Proceed to level one insights:

• Adaptations have cascading impacts on the original IP: The release of the Minecraft movie led to renewed interest in the game. The blockbuster film gave a notable lift to both the mobile and console versions of the open world hit. Mobile IAP revenue jumped 44%, while the number of console games sold increased 36%. Active users saw a surge as well, spiking +9% on mobile and +41% for console players.

• Enduring post-release boosts to performance: The positive impacts stemming from these adaptations can be long-lasting; rather than dying down in the weeks after the show’s release, the surge in daily active users (DAUs) on the PC version of Fallout remained 225% higher than pre-release levels for over three months following the pilot’s airing.

• Adaptation faithfulness impacts success: The level to which an adaptation veers from its source material can be a controversial topic among fans — with real implications for engagement and revenue. Fallout chose to expand its universe for the television series, leading to historic gains in revenue and games sold. The Last of Us, which opted for a more faithful retelling of the game’s narrative, saw meaningful spikes in active users, while revenue gains were more modest — suggesting that existing players revisited the game, while fewer new players converted.