Briefly: This is crazy, and not something I’d expect from a game with totally optional, not necessary at all in-app-purchases.
Bethesda’s first foray into mobile games, the revered and heavily downloaded Fallout Shelter, has brought in over $5.1 million dollars in the first two weeks that it was available.
When the game was announced, Bethesda was very quick to note that this game, while free to play, was simply designed to be a fun experience for fans. It features no pay wall, timed building, energy systems, or otherwise, and the only in-app purchase in the entire game, simply gives you random bonuses that you can also earn by completing objectives in games.
This is a pretty insane achievement, and it’s truly a testament to how successful the free-to-play model can be. Sure, most mobile developers gouge their players with dozens of options, lives, and currencies, but if you look at the success (or lack of) for premium titles on the iOS or Android app markets, typically, the decision to make an app free to play is a no brainer. For an app featuring only one in-app purchase that isn’t necessary at all, however, this is beyond impressive.
Kudos, Bethesda, now excuse me while I go play some Fallout Shelter (which I’ve managed to avoid putting money into thus far.
Are you playing Fallout Shelter? What do you think of the game so far?