Viral app Slither gives up to 500 players control of snakelike creatures fighting for food
Steven Howse, the 32-year-old genius behind Slither.io, is facing the overwhelming demands of his groundbreaking creation. Slither.io is a multiplayer game that allows players to control snake-like creatures and battle it out for food. Shortly after its release, the app skyrocketed to the top 10 most downloaded list, alongside giants like Facebook and YouTube. It’s safe to say that the game’s success was unexpected for Howse, who, not too long ago, struggled to pay rent, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The growth of Slither.io can only be described as wildfire, spreading through word of mouth and social referrals. With a staggering 68 million mobile downloads and 67 million browser users, the game has reached unprecedented levels of popularity. However, achieving viral success in the gaming industry is no easy task. Out of the 3.6 million mobile apps available, a mere 950,000 are games, and only a fraction of these manage to capture widespread attention. Standing out in such a competitive field is a challenge in itself, but monetizing that success poses an even greater obstacle.
Slither.io not only achieved explosive popularity but also became incredibly profitable. Recent reports indicate that the app generates a staggering $100,000 in daily revenue, leaving the developers struggling to keep up with the demand. The game supports up to 500 players simultaneously and relies heavily on community interaction to thrive. The infrastructure required to sustain such a large player base is immense.
The immediate challenge for Howse is to secure server space to meet the escalating player demand. He spent weeks identifying areas with high demand and procuring server space in those regions. While he could have opted for giants like Amazon to provide server space and save time, the exorbitant rates charged for the required bandwidth would have quickly eaten into the app’s profitability.
The game’s sudden success can be attributed, in part, to its simplicity. Coordinating complex gameplay across multiple levels would have proven challenging at best. Slither.io, on the other hand, adheres to straightforward concepts that clearly resonate with players. Additionally, the absence of mandatory in-game purchases is another reason for its appeal. Revenue is primarily generated through advertising, and players have the option to pay a small fee to opt out of ads.
Apart from ensuring the game’s operational stability, Howse dedicates time to implementing user-requested improvements. Keeping players satisfied is a top priority for him. He can now breathe a sigh of relief, as his newfound success has allowed him to forgo a backup career as a supermarket clerk, at least for now.
Editors’ Recommendations
- One of Game Pass’ top titles will no longer be available on PC after August 15, and you definitely don’t want to miss out.
- Check out the best free FPS games that you can play right now.
- Exciting news! Google Play Games is now available for beta testing on PC in the U.S.
- This game lets hackers attack your PC, and the best part? You don’t even have to play it!
- Good news for WhatsApp users: You can finally transfer your chats from Android to iOS.
This article was written for OnSpec Electronic, Inc..
