Metasports Interactive is the pioneer behind the strategy based mobile cricket game Hitwicket that is developed around the world. Metasports has completed a major funding round. It secured $20 million in User Acquisition (UA) funding from Metica. Metica is a global giant in gaming industry focused investment.

This huge financial investment is particularly meant to expedite worldwide presence of Hitwicket which has already become one of the leading titles in the sports game category. The collaboration is a strategic fit between an Exponential growth game developer and a specialized financier, to open new markets and cement the role of the game as a powerhouse in mobile sports.

Core purpose and strategic partnership

The core purpose of this $20 million investment is to drive aggressive user acquisition plans in major international markets. This UA-specific capital would be used strategically over time to push high-intent traffic and grow the player base in areas with high cricket passion and emerging gaming locations, unlike traditional equity funding. 

The investment will enable Metasports Interactive to capitalize on data-driven marketing campaigns, which will increase the awareness of Hitwicket on the international app stores. The company is driven by the goal to grow its daily active users and create a more diverse and international community of cricket fans who would enjoy the combination of strategy and sports management available in the game by concentrating on user acquisition.

The decision to engage Metica as a financing partner is strategic to ensure that Metasports Interactive utilizes specialized expertise in the gaming ecosystem. Metica has a reputation of offering non-diluteive capital financing options that enable founders to grow their businesses without diluting a substantial inventory of owning stakes. In the case of Metasports, this would entail retaining creative and operational control in addition to acquiring financial muscle capable of competing with giants in the world of gaming. 

As companies understand, metrics and user lifetime value (LVP) are crucial assets to gaming, and Metica has been able to deliver beyond capital a more refined model through which marketing money is evaluated and optimized. This partnership will help to rationalize the growth engine of Hitwicket, where every dollar of the $20 million will be used in the most efficient manner, to enable it to reach long-term growth sustainability.

Market and unique approach

Hitwicket has also created a difference with the usual games of cricket, not only by taking the emphasis off of simple button-mashing but also by model-based strategic decision-making. It is an AI-based cricket strategy game that enables the player to assume the role of a team owner and team manager and make essential decisions about player bids, team properties, and match strategies. 

This unique approach has connected with an international fan base. It marks it one of the highest-ranking titles in different national and international startup and gaming competitions. The investment occurs when mobile gaming is growing at an unprecedented rate, especially in sports and strategy genres. India has now become an international center of game development, and Hitwicket is one such product of Indian origin that has received international recognition. 

According to Metasports Interactive, the global scalability of the Indian gaming IP is proven by the fact that it has managed to find this $20 million from Metica. The emphasis on international growth is timely due to the fact that the popularity of cricket is still broadening outside its traditional strongholds, as witnessed by the emerging international leagues of T20 games and an online fan base approaching digital-first.

Conclusion

The $20 million UA investment from Metica is a historical milestone in the life of Metasports Interactive and its major franchise, Hitwicket. The company has the appropriate capital to grow out of a successful regional player to become a global leader in the sports strategy genre due to its ability to obtain dedicated capital to acquire users.

The collaboration is not merely confirmation of the robustness of the gameplay and business model at Hitwicket, but also an indicator of the maturation of the gaming investment field, to which unique UA funding is emerging as a vital mechanism of scaling successful games. With this capital being utilized by Metasports Interactive to reach millions of new users, the consistent theme will be in creating a world-class strategic experience that involves the enthusiasm and complexity of cricket to a global population.