Culver City-based mobile game publisher Scopely has found significant commercial success with its 2023 release, “Monopoly Go!”, a mobile adaptation of the classic board game. According to app analytics firm Sensor Tower, the game reached $6 billion in lifetime in-app purchase revenue by 2025, making it the fastest free-to-play mobile game to achieve this milestone. The company projects that revenue will climb to $8 billion this summer, cementing “Monopoly Go!” as Scopely’s largest game to date and surpassing the pace of its popular earlier title, “Pokémon GO.”
Scopely, which operates offices in London, Barcelona, Shanghai, and other global locations, declined to disclose exact profit figures. The company’s approach reflects a broader trend in an increasingly saturated mobile gaming market where download numbers have plateaued, and growth is driven primarily by in-app purchases and player retention.
Javier Ferreira, co-chief executive of Scopely, highlighted the value of leveraging established intellectual properties (IP) with built-in fan bases. “These are incredibly durable and long-lasting games that have really passionate communities and fandom around them,” he said. “We’re in the business of building people’s favorite thing, and that’s a difficult thing to do. The power of [intellectual property] is that, in some cases, that is already their favorite thing.”
Scopely’s engagement with classic game IP dates back to 2014, when it formed a partnership with Rhode Island-based toy manufacturer Hasbro. Their first collaborative product was a mobile version of the dice game Yahtzee, which attracted millions of users worldwide, with particular popularity in the United States. That game generated over $1 billion in lifetime revenue, laying the groundwork for future projects like “Monopoly Go!”.
The success of “Monopoly Go!” illustrates the potential of combining iconic brand recognition with modern mobile gaming mechanics to capture and monetize a large, active player base. As the mobile gaming sector becomes more competitive, companies like Scopely continue to rely on leveraging well-known franchises to maintain user engagement and drive revenue growth.