An open letter from our CEO: The Future of Mobile Games

I still remember the thrill of holding tight that shiny Pokémon card, the first element of a collection I would get into a frenzy about.

Whether trading cards like an FBI negotiator or strategizing my next deck, collecting became more than a hobby.

I could spend entire afternoons dreaming with my friends about the rarest cards.

There’s something deeply human about collecting—our brains are wired to seek out rare items and complete sets.

My collection journey slowly shifted to video games with CS:GO. Although the items were virtual, my thrill and emotions were still physical.

Two decades later, I’m convinced that Mobile Games have a natural synergy with this Collector’s Passion.

I noticed this evolution has already begun and will unlock the next wave of gaming monetization.

The In-App Advertising business model that fueled the growth of mobile games is now hitting a ceiling. Declining ad revenues are forcing studios to make a tough choice: bombard players with intrusive ads, risk retention, or sacrifice profitability.

This gave rise to Hybrid-Casual Games, a model combining In-App Advertising and In-App Purchases to balance profitability and player satisfaction.

Last year alone, Hybrid-Casual games saw a 30% revenue increase, proving strong demand for games that blend simple core gameplay with deeper meta-game mechanics.

But this evolution is only the beginning.

Games have to go further to keep players engaged. The market is asking for more to increase player retention and revenue.

A force that will create a frenzy about games: The Passion of Collectors.

At Original, we believe the future of Mobile Games lies in Digital Collectibles. These aren’t just consumables. They’re rare, valuable, and tradeable assets that players can truly own, buy and sell.

As Guillaume from Kolibri (Ubisoft) said “Players crave ownership and exclusivity in a game that reflects their status and investment.”

We plan this next meta-layer of gaming will drive 30% growth year-on-year, transitioning from Digital Consumables to Digital Collectibles traded among players.

A Digital Collectible is any item sold in limited quantities within a game—coveted and valuable enough to enhance player engagement.

However, real innovation comes with the secondary market, where players can trade these items, creating a vibrant in-game economy.

The ability to trade these items, truly having ownership of them, is what closes the gap between consumables and collecting rare items. Players now have another good reason to purchase or grind for rare items.

This adds a new layer of engagement that goes beyond gameplay: it’s about status, ownership, and belonging.

Digital Collectibles offer more than just cosmetic value. They provide players with emotional satisfaction—the thrill of owning something rare, the sense of accomplishment from trading, and the status of belonging to an elite group of collectors.

They are not only playing but also achieving significant results in the game.

It also triggers the need to belong and stand out.

Gamer collectors, especially whales, seek to distinguish themselves from others through exclusive objects. The feeling of rarity and uniqueness is a powerful driver for attachment to digital objects.

A player owning a limited object in the game feels valued and belongs to an exclusive elite.

For studios, this offers several key advantages:

First, it increases Player Retention. Players stay longer when they feel they own something unique and valuable in the game.

It also boosts Revenue from Whales. The top 0.5% of players are willing to spend significantly more on rare, exclusive items that give them status within the game.

It also represents new monetization opportunities. Due to their limited supply and tradeability, assets can be sold at a higher price on the primary market or serve as fuel for a gatcha/loot box type of monetization, or as another incentive for battle pass subcribers.

Studios earn a percentage from every trade in the secondary market, creating a new, ongoing revenue stream beyond the initial sale (typically 5-15%).

This isn’t just a trend—it’s the next big shift in mobile gaming. Digital Collectibles will reshape how studios monetize, engage, and retain players for years.

Hence, we’ve developed a plug-and-play platform that makes it easy for studios to integrate digital collectibles into their games.

With just a simple API, you can be up and running in days, testing a new meta-layer that boosts engagement and drives long-term revenue growth.

Digital Collectibles are the future, and Original is ready to help you lead this revolution.

Let’s discuss how we can bring this vision to life in your Mobile Game.