Return Entertainment’s Rivals Arena Now Available on Fire TV in the UK
Return Entertainment, a Finland-based developer of cloud-native smart TV gaming platforms, has announced the UK launch of its debut game, Rivals Arena, on Amazon Fire TV. This expansion marks a significant milestone in making premium gaming experiences accessible without the need for specialized hardware.
Innovative Gameplay with Smartphone Controllers
Rivals Arena challenges conventional gaming interactions by allowing players to use their smartphones as controllers. By simply scanning a QR code, players can dive into the fast-paced card battler from the comfort of their living rooms. This innovative approach has already captivated audiences in the US, where the game was initially launched exclusively on Samsung Smart TVs.
Seamless Integration with Amazon’s Technological Ecosystem
Return Entertainment’s collaboration with Amazon leverages AWS GPUs to power its cloud infrastructure, aligning perfectly with the company’s in-game ad monetization strategy. The combination of Fire TV, AWS cloud services, Amazon Games Studios, and Prime Video creates an environment where Return Entertainment’s vision for accessible TV gaming comes to life.
Impressive User Adoption and Engagement
User data from the US launch shows remarkable adoption rates, with 85% of players finding the mobile controller easy to use and 88% able to start the game quickly. Notably, 44% of users are playing games on their TVs for the first time, demonstrating Return Entertainment’s success in blurring the lines between casual TV viewing and interactive gaming.
New Monetization Model for Smart TV Gaming
Rivals Arena introduces a groundbreaking monetization model for smart TV gaming, featuring integrated in-game video ads, including unskippable video interstitials and optional rewarded video ads. This approach opens a new market for performance advertising with higher CPM potential, moving beyond traditional brand ads that dominate TV advertising without measurable effectiveness. Over 50% of players choose to watch optional rewarded ads, averaging 10 ad views per hour of gameplay.
Affordable Cloud Technology with AWS Spot Instances
Rivals Arena leverages AWS spot instances to significantly reduce cloud GPU costs. These non-reserved GPU instances, typically priced up to 90% lower than standard on-demand instances, can be reallocated on short notice. Return Entertainment’s unique architecture allows the platform to handle these instances on the fly, ensuring visual fidelity without compromising gameplay.
A Milestone in Cloud-Based Gaming
Shayan Sanyal, Global Games Industry BD Lead at Amazon Web Services, expressed excitement about the partnership: “AWS is thrilled to work with Return Entertainment to extend the use of our spot instances to big-screen gaming. This milestone demonstrates how AWS can enable cost-efficient and globally scalable operations for cloud-based gaming.”
For more information on Return Entertainment, please visit: returnentertainment.com.
