Case Studies

Jake Paul Rush Royale Case Study: Gaming UA Strategy

See how My.Games partnered with Jake Paul to boost Rush Royale’s user acquisition through influencer marketing and in-game events.

CCreatorDB Team 4 min read
Jake Paul Rush Royale Case Study: Gaming UA Strategy

On May 30, 2023, My.Games the publisher of the popular tower defense game Rush Royale announced to have started a collaboration with boxer and internet personality Jake Paul.

In this partnership, we can see that mobile games and influencers are coming closer and establishing new creative ways to improve user acquisition and profitability in a crowded space.

Why My.Games collaborated with Jake Paul?

My.Games announced a new event for its flagship game Rush Royale: the Champion Rumble. Participating in this two weeks event will allow users to unlock Champion Tokens, the Belt of the Champion Island, and a new champion, Jake Paul. As a famous boxer and worldwide well-known influencer, the new champion is going to bring a fresh skill set to the game and directly connect with Paul’s background.

Along with the announcement, My.Games released as well a new promotional video starring Jake. In the video, we see him in the ring having a tough time with an unnamed opponent but getting saved by the boost of confidence he gets when playing Rush Royale. This creative cleverly taps into Jake Paul’s personal story and fame while highlighting the game as a positive influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te6290HFUF4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.creatordb.app%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

In a recent interview, Elena Grigoryan, Chief Strategy Officer for My.Games, explained how the collaboration is part of a larger goal of the company to improve its brand marketing and differentiates itself in an oversaturated market.

In the face of an increasingly challenging UA game companies need to find new and innovative ways to attract users, and influencer marketing seems to be the answer many are looking for.

Who is Jake Paul? Why is he famous?

Jake Paul is one of the longer-lasting and prominent influencers. He started his career on the defunct short video platform Vine and later became one of the faces of Disney Channel for his role in the show Bizaardvark.

Why Disney terminated the contract with Jake Paul?

Disney Channel parted ways with the star following a lawsuit sparked by neighbors upset about the continuous disturbances caused by enthusiastic fans. This issue arose after the celebrity shared his Los Angeles home address online.

At this point, YouTube became his main outlet, where he was able to amass over 20 million subscribers. Jake’s channel is known for its pranks, music videos, and Vlogs.

In recent times, Jake has been at the forefront of the phenomenon of YouTube boxers. It started with an amateur bout with fellow YouTuber Deji and moved on to fight retired professional fighters like Anderson Silva and Tommy Fury.

By collaborating with a personality with such a large following and traction, there are several benefits for My.Games:

Other fighters in games ads

While not everyone needs a fighter in their commercials, this is actually not the first time a similar collaboration happened: back in November 2022 former UFC Bantamweight World Champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey become a legendary champion for Raid: Shadow Legends.

Influencer marketing trend in gaming

Famous gaming brands, including Rush Royale and Raid, have leveraged the star power of Jake Paul and Ronda Rousey in their marketing strategies. Given their background in martial arts, these celebrities were seamlessly integrated as formidable champions within the games, enhancing the gaming experience. But that doesn’t mean that you need to scramble for Tyson’s phone number.

Another game that has learned how to introduce real-life personalities in its marketing is Fortnite. Rather than partnering with renowned fighters, the game has collaborated with popular streamers and musicians. This strategic move allows players to adorn their characters with custom skins and accessories, transforming them into their favorite icons.

Just a day after the announcement of Jake Paul’s collaboration with My.Games, Call of Duty’s players were finally able to access skins inspired by two of the most popular streamers: Nickmercs and TimTheTatman. The fans of the two streamers were ecstatic to be finally able to play in the clothes of their idols as you can see from the comments.

So, why influencers for games?

When games using influencers marketing, there are some expected benefits:

By connecting to the right influencers and including them, in the marketing process and in the game experience there will be further incentive for the audience to participate.

Conclusion

The video game industry, particularly mobile gaming, has witnessed exponential growth in recent years, leading to intensified competition and shrinking profit margins. Established games can weather this storm due to their vast user base, but emerging games face challenges in visibility amidst limited marketing budgets.

To counter this, some opt for dual monetization strategies, balancing in-game purchases and ad revenues. However, excessive ads can alienate players. Hence, exploring innovative promotion avenues is essential for differentiation and capturing audience attention.

Offering players unique methods to support their favorite creators not only elevates your game’s visibility but also enhances user experience, fulfilling gamers’ desires for exclusivity and engagement.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions.

Why did My.Games partner with Jake Paul for Rush Royale?

My.Games partnered with Jake Paul to improve user acquisition and brand differentiation in a crowded gaming market. The collaboration brought Paul's 20M+ YouTube subscribers and boxing background into the game via a new Champion Rumble event and playable Jake Paul champion character. According to My.Games' Chief Strategy Officer, influencer partnerships represent an innovative approach to UA when traditional channels face increasing competition.

How do gaming companies use influencers beyond simple endorsements?

Successful gaming collaborations integrate influencer personas and strengths directly into game mechanics rather than limiting partnerships to sponsored posts. Rush Royale embedded Jake Paul as a playable champion; Fortnite offers streamer-inspired skins; Call of Duty created skins of popular streamers Nickmercs and TimTheTatman. This approach creates engaging campaign experiences that resonate with existing fan bases while introducing games to new audiences.

What makes Jake Paul an effective influencer for mobile game marketing?

Jake Paul combines massive reach—over 20 million YouTube subscribers—with a personal brand aligned to combat and competition. His background as a YouTube boxer, musician, and content creator gives him credibility across entertainment verticals. My.Games' promotional video cleverly tied his boxing story to Rush Royale gameplay, making the partnership feel authentic rather than transactional to his existing audience.

Are fighter and athlete partnerships the only way to market mobile games?

No. While Rush Royale used Jake Paul and Raid: Shadow Legends used Ronda Rousey, other games pursue different influencer strategies. Fortnite collaborates with popular streamers and musicians rather than fighters. Call of Duty partners with gaming streamers like Nickmercs and TimTheTatman. The key is matching the influencer's background and audience to the game's core appeal and target player demographics.

What challenges do gaming companies face with user acquisition today?

Gaming UA has become increasingly difficult and expensive as markets saturate. Traditional advertising channels face diminishing returns, forcing companies to seek innovative alternatives. Influencer marketing has emerged as a response, allowing games to reach new audiences through trusted personalities and create integrated campaign experiences rather than relying solely on standard ad placements.