Market (Overall)

Reports in the Market (Overall) category.

295 documents

app trends () (2024)

Introduction: Stability and consistency 01 Part 1: Finance and fintech apps in the developing mobile app marketing landscape .......................... 3 Ιndustry stats, trends, and predictions ...................................................

market-analysis

EAJan 2024

Report

Mobile App Trends: 2024 Edition

The mobile app industry demonstrated significant resilience throughout 2023, characterized by a global advertising spend of $362 billion and a late-year surge in installations. While the landscape faced challenges such as rising acquisition costs and evolving privacy regulations, the fintech and e-commerce sectors emerged as primary growth engines. Fintech experienced a 42% increase in installs and a 118% surge in in-app revenue, while e-commerce saw a 43% year-over-year rise in installs alongside a 34% increase in revenue. These sectors successfully optimized their acquisition strategies, with banking eCPIs falling from $2.33 to $1.37, allowing marketers to achieve rapid returns on investment within the first week of user acquisition. The gaming sector navigated a more complex trajectory, ending the year with a 2% annual decline in installs despite a notable recovery in the fourth quarter. This rebound was driven by a 7% year-over-year growth in installs and the emergence of the hybrid casual genre. Although overall gaming sessions dipped, specific subverticals like racing and simulation saw dramatic install spikes of 61% and 53%, respectively. Global gaming stickiness remained stable at 20%, and high-engagement genres like RPG and adventure continued to command strong lifetime value, even as broader retention rates across the mobile ecosystem faced downward pressure. Future industry success depends on the strategic integration of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to enhance personalization and automate complex workflows. To achieve sustained growth in 2024 and beyond, developers must diversify their media mixes by expanding into emerging channels like Connected TV and adopting holistic measurement frameworks. By combining incrementality testing with media mix modeling, stakeholders can better navigate the shift toward privacy-centric marketing while capitalizing on the high-potential returns offered by the global mobile marketplace.

market-analysis marketing advertising+2

AdjustJan 2024

Report

Annual Universe of Positive Gaming Experiences 2024

Stillfront Group’s 2024 fiscal year marks a pivotal transition into a synergy-driven operational phase, characterized by a major geographic reorganization into Europe, North America, and MENA & APAC business areas. This strategic shift aims to drive efficiency and mitigate a 2% organic revenue decline, which resulted in total net revenues of 6,737 MSEK. The financial year was defined by a significant net loss of 7,378 MSEK, primarily driven by a 6.9 billion SEK goodwill impairment in the North American segment due to lower-than-expected growth. Despite these non-cash charges, the group maintained a resilient financial foundation, generating over 1 billion SEK in free cash flow and improving gross margins to 80% through successful direct-to-consumer initiatives. The group’s portfolio remains focused on free-to-play franchises, with North America and Europe accounting for 71% of player bookings. To reduce dependency on third-party platforms, which still facilitate 54% of revenue, management is prioritizing its internal payment systems and the "Stillops" platform for cost optimization. A comprehensive cost-savings program is underway, targeting up to 250 MSEK in annual savings by late 2025. Leadership has also stabilized under a new CEO and a board that remains fully compliant with the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance, focusing on organic growth and franchise scaling over dividend distributions. Sustainability and governance have been deeply integrated into the corporate strategy in preparation for the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. The group achieved Science Based Targets initiative validation, reducing market-based greenhouse gas emissions by 7% and more than doubling its renewable energy share to 37%. While social metrics show a stable workforce with improved turnover rates and high data security standards, challenges remain in gender diversity at the executive level. Executive remuneration is now tied to long-term sustainability targets, including employee satisfaction and data privacy, ensuring that environmental and social governance remains central to the group’s long-term value creation.

market-analysis player-behavior global+1

StillfrontJan 2024

Financial

Year-End Report: January – December 2023

Paradox Interactive achieved record annual revenues of MSEK 2,642.1 in 2023, representing a 34% increase over the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by the launch of Cities: Skylines II and the sustained performance of core live-service titles. Geographically, the United States remained the most significant market, while the PC segment continued to serve as the primary platform for revenue generation, accounting for 2.29 billion KSEK of the total. Despite these record-breaking top-line figures, full-year operating profit declined by 26% to MSEK 657.9. This contraction was largely the result of a significant MSEK 250.4 negative impact stemming from the commercial underperformance of The Lamplighters League, which necessitated a full write-down of the title's development costs. Furthermore, the company experienced a doubling of depreciation and amortization costs, which pressured the parent company's annual profit down to 333.5 million KSEK from 551.9 million KSEK in 2022. The fiscal year was characterized by a dichotomy between financial scale and operational quality. While the company maintained a robust liquidity position with cash and equivalents rising to MSEK 1,098.0, leadership acknowledged mixed results regarding the quality and performance of new releases. Nevertheless, the underlying financial stability and strong cash flow prompted the Board to propose an increased dividend of SEK 3.00 per share for the 2024 fiscal year, signaling confidence in the long-term health of the live-service portfolio despite the volatility of recent major launches.

market-analysis monetization global+1

Paradox InteractiveJan 2024

Report

The Alumni Effect: A Deep Dive into Studios Founded by Ex-Rioters

The emergence of startups founded by former Riot Games employees represents a significant sub-sector of the venture capital landscape in gaming. Since 2020, investors have funneled nearly $500 million into 27 startups led by these alumni across 38 funding rounds. These founders command a substantial premium in the market, with an average round size of $11 million, which is 53% higher than the $7 million average seen across the broader gaming startup ecosystem. The investment data reveals a high level of confidence from specialized venture capital firms, with Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Games) and Bitkraft Ventures leading the activity. These firms have participated in deals valued at $339.3 million and $236.3 million respectively. Furthermore, ex-Riot teams demonstrate superior fundraising momentum compared to the general market. A significantly higher percentage of these studios successfully secure follow-on financing within two to three years of their initial rounds, whereas the broader gaming market sees a much sharper decline in subsequent funding success over the same period. While capital infusion is high, the majority of these ventures are currently in the pre-release phase. Out of 27 identified startups, only six have released products to date. The most well-funded projects include Theorycraft’s Supervoke, Believer’s unannounced AAA title, and Singularity 6’s Palia. The scope of these projects primarily focuses on high-ambition genres such as multiplayer RPGs, extraction MOBAs, and backend infrastructure. This trend underscores a strategic focus on complex, scalable platforms that mirror the live-service expertise associated with the founders' professional origins.

investment funding market-analysis+1

InvestGameJan 2024

Report

Behind the Screens: The Salary Stats in Gamedev

This research, conducted by 80 Level in January 2024, examines the global compensation landscape and financial well-being of professionals within the video game development industry. Based on a survey of over 1,000 respondents from the 80 Level Research panel and reader base, the study analyzes how geography, years of experience, and specific job roles influence annual income and purchasing power. The findings reveal a highly stratified industry where nearly 40% of developers earn less than $40,000 annually, while only 11% exceed the $150,000 mark. Geographic location serves as a primary driver of these disparities; for instance, 36% of U.S.-based professionals earn over $150,000, whereas 54% of surveyed developers in India earn under $9,999. In Europe, the majority of professionals in the UK, Germany, and Sweden fall within the $30,000 to $79,999 range. The data also highlights a significant "cost of living" gap, noting that while 16.6% of the workforce can afford all discretionary purchases, 24.4% earn enough for a car but remain unable to afford a residence. Experience levels further dictate earning potential, with 74% of interns earning under $9,999, while 24% of Directors and Leads exceed $150,000. The analysis of specific roles shows that Creative Directors and Software Developers generally occupy higher salary segments compared to Artists and Game Designers. Notably, the study identifies a segment of "struggling" C-level executives (19%), likely representing founders of small indie studios who face financial instability despite their titles. The research concludes that while the industry offers high-earning potential at senior levels in Western hubs, a substantial portion of the global workforce operates under significant financial constraints.

salary employment market-analysis+1

80 LevelJan 2024

Report

State of Play: Winter 2024

The analysis projects global gaming revenue to reach approximately $205.7 billion by 2026, up from $106.8 billion in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 3.9 percent. Mobile and cloud gaming are identified as the primary engines of this expansion, with the mobile sector alone expected to generate $111.4 billion in spend and to be bolstered by record app‑download volumes—76.8 billion downloads across iOS and Google Play in the first half of 2023. Consumer spending surged by as much as 60 percent in early 2023 before stabilising within a –10 percent to +20 percent range for the remainder of the year, underscoring the volatility of post‑pandemic demand. In the United States, women now comprise roughly half of the gaming audience and represent a significant portion of spending power, yet only 26 percent of studios report inclusive hiring practices and 18 percent provide diversity training. This disparity highlights a persistent gap between audience demographics and industry representation, even as iOS‑based role‑playing games alone generated about $1.33 billion in revenue during Q3 2023. Growth is further driven by financial realignments, the emergence of metaverse, AR/VR, and cloud‑based experiences, and evolving consumer habits that favour direct‑to‑consumer commerce. A mobile‑gaming platform that enables web‑store sales has become a major revenue source, positioning service providers as essential partners for developers seeking funding, marketing, launch, and monetisation across multiple regions. Concurrently, a cultural shift toward greater gender diversity in executive, design, and development roles is expanding the industry’s creative talent pool, reinforcing the sector’s long‑term resilience and innovation potential.

market-analysis market-forecast monetization+2

XsollaJan 2024

Report

Games Market Trends 2024

This analysis examines the 2024 global games market, forecasting a period of recovery and strategic restructuring following the post-pandemic market correction. The primary thesis suggests that while the industry is returning to growth, it faces a "lean year" characterized by cautious investment, workforce reductions, and a pivot away from the oversaturated live-service model toward premium, finite gaming experiences. Key findings indicate that the market began recovering in 2023 and is projected to maintain a positive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of +1.3% through 2026. Despite this growth, the report highlights a significant shift in business strategies. Developers are increasingly favoring established Intellectual Property (IP) and sequels to mitigate risk. Furthermore, the "gold rush" for live-service titles is cooling as 19 games currently command 60% of total playtime, leading companies to return to premium releases. Other major trends include the slowing growth of multi-game subscriptions, the expansion of mobile developers into the PC space to combat rising user acquisition costs, and the anticipated launch of next-generation Nintendo hardware. The scope of this research is global, covering mobile, PC, and console segments with revenue and engagement forecasting extending from 2021 through 2026. The methodology combines internal data analysis from the Newzoo platform with a qualitative survey of gaming executives and experts from organizations such as Ubisoft, Savvy Games Group, and Iron Galaxy Studios. Technological and platform shifts also define the 2024 outlook. Generative AI is expected to improve production efficiencies and NPC depth, though it is not predicted to impact game production at scale within the current year. Additionally, the report anticipates increased platform fluidity, specifically noting Microsoft’s intent to launch an Xbox mobile store on Android to challenge existing app store duopolies.

market-analysis market-forecast monetization+1

NewzooJan 2024

Report

Inside Gaming: It's Personal! 2024

The 2024 Inside Gaming analysis reveals that video games have evolved into a primary medium for identity formation and self-expression, surpassing traditional motivations like competition or time-killing. Based on a global survey of 5,000 entertainment and gaming consumers alongside proprietary first-party data, the findings indicate that 46% of players now prioritize creation and imagination as their primary reason for gaming, marking a 10% year-over-year increase. This shift is driving significant engagement, as players who view gaming as a platform for authenticity are 30% more likely to increase their playtime compared to previous years. The data highlights a profound psychological disconnect between players' digital and physical lives, with 80% of respondents stating their gaming personality differs from their real-life persona. Furthermore, 64% of gamers find it easier to be themselves with a controller in hand than in person. This desire for authenticity is reflected in gameplay preferences, where 76% of players utilize character personalization and 48% focus on unique gamertags to express themselves. Games that facilitate this expression through in-game customization, vast open worlds, and constant updates see 60% higher engagement than industry norms, a trend exemplified by titles such as Roblox, Fortnite, and The Sims. There is a significant commercial opportunity for brands to bridge the gap between virtual and physical identities. Nearly half of all players express a desire for their real-life presence to mirror their gaming presence, particularly regarding physical appearance and skill sets. This sentiment is especially strong among marginalized and younger demographics, including women, non-binary individuals, and multicultural players. Consequently, 72% of consumers report they would view brands more favorably if those companies helped them translate their gaming-inspired self-expression into the real world through products, skills, or lifestyle alignments.

market-analysis player-behavior marketing+1

FandomJan 2024

Mobile App Trends: 2024 Edition

Annual Universe of Positive Gaming Experiences 2024

Year-End Report: January – December 2023

The Alumni Effect: A Deep Dive into Studios Founded by Ex-Rioters

Behind the Screens: The Salary Stats in Gamedev

State of Play: Winter 2024

Games Market Trends 2024

Inside Gaming: It's Personal! 2024

Market (Overall)

app trends () (2024)

Gaming Report 32 pgs 1 () (2024)

MKT - 2024 Predictions - FINAL - EN - 5 Dec

The Xsolla Report State of Play