Warlord Chess Litev1.5.0

Released November 3, 2016Major

iOS

The latest major update transitioned the app to an ad-supported model, resulting in a 1.17 star decline in average ratings. While the removal of the upfront purchase barrier is noted, technical regressions in piece movement and obstructive ad placements drive a negative user response. The overall impact is negative due to these critical functional and interface failures.

What changed

MonetizationIntroduced a new ad-supported model to unlock full game content and features
ContentUnlocked access to all worlds, game options, hard AI, and game saving
PlatformAdded compatibility for iOS 10
PerformanceGeneral performance enhancements

Reception

32/ 100 impact scoreNegative

What worked

Monetization
Users acknowledge the game is accessible without an upfront purchase.

What didn't

Monetization
backfired
Ad placements obstruct core game controls, preventing interaction with the interface.
Performance
backfired
Logic errors in chess piece movement and tile placement emerged following the update.

Marlvel takeaways

Relocate ad units to avoid overlap with interactive game controls to restore basic playability.
Address regressions in chess piece movement logic to resolve reported gameplay errors.
Monitor user feedback closely as the current sample size is insufficient to confirm long-term stability.

Original release notes

This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included.

• New ad model. Play the full game in exchange for ads! Get access to all worlds, all game options, hard AI, and game save. Everything but online play which will be coming soon.
• iOS 10 Compatibility
• Performance enhancements