In 2015, experts of the app reskinning industry have declared that app reskinning was dead and they would go do something else with their lives.
Reskinning is the process of taking the source code of a game or an app that already exists, change its graphics, sounds and advertising IDs then publish it to the app stores (usually Google Play and iTunes app store).
This process can easily be followed by anyone (we’ve had a 14 year old reach top 10 rank in iTunes). Reskinning had its prime time in 2010 to 2014 and anyone could do it, whatever their background was in tech, entrepreneurship, design or marketing.
Reskinning is “dead” in the sense that the market has changed t the point where it’s very hard to keep releasing loads of games and make a living out of it. iTunes app store, Google Play store and Amazon app store will still accept your reskinned apps and games, but the visibility has been diminished.
What are the reskinning experts doing now?
Some of the people were doing reskinning just for the money and many of them sold their businesses. Many of them are doing Amazon FBA, which consists of buying stuff cheap and sending it to Amazon warehouses, which Amazon takes care of shipping and handling it for you.
Other industry experts have been focusing on marketing and are working with brands to help them get more exposure (App Store Optimization, creating buzz, etc..)
Some people are still doing app reskinning and are focusing on releasing quality apps over quantity.
How about Yohann and AppsFresh?
Assuming we made $10 million tomorrow, we would still be making apps and games because we’re not in for the money. We’re into making apps and games because it’s fun, it’s gratifying and it allows us to use our creative side.
At AppsFresh, we’ve decided to focus full-gear on building games using Unity, and educating people on how to make a sustainable business out off it. The reason we’ve chosen Unity is that contrary to other platforms, it’s free to use, anyone can pick it up and the games we make can be deployed on lots of platforms with no extra effort. We’re able to make games for PC, MAC, iPhones, Android phones, PS, XBox, Steam and the cherry on the cake: New upcoming VR devices like oculus Rift, Samsung VR or HTC Vive.
Now we cannot tell for sure if Virtual Reality is just a trend but thanks to Unity, we’re only a step away from releasing our games to these new devices!
If you haven’t checked out our online course on making a 3D shooter with Unity and then turning it into a multiplayer game, then go take a look at it now, you’ve been missing out!
I almost forgot to mention I (Yohann) strongly believe that Unity will be used to make LIVE animated cinematics in the future, so get ready to take on the movie entertainment industry too, using the skills you’ve learned to make games! If you haven’t seen the demo Adam at GDC 2016, now is the time.
Last but not least, at AppsFresh we love to create fun stuff and we would love to blend gaming and 3D printing, but have yet to find how the two can be used together.
We want to hear your story.
Whether you were doing reskins or not, I’d like to know what made you decide to stop and what you’ve been doing since. Contact me.
