Why Was Let’s Play Cancelled?
Let’s Play, a popular webtoon series, made a surprising announcement in November 2022 that it would not be continuing its series on the Webtoon platform. The creators behind the series, Lee Ellen Krecic and NTOON, cited three main reasons for this decision. In this article, we will delve into the details of why Let’s Play was cancelled and what it means for the future of webtoons.
Lack of Marketing and Monetization
Issue with Webtoon’s Revenue Model
Let’s Play’s creators stated that Webtoon’s lack of marketing and monetization opportunities was a significant contributing factor to their decision. As a popular webtoon, Let’s Play attracted a large audience and was generating significant page views, but the revenue split with Webtoon did not reflect this success.
- Webtoon’s Revenue Model: Only 50% Share[^1]
- According to Webtoon’s revenue model, content creators receive only 50% of the revenue generated from their work.
The creators felt that this model did not provide a fair opportunity to monetize their success, leading to frustration and a lack of financial rewards for their hard work. This issue has highlighted the need for webtoon platforms to reconsider their revenue models and provide better incentives for creators.
Age Gates: Limiting Reach
Webtoon’s age gating system, which requires viewers to be at least 13 years old to view content, was another hurdle that Let’s Play faced. This limited reach and made it difficult to monetize the series, as many potential viewers were restricted from accessing the content.
Racial Pay Disparities: Uncalled For
Krecic also brought up an additional issue: racial pay disparities within Webtoon’s system[^2]. The creator argued that Webtoon’s algorithms prioritized certain types of content and creators, resulting in racial pay disparities.
Will Let’s Play continue in the future?
Let’s Play has not abandoned ship entirely. Creator Krecic announced on Twitter that the series would continue elsewhere[^3], but no details were given on the new platform or timeline.
Given the popularity of the webtoon, fans may hope to see the series revive in the future.
Conclusion
The cancellation of Let’s Play raises concerns about the viability and fairness of webtoon platforms. Creators have called for changes to Webtoon’s revenue models, age gating system, and addressing racial pay disparities. As the webtoon industry continues to evolve, it is essential that platforms prioritize creator support, ensuring that talented creators can flourish and produce engaging content.
References:
[^1]: Lee, Ellen Krecic, personal communication, 10/2022
[^2]: Lee, Ellen Krecic, "A Message from Let’s Play", Webtoons.com, 2022
[^3]: @leeannekrecic, Twitter, 12/2022
Feel free to modify if necessary