Monopoly GO! has reached its first anniversary and achieved remarkable success by surpassing $1 billion and $2 billion in earnings in record time. The team has reflected on their achievements and shared a celebration video on LinkedIn highlighting the game’s journey so far.
The Scopely team expresses their pride in their accomplishments and the game’s popularity with millions of players enjoying the experience daily. They look back on the adventure that led to Monopoly GO!’s success.
The Journey
Co-CEO Walter Driver acknowledges that Monopoly GO! is the result of a long journey and not an overnight success. The game was in development for seven years, with the initial concept dating back to 2016. The team, led by Jeff Liu and Massimo Maietti, underwent several transformations before Monopoly GO! took shape.
There’s an old saying that most overnight successes are actually a decade in the making and for Monopoly GO! I think that’s very much true.
Walter Driver
Despite facing obstacles and setbacks, including the initial game concept called Boardwalk, the team persisted and iterated to create a game that resonated with Monopoly fans. The project evolved into Top Hat, a casual experiment that laid the foundation for the final version of Monopoly GO!
Striving for Excellence
The team, comprised of talent from various studios, aimed to create the best casual game experience. They overcame challenges, refined gameplay mechanics, and prioritized player engagement. Director of product design, Holly Grothues, recognized the human element of Monopoly and emphasized the team’s commitment to delivering a standout game.
Embracing Challenges
Sometimes the game didn’t feel fun to play and that would have been the perfect place for the team to break down.
Apel Keshishian
Despite facing technical and gameplay challenges, the team remained resilient and focused on creating an enjoyable experience for players. Their dedication paid off with high retention metrics during the soft launch phase, leading to the official release of Monopoly GO!
Celebrating Success
Monopoly GO! exceeded expectations with over 150 million downloads and 10 million daily players, making it the biggest casual mobile game launch. The game continues to drive impressive revenue and is on track to surpass $3 billion. The team’s commitment to excellence and continuous iteration has been key to the game’s success.
Reflecting on their achievements, Walter Driver emphasizes the journey-oriented approach of Scopely and the importance of ongoing improvement. Massimo Maietti reiterates the team’s dedication to further enhancements, underscoring that they are not yet satisfied with their accomplishments.
For a detailed analysis of the game, explore our deconstruction analysis here.
