuinely boost community growth and revenue. Here’s why pairing Idle Slayer with Attack on Titan worked so well.

Game: Idle Slayer by Pablo Leban

Idle Slayer is an incremental game where players collect coins and defeat enemies to purchase upgrades and increase their earnings. As players progress, they unlock mini-games and new playstyles that keep the experience fresh and engaging.

There’s just one person behind Idle Slayer — Pablo Leban. He’s known for developing the game solo and using player feedback to shape its evolution.

IP: Attack on Titan by Kodansha Ltd.

Not long ago, it felt like everyone was watching Attack on Titan. It began as a manga published by Kodansha and expanded into a blockbuster anime, films, and video games. Its distinctive visual identity — giant Titans, military regiments, a grim atmosphere, and twist-heavy storytelling — built a passionate global fanbase.

Kodansha Ltd. is a Japanese publishing house known for owning some of the world’s most prominent IPs, publishing everything from manga to books and magazines.

Overview of the Integration

Event period and promotion

The event ran in Idle Slayer from July 1 to July 31, 2024, and was available globally.

How the characters entered the world

During a Scout Regiment mission, Attack on Titan protagonists Eren, Mikasa, Levi, and Armin are suddenly pulled into the Idle Slayer world through a portal opened by an ancient treasure — with fearsome Titans following behind. To stop the Titan threat and help the heroes return home, Idle Slayer’s main character teams up with them on a new adventure.

Integration content

Idle Slayer released a major content update featuring:

  • 3 new characters: Eren, Mikasa, and Levi
  • 2 new skins: Roy and Anna (Scout Regiment)
  • Exclusive ODM gear
  • New NPCs and enemy Titans from Attack on Titan
  • An Attack on Titan–inspired storyline, gameplay and UI themes, mini-games, new skills, reward icons, and IAP bundles

Key results

Revenue and ARPDAU Momentum. According to AppMagic monthly Idle Slayer revenue increased 88% after the collaboration launched, with ARPDAU up 59%. The U.S. drove the largest share of this uplift, followed by Germany and the U.K.

DAU and Retention Surge. During the event period, monthly downloads increased 70%, with peak DAU surging 36%. Monthly new users rose by a notable 72%.

Strong Community Reception. The Attack on Titan collaboration exceeded player expectations and received an exceptionally warm response, achieving unprecedented success since the game’s debut. Both veteran and new players praised the seamless integration, collaborative storyline, and innovative mechanics. Overall engagement across Idle Slayer’s social media channels increased 188% during the event.

Yodo1 Role

To meet fan expectations and deliver a high-impact Attack on Titan experience inside Idle Slayer, our IP Licensing team:

  • Guided Pablo Leban through the supervision and approval process, ensuring everything followed the IP holder’s requirements.
  • Bridged communication gaps — in both creative alignment and language — to keep feedback cycles clear and efficient.
  • Aligned all creative elements (characters, UI, story, assets) with official brand guidelines while preserving Idle Slayer’s unique style.
  • Managed timelines and approvals to keep the collaboration on schedule without sacrificing quality.
  • Supported negotiations for the use of Attack on Titan voice-over (VO) lines and music.

About Yodo1

Yodo1 helps mobile game developers grow globally through licensing, monetization, IP partnerships, and publishing. Yodo1 Licensing builds lasting IP collaborations between mobile games and media brands, helping both sides create crossover strategies that boost loyalty, attract new players, and stand out in a competitive market. Learn more at yodo1.com.

Cyberpunk 2077 × Arena Breakout collaboration was a first in some way for everyone involved — the kind of first that worked out because we tackled it together!

For Yodo1, it was our first time stepping into the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. For CDPR (CD PROJEKT Red), it was the first time partnering with a Chinese title. And for Tencent Morefun, the team behind Arena Breakout, it was their first collaboration with a AAA game IP for both mobile and PC on a global scale.

Despite what they say about first tries, this one turned out far above expectations. The collaboration became a commercial hit, sparked a wave of excitement among players, and quickly dominated market conversations around the world.

Let’s unpack how we made it happen. In this article, we’ll cover:

  • Background of both studios and games
  • Integration overview
  • Main results and players’ reaction
  • Yodo1 role

Background of the Studios and Games

A smooth IP integration starts with understanding the game, the developer behind it, and the IP holder — their style, their pace, and their priorities.

Game: Arena Breakout by Tencent Morefun

Arena Breakout is a hardcore shooter built around a tight loop of combat, missions, and evacuation. Its community is loyal and highly attuned to the game’s feel and presentation.

Tencent Morefun’s compact team was managing several projects in parallel, so we focused on keeping communication clear and the workflow efficient from the start.

IP: Cyberpunk 2077 by CDPR

Cyberpunk 2077 is an AAA title known for its instantly recognizable HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE aesthetic and rich visual identity.

CDPR brings a well-defined creative direction for visual style and lore, so we concentrated on getting the details right — from outfits to props — to make the content feel true to the Cyberpunk universe and enjoyable for players.

Overview of the Integration

Event period and promotion

The event launched in Arena Breakout on July 29, with the announcement going live on July 20 and supported by a coordinated promotional push through July 30.

How the character entered the world

To keep both universes flexible and avoid overdefining the narrative connection, the collaboration intentionally left the crossover mechanics to players’ imagination.

Collaboration scene

To pay tribute to Cyberpunk 2077, the developers added the ‘Horizon’ bar to Arena Breakout as the main interface and scene for the collaboration, where players received missions and took part in event activities.

Integration content

A wide range of Cyberpunk-themed items became available to players, including:

  • Characters (Costumes): Judy & Johnny Silverhand
  • Weapon Skins: Arasaka, Militech, and more
  • Themed Tactical Gear: Trauma Team, Samurai, Maelstrom, and more
  • Classic Jackets
  • Other collab-items: keychains, sprays, stickers, and more

Key results

The collaboration delivered strong results, setting new benchmarks in early demand, visibility, and player reception.

Pre-Launch Momentum

Before the collaboration officially arrived on Steam, Arena Breakout had already built extraordinary traction: wishlists surpassed 2.2 million, placing it №3 among all shooters, behind only ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6. This early momentum signaled strong cross-market anticipation well ahead of the collab’s launch.

Worldwide Visibility

The launch ignited massive attention worldwide. In China, the event generated 470M+ topic plays, while global coverage from IGN and a 3M-reach stream by LVNDMARK sparked strong fan interest and enthusiasm around the IP. On Steam, the game earned a “Very Positive” rating with a steadily rising review curve — driven heavily by overseas players. On Twitch, it peaked at 101K viewers, outperforming new releases and even overtaking long-time chart leaders.

Meeting Player Expectations

With Cyberpunk 2077 ranked as the №1 requested IP, the collaboration delivered exactly the type of content players were hoping for. Feedback highlighted the authenticity, visual quality, and overall execution of the integration.

Yodo1 Role

This project highlighted how Yodo1 can streamline complex workflows and enhance team alignment at every stage.

  1. Project Coordination. With this being a first-time collaboration between the IP holder and the developer, Yodo1 helped keep the workflow organized, communication aligned, and milestones on schedule.
  2. Ongoing Operational Support. Steady day-to-day support from Yodo1 project managers ensured clarity across teams and helped maintain momentum during fast-moving phases of the project.
  3. AAA IP Alignment. Yodo1 focused on deeply understanding the Cyberpunk universe and ensuring the integration aligned smoothly with the IP’s visual style and thematic direction.

About Yodo1

Yodo1 helps mobile game developers grow globally through licensing, monetization, IP partnerships, and publishing. Yodo1 Licensing builds lasting IP collaborations between mobile games and media brands, helping both sides create crossover strategies that boost loyalty, attract new players, and stand out in a competitive market. Learn more at yodo1.com.

Games

The Heartopia × My Little Pony collaboration was one of the cutest aesthetic partnerships we facilitated this year — and also one of the strongest in performance, boosting Heartopia’s revenue by 171%. So, how did we make it happen together with XD Inc. and Hasbro?

In this case study, we’ll cover:

  • Background of the studios and games
  • Integration overview
  • Opportunities and challenges
  • Key results
  • Essential learnings for simulation games

About the Studios and the IP

This was our first time bringing Hasbro’s IP and XD Inc. together — so here’s a quick look at both sides.

Game: Heartopia by XD Inc.

Heartopia is a 3D life simulation game set on a dreamy island where players, guided by the Star Spirit, develop their towns, customise freely, and uncover hidden stories through interactions with residents.

XD Inc. is a global publisher and developer with 38 free-to-play and premium titles and over 50 million MAU (Monthly Active Users) as of 2022.

IP: My Little Pony by Hasbro

My Little Pony (MLP) is a toy line and media franchise with a 41-year history, known for its cute, colorful ponies. Designed to inspire girls to express their individuality and embrace others’ uniqueness, it has evolved through five generations from G1 (1983) to the current G5 era.

Hasbro is a global entertainment company and one of the world’s largest toy and game manufacturers, home to brands like Transformers, Monopoly, Nerf, and My Little Pony, and a developer of both physical and digital IP experiences across gaming and media.

Bringing My Little Pony into the World of Heartopia

Event period and promotion

The event ran from July 17 to August 24, 2025, and was available exclusively in Mainland China

How character entered the world

While the ponies were preparing gifts for the School of Friendship, Discord’s chaotic spell accidentally sent both the Harmony Cards and the Tree of Harmony to another world. They traced it to Heartopia’s Whale Island, where the Tree is slowly withering — and the ponies themselves can’t freely enter or leave this world.

Integration content

  • IP Content: The ponies themselves don’t appear in Heartopia, but their themed costumes, vehicles, and collectible cards do — inspired by the six main ponies: Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy.
  • Gameplay: This collaboration uses ‘the Tree of Harmony’ and ‘Elements of Harmony’ to develop event gameplay and story. Players can collect elements and rewards from the withered Tree of Harmony, then contribute energy by watering it for additional prizes.

Finding the Right Fit and Overcoming the Challenges

To provide more insight into this and the following sections, we invited Sylvie Shi, Project Manager of the collaboration, and Ke Sun, Head of Strategy and China Publishing, to share their perspectives in an interview-style format.

Q: How did we identify this growth opportunity?

Ke Sun: After its July 2024 release, Heartopia quickly climbed into the top ten sales charts. The XD team wanted to sustain that momentum by partnering with an IP that complemented the game. We identified My Little Pony as the perfect fit — bringing a fresh dose of charm and cuteness that resonated with Heartopia’s core audience of 15–35-year-old females.

Q: What was the biggest challenge Yodo1 helped to solve?

Sylvie Shi: Time management was a major challenge — especially around licensing approvals and coordinating market events. For example, the extra steps required for music licensing required careful tracking to keep everything on schedule. Also, we ensured brand alignment on both sides and kept refining creative integration options throughout the process.

Costumes based on the Mane Six characters from My Little Pony.

Despite the complexity, our expertise in IP collaboration project management and deep understanding of the IP made the process seamless, saving significant time for both XD Games and Hasbro, which was our goal.

Results and Impact

Q: What are the performance highlights of this collaboration?

Ke Sun: This collaboration delivered impressive results in both revenue and downloads, while also making a strong impact on the fan community. Compared to the non-collab period, the event achieved:

  • +171% in Heartopia’s revenue (totalling $5.89M)
  • +34.38% in Heartopia’s downloads (totalling 642K)

The campaign also set new records for community engagement and brand visibility:

  • Record-Breaking Social Performance. Promotional content surpassed 18.2M views, with event posts becoming the game’s best-performing of all time.
  • Successful Combination of Online and Offline Exposure. The Taptap Fest stream reached 3.53M+ views, while the offline Ponyverse Festival generated 33.8M+ Rednote hashtag views, pushing Heartopia’s search indices on Weibo and WeChat to all-time highs.
  • Higly Positive Player Feedback. Players praised the high quality of assets and the My Little Pony–themed atmosphere, leading to a notable boost in positive community sentiment.

Data source: AppMagic

Key Learnings and Takeaways

Q: What are the top insights this collaboration brings to life stimulation games?

Sylvie Shi: There’re three key points we highlighted to keep in mind for facilitate future collaborations in this simulation genre:

  • Timing collaborations with key game events or milestones can amplify their impact. We strategically launched Heartopia x MLP collaboration during Heartopia’s anniversary celebration, maximising user engagement and tapping into moments when players are most active and likely to spend.
  • Social Interactions are important for life stimulation games too. These features encouraged players to share their in-game experiences and collaborate with others, enhancing and deepening fan engagement. For example, Heartopia introduced a unique Tree of Harmony map where players could gather, take photos, and complete quests, as well as a Badge Collection feature that let them exchange badges and use them to decorate their homes.
  • Exclusive content sales help boost revenue. In Heartopia, the launch of My Little Pony–themed items created a strong monetization stream, as players eagerly purchased unique pieces to dress up and share the vibe with others in the game.

Commemorative Merchandise (Badge Collection) that were introduced in Heartopia.

Vehicles based on Mane Six characters’ ponies that were introduced in Heartopia.

By integrating these insights, simulation games can effectively enhance their gameplay, engage diverse audiences, and increase their commercial success.

About Yodo1

Yodo1 helps mobile game developers grow globally through licensing, monetization, IP partnerships, and publishing. Yodo1 Licensing builds lasting IP collaborations between mobile games and media brands, helping both sides create crossover strategies that boost loyalty, attract new players, and stand out in a competitive market. Learn more at yodo1.com.

Press Releases

IP Licensing

February 14 to March 24, 2026 | Global excluding China

Heartopia is set to welcome the magic of My Little Pony in a limited-time global collaboration event, running from February 14 to March 24, 2026.

Following a successful China launch that ran from July 17 to August 24, 2025, the collaboration is now being launched to the rest of the world, bringing proven in-game content and themed experiences to players worldwide. Details of the original China event can be found here:

https://www.yodo1.com/press-releases/my-little-pony-trots-into-xd-games-mobile-adventure-heartopia

Developed by XD Games and supported by Yodo1, this collaboration marks the global re-launch of a My Little Pony crossover that has already demonstrated strong player appeal and monetisation performance in the Chinese market.

A Proven Collaboration, Re-Imagined for a Global Audience

The Heartopia × My Little Pony collaboration brings beloved characters and themes from the My Little Pony universe into Heartopia’s warm, expressive life-simulation world.

Rather than introducing an untested concept, the global release builds on a collaboration framework that has already proven successful. Carefully crafted in-game assets, narrative elements, and themed content from the original China event have been adapted for a worldwide audience as part of Heartopia’s early global growth phase.

With Heartopia’s global version now live, the collaboration is designed to strengthen early player engagement and introduce the game to a broader audience through a globally recognised entertainment IP from Hasbro.

Why My Little Pony Fits Heartopia

Heartopia is a life-simulation game built around creativity, self-expression, social interaction, and emotionally driven storytelling. These values align naturally with the My Little Pony franchise, which centres on friendship, individuality, and personal growth.

The collaboration integrates My Little Pony characters and themes directly into Heartopia’s gameplay systems, allowing players to encounter the IP through narrative moments, themed activities, customisation options, and interactive experiences that feel native to the game world.

What Players Can Expect In-Game

During the collaboration period, players can unlock and experience:

  • My Little Pony themed characters and story elements woven into Heartopia’s world
  • Event-exclusive outfits, items, and decorative content inspired by the franchise
  • Special in-game activities and progression paths tied to the collaboration narrative
  • A cohesive visual and musical presentation that elevates the My Little Pony experience within Heartopia

All in-game assets reflect those used in the original China event, ensuring consistency, quality, and a player experience that has already been validated in-market.

Behind the Collaboration

The collaboration was originally conceived as a way to introduce a globally recognised IP into Heartopia’s emotionally rich game design, without disrupting its tone or community-driven gameplay.

For the global re-launch, Yodo1 worked closely with XD Games and Hasbro to support localisation approvals, ensure brand consistency across regions, and enable efficient execution at global scale. Yodo1 also supported the global licensing of the iconic Friendship Is Magic theme song for use in promotional materials, extending the collaboration beyond the game experience.

What Success Looks Like

For the game developer, the collaboration delivers several key benefits:

  • An IP-led engagement driver during Heartopia’s early global lifecycle
  • Faster player acquisition and stronger early engagement through a trusted entertainment brand
  • Reuse of high-performing content assets with reduced creative and commercial risk

For the IP holder, the collaboration extends My Little Pony into an interactive mobile experience, reaching new global audiences through a game that closely aligns with the franchise’s core themes.

How Yodo1 Scaled Heartopia and My Little Pony for a Global Launch

Scaling a successful regional collaboration to a global release requires preserving what works while expanding approvals, localisation, and production across markets.

For Heartopia × My Little Pony, Yodo1 focused on maintaining the original creative direction and in-game experience while supporting the operational requirements of a worldwide launch. By combining learnings from the 2025 China event with hands-on global execution, Yodo1 helped turn a proven collaboration into a scalable international release, setting a strong foundation for future IP-driven launches.

IP Licensing

Shenzhen, China – 5 February 2026Honor of Kings (王者荣耀), one of the most successful and culturally influential mobile games in the world, has announced a major new collaboration with Hasbro’s My Little Pony, launching as part of its Chinese New Year celebrations in the Year of the Horse.

The collaboration goes live in Mainland China on 5 February 2026, with a global release coming soon. This project also marks the first collaboration between Honor of Kings and Yodo1, opening a new chapter of premium IP partnerships within one of the world’s largest gaming ecosystems.

A seasonal collaboration built for players

Chinese New Year is one of the most important moments in Honor of Kings’ annual content calendar. The Year of the Horse makes My Little Pony a natural creative fit, with both brands sharing themes of harmony, heroism and individuality. My Little Pony’s multi-generational fanbase also closely aligns with Honor of Kings’ player community.

Rather than appearing as a cosmetic overlay, the collaboration has been designed to integrate directly into Honor of Kings’ live operations systems, delivering bespoke content that feels native to the game world.

What players can experience

Spriteling Skins

Spritelings are companion pets that accompany players in battle. The iconic Mane Six are introduced as Spriteling skins, each available in standard and upgraded versions, blending My Little Pony’s signature colour and warmth with Honor of Kings’ fantasy aesthetic.

Flowborn Costumes

Flowborn is Honor of Kings’ fully customisable hero. Two new costume sets inspired by Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are introduced, offering unique designs and marking the digital fashion debut of both characters in redesigned game-original interpretations.

Built through creative partnership

Throughout production, Hasbro, TiMi Studio Group and Yodo1 worked through concentrated creative development cycles to deliver new visual directions and gameplay-first designs that ensure the collaboration feels native to Honor of Kings rather than imported.

The result is a premium Chinese New Year centrepiece designed to surprise, delight and engage millions of players during the most important seasonal period of the in-game calendar.

Why it matters

For Honor of Kings, the collaboration delivers:

  • A culturally aligned Chinese New Year centrepiece for the Year of the Horse
  • High-quality branded content integrated into core gameplay systems
  • A collaboration designed to drive seasonal engagement and retention

For Hasbro, it marks the first My Little Pony collaboration with Honor of Kings, bringing the franchise into one of the world’s largest live-ops gaming ecosystems.

For Yodo1, the project reinforces its role as a strategic bridge between global entertainment brands and one of the leading game platforms in the world.

About Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings (王者荣耀), developed by Tencent TiMi Studio Group, is the world’s most‑played MOBA game and one of the world’s most successful and influential mobile games.

About Yodo1

Yodo1 is a global games and IP licensing company connecting the world’s leading brands with players worldwide.

In Person

Chengdu, China — December 26, 2025 — Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS franchise has been awarded the “Most Influential IP Award” at the 2025 Game for Peace Honor Award Ceremony, held in Chengdu.

Vivien Zhang, Head of IP Licensing at Yodo1, attended the ceremony and accepted the award on behalf of the brand, reflecting Yodo1’s close collaboration with Hasbro and its ongoing work in IP licensing partnerships with Chinese game developers.

The award recognizes the franchise’s enduring relevance and its continued ability to resonate with players across generations and markets, including China’s highly competitive gaming ecosystem.

At the end of 2023, with the support of Yodo1, Game for Peace collaborated with Hasbro’s film TRANSFORMERS: Rise of the Beasts to launch the TRANSFORMERS Series themed skin content. The cross-year collaboration delivered a highly immersive experience for TRANSFORMERS fans and mecha enthusiasts alike and carried strong momentum into 2024. Game for Peace topped the iOS bestseller chart, multiple related topics trended across major social platforms, and the campaign generated over 100 million views across Kuaishou, Douyin, and Weibo. Spanning both online activations and in-person ceremonies, the collaboration stands as a comprehensive success across cultural resonance, community engagement, and brand visibility.

During the ceremony, the TRANSFORMERS brand was praised for “going beyond content to become an ever-evolving cultural symbol. With deep emotional connections and strong cultural influence, it continues to evolve and shape the pulse of an era.”

The event brought together industry leaders, developers, licensors, Esports professionals, and fans, and featured more than 70 awards across professional competition, ecosystem development, and community engagement, reinforcing its role as one of China’s most influential gaming and Esports gatherings.

As Yodo1 continues its exclusive partnership with Hasbro in China for gaming IP licensing with Chinese developers, the team remains focused on building long-term, scalable collaborations that connect world-class IP with the right games, audiences, and markets.

To stay up to date on IP licensing trends in gaming

For upcoming webinars and insights from Yodo1’s partnerships, follow Yodo1’s official channels for ongoing updates at https://www.yodo1.com

Resources

Whitepaper

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IP Licensing

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Events

IP collaborations now directly impact growth, retention and long-term brand value.

Between 2020 and 2025, collaboration volume surged across global and China markets. Yet a clear pattern emerged: a small number of deals drive most value, while many quietly undermine performance.

The wrong collaboration is not neutral.
It destroys value.

Instinct-led IP decisions no longer scale.

IPverse is a structured decision framework that helps teams evaluate IP fit, risk and upside before deals are signed, turning fragmented market signals into clearer, defensible choices.

This live industry briefing introduces a more data-led approach to IP decision-making in games.

In this session, you will see:

  • Why collaboration volume rose while ROI declined
  • Where misaligned IP damages revenue and retention
  • How teams assess IP fit and risk earlier
  • Inside the IPverse Four Quadrants used to prioritise IP decisions

Attendees receive early access to the whitepaper:
The Digital Reckoning: Why Guesswork Is Dead and How Data Transforms IP × Game Collaboration

Yodo1 Gathers China’s Top Mobile Gaming Leaders to Explore Global Brand Partnerships in 2025

Vivien Zhang, Head of IP Licensing at Yodo1

In a groundbreaking forum, Yodo1 brought together many of China’s top mobile gaming companies to explore how brand-IP partnerships are reshaping gaming on a global scale. Hosted in collaboration with Gameunited as part of the Yodo1 IP Roadshow in Beijing, the event provided a platform to advance IP integration across the mobile gaming landscape.

Leading developers, including Wanda Cinema Game, Hero Entertainment, gathered to share their expertise on IP-driven strategies that deepen content engagement and boost player retention. By showcasing best practices in IP integration, these companies shared how strategic brand partnerships can enrich the gaming experience, enhance storytelling, and significantly heighten user engagement.

Bi Sheng, General Manager of Wanda Cinema Game's Overseas Publishing, emphasized that in-depth understanding of the IP is essential for a successful integration, sharing insights from the launch of Saint Seiya: Legend of Justice. The forum emphasized the importance of IPs as immersive elements, rather than surface-level brand additions, reinforcing how they improve the storyline and player engagement. More than ever before, developers are capitalizing on top-tier IPs to craft compelling experiences that also drive higher monetization.

Yodo1 Team sharing insights about brands in games collaborations

Drawing on its experience with iconic IP partners such as Hasbro, Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) and Kodansha, Yodo1 is leading a knowledge-sharing roadshow across China, designed to inspire developers in the evolving world of IP integration. With more than 60% of China’s top 30 revenue-generating developers partnered with Yodo1, the company’s extensive network and leadership continue to shape the IP licensing landscape in China’s mobile gaming market.

One of the event’s highlights was the introduction of Yodo1’s newest platform, DreamData. Presented by Vivien Zhang, Head of IP Licensing at Yodo1, DreamData offers developers a robust suite of tools, including real-time global IP collaboration news, ROI forecasting, and IP partnership recommendations. This platform empowers developers to make informed, data-driven decisions that optimize brand integration, solidifying Yodo1’s standing as a thought leader in the mobile gaming IP space.

As demand for IP-powered games grows, Yodo1 is dedicated to building a network of industry leaders committed to advancing this trend. The Beijing event marks the first of many stops on Yodo1’s 2024-2025 roadshow, which will include additional forums across China, encouraging developers to embrace global brand partnerships. “Our mission is to help developers think globally, act locally, and leverage IP to create unforgettable gaming experiences,” said Sun Ke, Head of Strategic Deals at Yodo1.

With the rising sophistication of China’s gaming market, players are seeking deeper engagement and more immersive content. IPs allow developers to tap into existing fan bases, and the need for high-quality IP collaborations has never been greater.

Explore Yodo1’s IP Collaborations

For more on Yodo1’s innovative partnerships and opportunities for IP collaborations, we invite you to check our website here. Join us as we shape the future of gaming and brand collaborations!

JOIN US

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Yodo1 Holds First Pakistan Offline Developer Event

Yodo1 Holds First Pakistan Offline Developer Event

On December 4, 2021 Yodo1 held its first “Yodo1 Baithak”, an offline event in Lahore, Pakistan. It was an opportunity to finally meet in person some of the hundreds of talented developers across Pakistan that we’ve come to know over the last three years, our amazing MAS partners, as well as new friends.

A Groundbreaking Gathering

“Yodo1 Baithak '' brought together some of the most influential gaming studios in Pakistan—including Kitchen Tale, Aptech Media and Five River Solutions—in a discussion moderated by the Yodo1 team.

Over 70 developers in attendance had the opportunity to learn how these studios got started and the nuts and bolts of how they turned their dreams and passions into successful companies and businesses, with their games now enjoyed by millions of players. Highlights included not only their journey, but also how Yodo1’s tools, educational initiatives and support played a part in their success.

It was a groundbreaking event, particularly post-Covid, and attendees found the connections forged to be powerful and encouraging. For those newer to the industry, meeting in person with some of the best known local developers and studios was like a free pass to pick their brains and learn from the best in class. Discovering what these movers and shakers in the industry did differently from others and what actions clicked and helped them get where they are now was invaluable to all who heard them.

Strengthening Existing Bonds, Forging New Ones

“An event like this will certainly strengthen Yodo1’s presence in Pakistan; it sends a clear message that Yodo1 means business and thus will strengthen the trust of clients both existing and potential,” said Asad Imran, an attendee from Libra Studios.

Ali Shah, Yodo1’s Head of Developer Experience, summarized the biggest takeaway of the event, saying “Social networking with existing customers and similar minded folks brings an important layer to existing relationships. We work from anywhere, but nothing beats actual face to face interaction! It was amazing to see the excitement among different groups, and attendees were able to ask their questions and get help and advice in person.”

Did you attend the event? We’d love to hear what the highlight was for you! This is just the first in a series of developer events we are planning in Pakistan, and if you couldn’t make this one, we look forward to seeing you at the next.

Power Your Success With MAS

Whatever the size of your studio—large, small or solo—you can become a part of the world’s most active and talented community of developers. Kitchen Tale, Aptech Media and Five River Solutions are just three of the hundreds of studios in Pakistan who use Yodo1’s MAS monetization solution to grow their businesses and maximize their revenue.

Join them by installing MAS, the world’s best monetization SDK! Go to our MAS Portal to register and set up MAS for your game in just three easy steps, or book an appointment with a Games Growth Specialist here to learn more.

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