Navigating the Perilous Waters of Google Play: A Mobile Game Developer’s Tale
As we welcomed the new year, full of aspirations and plans, our path as an indie game development studio took an unexpected and drastic turn. In a move that caught us completely off guard, Google abruptly terminated our Google Play account. This unforeseen action didn’t just cast a shadow over our diverse portfolio of mobile games; it posed a dire threat to the very existence of our business.
I will take you through our roller-coaster journey following this incident in this article. It’s a story filled with challenges, insights, and hard-earned lessons that I hope will resonate with fellow mobile game developers and anyone navigating the unpredictable waters of major digital platforms. This isn’t just a recount of our struggles; it’s a stark reminder of the fragile nature of our digital dependencies and the importance of resilience in the ever-evolving world of app development.
Background
Midnite, our game development studio, has always wanted to create engaging experiences, specialising in puzzles and hyper-casual games. However, the landscape of mobile gaming in 2023 brought new challenges that prompted us to reevaluate our strategy. With the hyper-casual market reaching saturation, we found ourselves at a crossroads, needing to adapt to survive.
Faced with these industry shifts, we decided to take a significant leap. Moving away from our traditional focus, we set our sights on developing larger, more complex genres. This pivot led us to concentrate on casual puzzles and idle RPGs, genres we believed had untapped potential for a studio like ours. It was a bold move towards self-publishing, a path fraught with risks but promising greater creative freedom and, potentially, a more sustainable business model.
This transition required us to operate at a loss initially, channelling our resources into four primary titles: Survivor Idle Run, Superheroes Idle RPG, Color Wall 3D and Push It. Working alongside MAF for user acquisition, we embarked on this journey, nurturing our games and audience with the hope of establishing a stable foothold in these new genres.
As we strived to reach our financial goals, we revisited our extensive backlog of unpublished games accumulated over six years of operation. Among these dormant projects was a game acquired in 2019 from a former designer. Believing it could contribute significantly to our portfolio with just a few updates, we were unaware that this decision would lead us into uncharted and turbulent waters.
The Termination Incident
Our path into uncertainty commenced with a straightforward task: revitalizing and re-releasing a game acquired from a former game designer in 2019. Brimming with captivating gameplay and visually appealing graphics, this game was a prime candidate for inclusion in our evolving game portfolio.
The initial phase of our update process seemed routine until we stumbled upon a critical warning from the Google Developer Console. The alert pointed to potentially harmful code associated with Xiaomi. This was no minor issue to be overlooked — it demanded immediate action. We dove deep into the game’s code and uncovered remnants of an outdated Unity IAP library, including support files for Xiaomi’s store. Addressing this with utmost diligence, we removed these obsolete elements and updated the AndroidManifest accordingly. After these comprehensive revisions, the game successfully passed Google Play Console’s scrutiny, leading us to believe we had navigated past the issue.
Yet, our relief was abruptly shattered. Weeks following the successful submission, our world was turned upside down. The game was first suspended, and in a swift and almost surreal sequence of events, our entire Google Play account faced termination. The grounds cited were severe — allegations of malware and unwanted software. This was bewildering, considering our rigorous response to the initial warning.
Our initial appeals to Google were met with swift rejections, each a stark reminder of the precariousness of our situation. Without access to the developer console except for the appeal page, I could only rely on memory to piece together what might have gone wrong.
We conducted extensive antivirus and malware checks on the submitted build to prove our compliance and rectify the situation. Our efforts were thorough, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the submitted app was clean and free from harmful elements. The results were precise: the build was clean, reinforcing our belief that the termination was a grave misunderstanding. We meticulously reviewed every technical aspect we could recall, particularly the deep links functionality we had issues integrating. There was a nagging thought — could these have inadvertently contributed to our predicament?
Impact on Business and Personal Life
The repercussions of Google’s abrupt decision rippled through every aspect of our lives. Professionally, it was as if the ground had been pulled from beneath us. Our primary revenue stream, which we had nurtured and grown over years of hard work and dedication, was suddenly and brutally cut off. Our games, each a testament to our creativity and technical skill, were now beyond our reach and, more importantly, beyond the reach of our audience. This was a setback and a devastating blow to our financial stability and prospects.
Professionally, it was as if the ground had been pulled from beneath us.
But the impact was not confined to our business alone. Personally, the situation took a heavy toll. The phone call from my brother, received as I was finishing up dropping my kids at school, is etched in my memory. His voice, laden with panic and disbelief, conveyed a message that shook my very core: “They’ve terminated our account; all our games are gone.” At that moment, the professional disaster intertwined with my personal world, overshadowing the routine of daily life.
Our team, a close-knit group who had invested their talents and passion into Midnite, was left disheartened and demoralised. Our studio, built on a foundation of ambition and perseverance, now faces an uncertain future. The dream of self-publishing, once a beacon of hope, seemed to fade into nothingness.
On a personal front, the stress and uncertainty permeated every aspect of my life. Striking a balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being became a daily challenge. I grappled with the situation, seeking solutions while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy for my family. The future of our company, our livelihood, and the dreams we held dear hung in the balance, clouded by the shadow of an uncertain future.
This experience has vividly exposed the inherent fragility within our industry. It has laid bare the unsettling truth that years of commitment and relentless effort can be overturned in a moment, subjecting developers like us to the whims of platform policies capable of altering our lives with little warning.
years of commitment and relentless effort can be overturned in a moment
The Broader Implications for Developers
Our story, while deeply personal, is not just an isolated case in the vast world of app development. It casts a spotlight on a critical issue that resonates across the industry — the delicate balance developers must maintain in a digital ecosystem dominated by platform giants like Google Play.
- Vulnerability to Platform Decisions: : Our experience brings to the forefront the fragile nature of dependence on digital platforms. For small teams and indie developers, this reliance for app distribution and revenue can be a double-edged sword. The abrupt termination of our account is a testament to how quickly stability can turn into chaos, putting entire businesses at risk.
- Lack of Transparent Communication: In our case, the appeal process was slow and shrouded in ambiguity. This lack of clear communication adds to the frustration and helplessness experienced by developers, making it difficult to rectify issues or even understand the nature of the alleged violations.
- The Need for Diversification: Our situation highlights the importance of not putting all eggs in one basket. Diversifying platforms, exploring alternative app stores, and considering direct distribution channels might provide a safety net against such unilateral decisions.
- Community Support and Awareness: Sharing these experiences within the developer community is vital. It fosters a support network and raises awareness about the potential risks and the need for proactive measures to safeguard one’s work.
This incident has been a wake-up call for us at Midnite and the entire app development community. It’s a reminder that while we strive to innovate and entertain, we must also be vigilant, aware of the policies and practices that govern our workspaces, and prepared for abrupt changes that could have far-reaching impacts.
Call to Action and Conclusion
As we navigate the aftermath of our Google Play account termination and continue to seek resolution, our story is more than a personal narrative. It is a call for change and action within the app development community.
- Enhanced Communication from Platforms: We urge platforms like Google Play to establish clearer, more transparent communication channels. Developers deserve to understand the specifics of their violations and be given a fair chance to rectify them.
- Community Solidarity: I call upon fellow developers to share their experiences and insights, creating a collective repository of knowledge that can help navigate these challenging waters. We can better advocate for fairer treatment and more reasonable policies by standing together.
- Preparedness and Vigilance: Let our story remind all developers to thoroughly vet and regularly update their app content, be aware of policy changes, and always have contingency plans.
- Support Indie Developers: For users and consumers, supporting indie developers goes beyond downloading their apps. Engage with us, provide feedback, and understand the challenges we face. Your support is crucial in shaping a more inclusive and fair app ecosystem.
This incident is a powerful lesson as we await a resolution from Google and continue our fight to reclaim our dream of self-publishing. It’s a lesson about the precarious nature of our digital dependencies and the importance of resilience. We’re more than just developers; we’re individuals with families, dreams, and the determination to create something meaningful. This isn’t the end of our story. It’s a new chapter that will lead to positive change for us and the entire app development community.
Share this story. Let’s amplify our voices. Together, we can make a difference.
