Key Performance Highlights
- 225% increase in year-one revenue
- 68% reduction in CPI across Tier-1
- 4.5M+ installs during engagement
The Challenge
The game had strong mechanics — fast-paced sports action, intuitive controls, and global appeal — but UA scale was limited. Despite some earlier paid campaigns, most growth came from organic traction and word-of-mouth. The challenge was clear: how do you push a well-reviewed but under-marketed title into true global breakout territory, especially in a highly competitive sports gaming landscape?
Retention was solid, and monetization per user was decent — but acquisition costs were rising, and the publisher hadn’t yet cracked the creative formula that could scale profitably.
The Strategy / Solution
To solve this, RocketShip HQ delivered a full-funnel performance revamp — combining aggressive creative testing, platform-specific execution, and monetization optimization tailored to real-time gameplay engagement.
1. Creative Localization & Personality Layering
- Created over 110 creatives, each focused on regional sports preferences (soccer in EU/SA, cricket in IN, basketball in US)
- Introduced “player story” formats — short character arcs with custom jersey names and local slang
- Highlighted high-drama gameplay moments: last-second goals, buzzer-beater baskets, comeback wins
Result: Regional CTR rose by over 70%, and IPM improved by 2.3x on Meta placements.
2. Performance-Led Channel Expansion
- Soft-launched high-performing creatives on TikTok Spark Ads with influencer amplification
- Opened Apple Search Ads in key markets (US, UK, CA) to convert high-intent sports fans
- Retargeted dormant installs with D7–D30 offer bundles via AppLovin and Mintegral
Result: ROAS improved consistently across platforms, especially on retargeting campaigns.
3. Monetization Restructure to Match Game Flow
- Moved interstitials to post-goal highlights and “MVP” moments
- Shortened rewarded ad options after tournament wins for instant cash-outs
- Introduced time-boxed offers (e.g., “Weekend Championship Entry”) to raise ARPDAU
Result: Ad revenue grew 3.4x and IAP conversion rose by 61% without hurting session time.
Results
| Metric | Before Engagement | After 8 Months |
| CPI (Tier-1 avg) | $0.78 | $0.25 |
| d7 ROAS | 53% | 141% |
| Retention (Day 1 / Day 7) | 26% / 9% | 35% / 15% |
| Monthly Ad Revenue | $19,000 | $62,700 |
| Monthly IAP Revenue | $8,200 | $19,300 |
| Total Installs During Period | 1.1M | 4.5M+ |