Candy Crush Saga's Decade-Long Dominance as a Model of Technological Addiction and Monetization
Launched in November 2012, Candy Crush Saga has amassed over $9 billion in revenue, primarily through in-game purchases for extra lives. With installations exceeding three billion devices, the game employs 'sugar crush' animations to create a trance-like experience, echoing Natasha Dow Schüll's 'machine zone' theory from her 2014 work, Addiction By Design. Its design draws inspiration from the 2001 match-three game Bejeweled, showcasing 'free to play' strategies. Amid stagnant wages, platforms like Facebook and Instagram have also capitalized on user data. Allen Carr pointed out that the candy themes highlight the game's addictive qualities. Since its trading debut in 2014, Candy Crush reflects neoliberal principles by shifting risk responsibility onto players.
Key facts
- Candy Crush Saga was released in November 2012.
- The game has been installed on over three billion devices.
- Revenue from in-game microtransactions exceeds $9 billion.
- Natasha Dow Schüll published Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas in 2014.
- The game's design is derived from the 2001 title Bejeweled.
- Fortnite hosts virtual events like Travis Scott concerts.
- Jenny Odell authored How To Do Nothing: Resisting The Attention Economy in 2019.
- Candy Crush Saga has been traded on the stock market since 2014.
Entities
Artists
- Natasha Dow Schüll
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- Jenny Odell
- Allen Carr
- Travis Scott
- Christopher Nolan
Institutions
- Fortnite
Locations
- Las Vegas