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How the Talking Tom Cat became a billion-dollar empire.
This story and article was published by How the Talking Tom Cat became a billion-dollar empire
In 2010, a simple mobile game featuring a cheeky, voice-mimicking cat took the world by storm. Talking Tom Cat, created by Slovenian startup Outfit7, became an overnight sensation. and the foundation of a billion-dollar empire.
But how did a virtual pet app evolve into a global franchise with movies, merchandise, and millions of devoted fans? Today, let's explore the quirky success story of Talking Tom, a digital underdog that clawed its way to the top.
The origin of a digital pet cat
A small Slovenian company called Outfit7 had a quirky idea: What if a virtual pet could repeat everything you said in a funny voice?
That's when talking Tom Cat came into the
picture, a cheeky orange tabby who mimicked players' words in a high-pitched, cartoonish tone.
The game was simple, addictive, and hilarious, especially for kids.
Why did it go viral?
• Instant interaction: Tom responded to touch,
pokes, and speech, making players feel like
they hada real pet.
Shareable: Kids loved recording silly phrases
and sharing them online with friends.
• Perfect Timing: Launched during the early smartphone boom it became a must-download.
Within 11 months, Talking Tom Cat hit 100 million downloads, and Outfit7 knew they had a superstar on their hands.
From app to empire Outfit7 didn’t stop at one hit, they built an entire Talking Friends franchise, which includes: Talking Angela (2012) – Tom’s stylish feline friend My Talking Tom (2013) – A virtual pet simulator Talking Tom Gold Run (2016) – A fast-paced endless runner Talking Tom and Friends (2014) – An animated YouTube series with millions of views per episode.
As of 2024, the series had over 23 billion downloads across all games, according to mobilegamerz.biz.
Moreover, the company broadened its horizons by diving into merchandise. From plush toys to backpacks, Talking Tom became a retail sensation, proving that digital characters could dominate the real world, too.
What are your thoughts on the My talking tom franchise? Do you think it’s one of the biggest mobile app franchises in the virtual pet industry?
Even though it’s a mobile app, it’s also more profitable than Neopets. Do you think it’s possible that we’ll see another empire like My talking tom or will they be the only one?
This story and article was published by How the Talking Tom Cat became a billion-dollar empire
In 2010, a simple mobile game featuring a cheeky, voice-mimicking cat took the world by storm. Talking Tom Cat, created by Slovenian startup Outfit7, became an overnight sensation. and the foundation of a billion-dollar empire.
But how did a virtual pet app evolve into a global franchise with movies, merchandise, and millions of devoted fans? Today, let's explore the quirky success story of Talking Tom, a digital underdog that clawed its way to the top.
The origin of a digital pet cat
A small Slovenian company called Outfit7 had a quirky idea: What if a virtual pet could repeat everything you said in a funny voice?
That's when talking Tom Cat came into the
picture, a cheeky orange tabby who mimicked players' words in a high-pitched, cartoonish tone.
The game was simple, addictive, and hilarious, especially for kids.
Why did it go viral?
• Instant interaction: Tom responded to touch,
pokes, and speech, making players feel like
they hada real pet.
Shareable: Kids loved recording silly phrases
and sharing them online with friends.
• Perfect Timing: Launched during the early smartphone boom it became a must-download.
Within 11 months, Talking Tom Cat hit 100 million downloads, and Outfit7 knew they had a superstar on their hands.
From app to empire Outfit7 didn’t stop at one hit, they built an entire Talking Friends franchise, which includes: Talking Angela (2012) – Tom’s stylish feline friend My Talking Tom (2013) – A virtual pet simulator Talking Tom Gold Run (2016) – A fast-paced endless runner Talking Tom and Friends (2014) – An animated YouTube series with millions of views per episode.
As of 2024, the series had over 23 billion downloads across all games, according to mobilegamerz.biz.
Moreover, the company broadened its horizons by diving into merchandise. From plush toys to backpacks, Talking Tom became a retail sensation, proving that digital characters could dominate the real world, too.
What are your thoughts on the My talking tom franchise? Do you think it’s one of the biggest mobile app franchises in the virtual pet industry?
Even though it’s a mobile app, it’s also more profitable than Neopets. Do you think it’s possible that we’ll see another empire like My talking tom or will they be the only one?
