Randy Nelson
@randynelson.bsky.social
Retro and non-retro gamer. Connoisseur of the unexplained. IGN co-founder and one of the folks behind a PlayStation magazine you liked called PSM. Now I'm a mobile game/app industry expert. Opinions are mine alone unless otherwise noted.
This looks exceptional.
Been waiting for this gem!
FLY2K is a skill based butterfly flying simulator with simple but challenging controls. Its inspired by early VR and 2000s era games with chonky polygons and a Dreamcast era jungle beat. Sound on!
Wishlist it on Steam 💕
store.steampowered.com/app/3807220/...
#pitchyagame #indiegame #cyberspace
Wishlist it on Steam 💕
store.steampowered.com/app/3807220/...
#pitchyagame #indiegame #cyberspace
January 18, 2026 at 8:28 AM
This looks exceptional.
The Sanctum BBS in Palm Springs, CA. Its SysOp, The Ancient One, ran it on an Apple ][.
The Kids WB message boards on its AOL portal page
Okay, let's get nostalgic
What was the VERY FIRST online platform that you became addicted to posting on?????
What was the VERY FIRST online platform that you became addicted to posting on?????
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 PM
The Sanctum BBS in Palm Springs, CA. Its SysOp, The Ancient One, ran it on an Apple ][.
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Announcement: Steam Demo Out Now!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
January 16, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Announcement: Steam Demo Out Now!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Our brand new Eyeball ep is here! Please share with everyone you know!
open.spotify.com/album/4lOS8c...
open.spotify.com/album/4lOS8c...
Eyeball
open.spotify.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Our brand new Eyeball ep is here! Please share with everyone you know!
open.spotify.com/album/4lOS8c...
open.spotify.com/album/4lOS8c...
Were you one of the 5 million?
I was. 🤠
I was. 🤠
January 15, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Were you one of the 5 million?
I was. 🤠
I was. 🤠
My annual look at how mobile apps and games fared in the year just passed. H/T to @sarahp.bsky.social for connecting the dots of what it all means, as usual.
App downloads declined again in 2025, but consumer spending soared to nearly $156B
App downloads declined again in 2025, but consumer spending soared to nearly $156B | TechCrunch
Global app downloads were down, but consumer spending was up to nearly $156B in 2025.
techcrunch.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:43 PM
My annual look at how mobile apps and games fared in the year just passed. H/T to @sarahp.bsky.social for connecting the dots of what it all means, as usual.
Yes.
👁️ WARNING 👁️
Despite attempts at strict containment by Heartblade Interactive and censorship by ratings agencies and media outlets - a public demo version of the banned 1995 CD-ROM ‘Forbidden Solitaire’ is being leaked to the public this Friday on Steam.
#horrorgame #indiedev #steam
Despite attempts at strict containment by Heartblade Interactive and censorship by ratings agencies and media outlets - a public demo version of the banned 1995 CD-ROM ‘Forbidden Solitaire’ is being leaked to the public this Friday on Steam.
#horrorgame #indiedev #steam
January 14, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Yes.
Mine has never stopped increasing. I should probably buy another copy before it’s too late.
January 14, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Mine has never stopped increasing. I should probably buy another copy before it’s too late.
This is what a labor of love looks like.
I took a bit of time and put together a compact summary of the 4.5 years of Sektori (from the devlog gifs you've seen if you've followed me). 3 weeks until release! #indiedev #gamedev
imgur.com/gallery/sekt...
imgur.com/gallery/sekt...
Sektori - the whole 4.5 years of game development in .gifs
Discover topics like ps5, indiedev, indie game, gaming, gamedev, and the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending mem...
imgur.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:59 PM
This is what a labor of love looks like.
I wrote a thing. Mobile games are still making $$$, but in December, one of the historically biggest months for mobile gamer spending in the top titles especially, the big ones saw a $32M dip. New device owners boosted downloads 12% over November, while full-year 2025 installs grew just 1.1% YoY.
🥶 December mobile gaming revenue fell 3.5%.
Top 10 games worldwide: $865M total.
$32M less than November.
Positive take: the drop was concentrated up top.
Overall spending was down just 0.6%.
Downloads? Those grew.
Top 10 worldwide saw 150M total.
Up 16M (+12%) from November.
Top 10 games worldwide: $865M total.
$32M less than November.
Positive take: the drop was concentrated up top.
Overall spending was down just 0.6%.
Downloads? Those grew.
Top 10 worldwide saw 150M total.
Up 16M (+12%) from November.
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
I wrote a thing. Mobile games are still making $$$, but in December, one of the historically biggest months for mobile gamer spending in the top titles especially, the big ones saw a $32M dip. New device owners boosted downloads 12% over November, while full-year 2025 installs grew just 1.1% YoY.
Slightly diminish a game
Semifinal Fantasy
Semifinal Fantasy
Slightly diminish a game
Okay Mario
Okay Mario
Slightly diminish a game
SilverEye 006
SilverEye 006
January 12, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Slightly diminish a game
Semifinal Fantasy
Semifinal Fantasy
Reposted by Randy Nelson
🧩 Kotlin Multiplatform is used by just 2% of the top 10K iOS apps.
React Native? ~14%.
Flutter? ~12%.
Yet KMP apps already earn 27% of this cohort's revenue.
React Native does 41%.
Flutter 32%.
KMP still trails in adoption.
But with these results? It might not for long.
React Native? ~14%.
Flutter? ~12%.
Yet KMP apps already earn 27% of this cohort's revenue.
React Native does 41%.
Flutter 32%.
KMP still trails in adoption.
But with these results? It might not for long.
January 8, 2026 at 7:12 PM
🧩 Kotlin Multiplatform is used by just 2% of the top 10K iOS apps.
React Native? ~14%.
Flutter? ~12%.
Yet KMP apps already earn 27% of this cohort's revenue.
React Native does 41%.
Flutter 32%.
KMP still trails in adoption.
But with these results? It might not for long.
React Native? ~14%.
Flutter? ~12%.
Yet KMP apps already earn 27% of this cohort's revenue.
React Native does 41%.
Flutter 32%.
KMP still trails in adoption.
But with these results? It might not for long.
Reposted by Randy Nelson
🔥 Snapchat is making more money with fewer users.
📉 Downloads ↓ ~30%
📈 Revenue ↑ 63%
💰 The result: >$552M in 2025
⬆️ More than all of 2024
⬆️⬆️ More than 2023 + 2024 combined
Other platforms = still seeking the right feature mix.
Snap heads into 2026 with momentum.
📉 Downloads ↓ ~30%
📈 Revenue ↑ 63%
💰 The result: >$552M in 2025
⬆️ More than all of 2024
⬆️⬆️ More than 2023 + 2024 combined
Other platforms = still seeking the right feature mix.
Snap heads into 2026 with momentum.
January 7, 2026 at 7:51 PM
🔥 Snapchat is making more money with fewer users.
📉 Downloads ↓ ~30%
📈 Revenue ↑ 63%
💰 The result: >$552M in 2025
⬆️ More than all of 2024
⬆️⬆️ More than 2023 + 2024 combined
Other platforms = still seeking the right feature mix.
Snap heads into 2026 with momentum.
📉 Downloads ↓ ~30%
📈 Revenue ↑ 63%
💰 The result: >$552M in 2025
⬆️ More than all of 2024
⬆️⬆️ More than 2023 + 2024 combined
Other platforms = still seeking the right feature mix.
Snap heads into 2026 with momentum.
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Reminder: The progress you've made in the demo of 2026, if any, will carry over to the full release
January 6, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Reminder: The progress you've made in the demo of 2026, if any, will carry over to the full release
Reposted by Randy Nelson
🎬 ByteDance dominating video editing with CapCut wasn’t luck.
It was a blueprint.
📸 Now it's running the same playbook with Hypic.
✅ It's also seeing similar early results.
❓ The only question is how fast the photo editing incumbents react.
It was a blueprint.
📸 Now it's running the same playbook with Hypic.
✅ It's also seeing similar early results.
❓ The only question is how fast the photo editing incumbents react.
January 6, 2026 at 8:04 PM
🎬 ByteDance dominating video editing with CapCut wasn’t luck.
It was a blueprint.
📸 Now it's running the same playbook with Hypic.
✅ It's also seeing similar early results.
❓ The only question is how fast the photo editing incumbents react.
It was a blueprint.
📸 Now it's running the same playbook with Hypic.
✅ It's also seeing similar early results.
❓ The only question is how fast the photo editing incumbents react.
Reposted by Randy Nelson
The highest earning mobile games in the world in November:
🥇 Last War ($119M)
🥈 Whiteout Survival ($115M)
🥉 Royal Match ($114M)
• Revenue is estimated after store fees
🥇 Last War ($119M)
🥈 Whiteout Survival ($115M)
🥉 Royal Match ($114M)
• Revenue is estimated after store fees
December 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The highest earning mobile games in the world in November:
🥇 Last War ($119M)
🥈 Whiteout Survival ($115M)
🥉 Royal Match ($114M)
• Revenue is estimated after store fees
🥇 Last War ($119M)
🥈 Whiteout Survival ($115M)
🥉 Royal Match ($114M)
• Revenue is estimated after store fees
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Had a fun time putting this together with the team. Even I was initially surprised by how much faster it reached the milestone than other $3B+ apps—and how few of those apps there are that were released in the past 7+ years. @sarahp.bsky.social hits on all the highlights with added context.
ChatGPT has reached $3B in lifetime mobile consumer spending in just 31 months, faster than TikTok and major streaming apps.
ChatGPT's mobile app hits new milestone of $3B in consumer spending | TechCrunch
ChatGPT has reached $3B in lifetime mobile consumer spending in just 31 months, faster than TikTok and major streaming apps.
techcrunch.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Had a fun time putting this together with the team. Even I was initially surprised by how much faster it reached the milestone than other $3B+ apps—and how few of those apps there are that were released in the past 7+ years. @sarahp.bsky.social hits on all the highlights with added context.
Reposted by Randy Nelson
📈 iOS app releases are the highest they've been in years.
AI + vibe coding lowered the bar for entry.
TikTok proved organic scale is reachable.
Subs proved indie apps can pay rent.
The downturn wasn’t demand-based.
It was who could build and make it worthwhile.
AI + vibe coding lowered the bar for entry.
TikTok proved organic scale is reachable.
Subs proved indie apps can pay rent.
The downturn wasn’t demand-based.
It was who could build and make it worthwhile.
December 17, 2025 at 9:59 PM
📈 iOS app releases are the highest they've been in years.
AI + vibe coding lowered the bar for entry.
TikTok proved organic scale is reachable.
Subs proved indie apps can pay rent.
The downturn wasn’t demand-based.
It was who could build and make it worthwhile.
AI + vibe coding lowered the bar for entry.
TikTok proved organic scale is reachable.
Subs proved indie apps can pay rent.
The downturn wasn’t demand-based.
It was who could build and make it worthwhile.
Not included: How those full console games (Death Stranding, the REs, etc.) are doing on mobile at their reduced (but still relatively high) price points. Then there's the non-Netflix version of RDR that just launched at $40. Look for some numbers on those soon here when I have a sec!
🔬 The paid app ecosystem still exists but its demise is accelerating.
Releases down 50%.
Only 138K are left.
Just 3.6% of the stores.
A single utility app out-earns them all in a long weekend.
The numbers aren't in their favor.
Hard to justify shipping one in 2026.
Releases down 50%.
Only 138K are left.
Just 3.6% of the stores.
A single utility app out-earns them all in a long weekend.
The numbers aren't in their favor.
Hard to justify shipping one in 2026.
December 3, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Not included: How those full console games (Death Stranding, the REs, etc.) are doing on mobile at their reduced (but still relatively high) price points. Then there's the non-Netflix version of RDR that just launched at $40. Look for some numbers on those soon here when I have a sec!
Reposted by Randy Nelson
It costs nothing for you to share this
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
December 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It costs nothing for you to share this
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
Reposted by Randy Nelson
Great folks. Great games. Great cause. 👀 +💰= 🧒🏥📈
Playing games this weekend? So are we, to support our local children's hospitals.
Join our devs at twitch.tv/digitaleclipsestudios all weekend long as we raise funds for our annual Extra Life 3-day marathon. 🎉 Don't forget to donate! https://www.extra-life.org/teams/72592
Join our devs at twitch.tv/digitaleclipsestudios all weekend long as we raise funds for our annual Extra Life 3-day marathon. 🎉 Don't forget to donate! https://www.extra-life.org/teams/72592
DigitalEclipseStudios - Twitch
We're the dev team behind Atari 50, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Tetris Forever, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind, Wizardry: PGMO, The Making of Karateka, TMNT Cowabunga, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary, the Gold Master Series & more!
twitch.tv
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Great folks. Great games. Great cause. 👀 +💰= 🧒🏥📈