Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　explore　how　the　number　and　quality　of　games　that　publishers　have　released,　popularity　of　game　genre,　age　rating　and　package　size　are　configured　to　determine　the　mobile　game　takeoff　in　a　short　time.　Design/methodology/approach　Based　on　the　signaling　theory,　the　authors　present　a　conceptual　model.　Using　actual　data　about　170　mobile　games　at　their　initial　stage　in　the　Apple　App　store,　the　authors　test　the　conceptual　model　by　applying　fuzzy　qualitative　comparative　analysis　(fsQCA).　Findings　The　findings　identify　four　solutions　that　explain　Mobile　game　takeoff　in　a　short　time.　The　authors　highlight　the　role　of　the　number　and　quality　of　games　released　by　publishers,　as　well　as　that　of　popular　game　genres,　which　are　always　core　factors　when　present.　Originality/value　This　paper　complements　the　previous　research　on　the　diffusion　of　mobile　games　by　exploring　which　information　combinations　can　lead　to　mobile　games　takeoff　in　a　short　time　from　the　perspective　of　configuration.　FsQCA　serves　as　a　better　tool　for　explaining　the　complex　relationships　among　variables　than　a　regression　analysis　approach　does.　The　authors　extend　existing　knowledge　on　how　the　number　and　quality　of　games　that　publishers　have　released,　popularity　of　game　genre,　age　rating　and　package　size　combine　to　lead　to　takeoff　of　mobile　games　in　a　short　time.