Whereas the cell video games business has been going via some turbulence lately, along with revealing some downturns, knowledge.ai’s newest State of Cell Gaming report additionally highlights the place issues are going properly and are on observe to enhance.
A complete of seven cell video games reached the $1 billion lifetime earnings milestone in 2023, the second-most in anybody 12 months after 9 video games reached the achievement in 2021. 2023 tied with 2020 the truth is – with seven every – and safely beat the pre-pandemic common of 4 per 12 months since 2017.
And even setting these goliaths apart, 2023 proved essentially the most profitable 12 months on document for these cell apps surpassing $10 million in earnings – a modest sum by comparability, however no imply feat both. 1,511 apps reached $10 million in income final 12 months, beating the 2021 document of 1,426 apps.
Of these apps, 924 had been cell video games in 2023, only one shy of the 925 recorded in 2021.
That is a powerful achievement contemplating most areas have returned to pre-pandemic spending ranges, if not decrease as a result of financial troubles. Customers have “turn out to be extra snug spending on cell”, the report suggests, and this has confirmed very true in South Korea.
On Apple’s App Retailer the typical South Korean consumer’s spending has elevated year-over-year, as much as $7.29 on cell video games each month in 2023. This marks a rise from $6.47 in 2022, $6.33 in 2021 and $4.89 in 2020.
In the meantime, on Google Play, South Korea has turn out to be the largest market on the earth for particular person participant spending, at $11.38 per thirty days on cell video games. This was a return to kind after 2022’s $9.49, which proceeded 2021’s $10.81 and 2020’s $9.86.
New video games, new numbers
“Established video games proceed to guide in income, sustaining stability, whereas client spending on new releases beneficial properties momentum in key markets,” knowledge.ai’s report notes.
That is observable within the US market notably, the place new releases noticed far better assist from gamers prior to now 12 months. Evaluating 2022 to 2023, the US’s common spending on new releases elevated from roughly $8 million to over $15 million, in fact helped largely by the largest new video games Monopoly Go, Whiteout Survival and Honkai: Star Rail.
As for previous video games going robust, the US spent essentially the most on Sweet Crush, Royal Match and Roblox.
Canada adopted the identical development in elevated spending on new video games, up from $0.5 million in 2022 to round $0.75 million in 2023; the UK noticed an increase too, from round $0.6 million to $1.2 million. And with one thing of a return to kind for China, its spending on new releases climbed from roughly $6 million to $7.5 million.
Whereas Japan stayed at a constant $7.5 million throughout the 2 years, South Korea’s numbers are as soon as once more noteworthy for a stark rise from $4 million to roughly $6.75 million. In reality, South Korean gamers spent extra money on new releases than previous ones in 2023.
knowledge.ai’s full report additionally explores which genres proved essentially the most profitable in 2023.
