Triband and Midjiwan show mobile success without loot boxes

A new industry profile of Nordic studios Triband and Midjiwan offers a useful counterpoint to the assumption that mobile success requires aggressive free-to-play monetisation. Triband built its reputation through playful games such as What the Golf?, What the Car? and What the Clash?, with Apple Arcade providing a subscription model free from advertisements and microtransactions. The studio now employs more than 60 people but continues to organise development around relatively small teams.

Midjiwan has followed a different path with The Battle of Polytopia, which began as a solo project in 2016 and later passed 25 million organic downloads. The strategy game has no in-game currency, relying instead on expansions and cosmetic purchases. Its longevity has also supported an esports championship, showing that a restrained business model does not prevent long-term community growth.

Both examples demonstrate that mobile studios can build sustainable audiences by serving specific tastes, controlling costs and avoiding a constant live-operations arms race. Their models will not fit every genre, but they challenge the idea that loot boxes, heavy advertising or endless paid events are unavoidable. For developers, the larger lesson is that a clear creative identity and respectful monetisation can become competitive advantages rather than commercial limitations.