Market (Overall)

Reports in the Market (Overall) category.

248 documents

Gaming Deals Activity Report: Q1–Q3 2022

The gaming investment landscape in the first three quarters of 2022 reflects a significant market correction following a record-breaking 2021. While the total value of closed and announced deals reached $124.5 billion—nearly double the previous year's volume—this figure is heavily skewed by Microsoft’s pending $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Excluding that single transaction, the market shows clear signs of cooling due to macroeconomic instability, post-pandemic shifts in user engagement, and increased regulatory scrutiny. Strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain the primary driver of deal value, reaching a record $101.4 billion year-to-date, despite a 40% decline in the number of closed transactions. Major players like Embracer Group, Sony, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) dominated this activity. Conversely, public offerings have nearly collapsed, reaching their lowest point since early 2020, with deal values shrinking fivefold compared to 2021. Private investments also saw a sharp decline in the third quarter, dropping 69% from the previous quarter, signaling that the "soured" economic climate has finally impacted venture capital and corporate rounds. The report highlights a notable shift in the blockchain and Web3 gaming sectors. While early-stage investment in this space previously drove market growth, the third quarter of 2022 marked the first period of negative growth for blockchain-related investments, with total deal value falling 14% year-over-year. Investors are becoming more selective, moving away from infrastructure platforms toward studios capable of producing engaging content. Geographically, the United States remains the most active market for gaming investments, followed by the United Kingdom and Turkey. Gender diversity remains a challenge for the industry, as 89% of companies receiving investment are male-led, with women-led entities representing only 2% of the total.

investment mergers-acquisitions market-analysis+1

InvestGameJan 2022

Report

Gaming Deals Activity 2021

The video games industry experienced a record-breaking financial year in 2021, with the total value of closed transactions reaching $71.3 billion across 937 deals. This represents a 2.1x growth in value and a 1.4x increase in deal volume compared to the previous year. When including announced but not yet closed transactions, the total market activity reached $80.4 billion. The industry saw significant expansion across all primary segments, including gaming titles, platform and technology, and esports, driven by a surge in high-value "mega-deals" and a massive influx of capital into emerging sectors. Mergers and acquisitions served as the primary engine for growth, accounting for $34.5 billion in closed deal value. Mobile gaming remained the most targeted sub-segment for acquisitions, representing 49% of M&A value, followed by PC and console gaming at 34%. Private investments also doubled to $12 billion, with late-stage transactions making up the majority of this capital. Notably, blockchain gaming emerged as a breakthrough sector, with investment value skyrocketing 68x year-over-year to $3.1 billion. Public offerings, including IPOs and SPACs, contributed $24.8 billion to the annual total, despite a slight decrease in the overall number of transactions. The competitive landscape for strategic investors shifted as Embracer Group surpassed Tencent for the top ranking by closing 26 deals valued at $6.7 billion. In the venture capital space, BITKRAFT Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and Makers Fund led activity, collectively participating in hundreds of deals. Geographically, Turkey emerged as a significant global hub for early-stage gaming startups. Data for these findings was compiled through the tracking of closed transactions using public media, business partnerships, and S&P Capital IQ, excluding pure gambling and betting entities. The analysis concludes that the aggressive consolidation and investment trends observed in 2021 are positioned to continue into 2022.

investment mergers-acquisitions market-analysis+1

InvestGameJan 2022

Report

Market Outlook 2022

The analysis outlines a 2022 outlook for the global mobile‑gaming market, emphasizing that quarterly installs have plateaued at roughly 14 billion after a pandemic‑driven surge, with casual titles still accounting for about 80 % of downloads. Revenue dynamics have shifted: mid‑core games now generate 60 % of total earnings, while overall mobile‑game revenue fell 7 % year‑over‑year in Q1 2022, marking the first decline since the industry’s rapid expansion. The United States remains the largest spend market, yet Asia‑Pacific regions—especially Taiwan and Brazil—exhibit the fastest growth rates. Advertising spend analysis reveals that role‑playing games dominate iOS channels, with YouTube capturing an 8.2 % share of voice and exceeding 10 % in Q2 2022; Android spend lags across all networks. Card‑battler titles emerge as the fastest‑growing sub‑genre, driven largely by Japan and China, which together account for 62 % of player spending. Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Master Duel leads launch revenue, reaching $80 million in five months and achieving a worldwide revenue per day of $20—twice that of its nearest competitor. MMORPGs hold the second‑largest spending position globally, with Diablo Immortal topping U.S. spend at $22 million in H1 2022 and maintaining a modest 10 % share of U.S. MMORPG installs. In the United States, Diablo Immortal generated over $30 million in its first six weeks and captured 3.2 % of mid‑core revenue, yet U.S. players still lag behind Asian markets where Lineage M and Odin: Valhalla Rising amassed $225–$350 million in the same period. The report underscores that U.S. MMORPG revenue represents only about 4 % of the global total, highlighting the critical need for localized market strategies in future mobile RPG releases.

market-forecast global mobile+1

Sensor TowerJan 2022

Report

The Metaverse, Blockchain Gaming, and NFTs: Navigating the Internet’s Uncharted Waters

The metaverse represents a fundamental shift from a two-dimensional internet toward a persistent, three-dimensional social ecosystem driven by gamified virtual spaces. This evolution is currently led by "game as a platform" models, most notably Roblox, which leverages tens of millions of daily active users to host diverse commercial and social experiences. While major global brands in fashion, luxury, and finance are increasingly investing in "direct-to-avatar" economies and digital real estate to reach younger, digital-native demographics, the sector faces significant economic and technical hurdles. High developer take rates, consistent net losses among platform leaders, and networking limitations that prevent massive simultaneous user scaling remain primary obstacles to long-term growth. The integration of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has introduced new economic paradigms, such as the "Play-to-Earn" model. Although these games accounted for nearly half of all decentralized application wallet activity by late 2021, their growth is largely concentrated in emerging markets where users treat gaming as an income-generating activity. The sustainability of these ecosystems is currently challenged by high entry barriers and a prioritization of financial speculation over core gameplay quality. For the industry to mature, it must transition toward higher-quality experiences and more robust virtual economies that offer genuine utility beyond profile-picture status symbols. Mass adoption of these decentralized virtual worlds is currently constrained by technical and regulatory friction. Interoperability across different platforms remains a theoretical goal rather than a functional reality, while high transaction fees on networks like Ethereum and environmental concerns create additional barriers. Furthermore, the industry must navigate complex legal landscapes regarding digital privacy, content moderation, and the protection of intellectual property. Despite a cooling of initial market hype following a crypto correction in 2022, the long-term trajectory points toward a transmedia future where digital assets and virtual identities are central to global commerce and social interaction.

market-analysis blockchain nft+3

NewzooJan 2022

Report

Key Insights Into Spanish Gamers

Spain represents a significant global gaming market, ranking 13th in the world with an annual revenue of $2.38 billion. The industry maintains a massive reach within the country, as 83% of the online population aged 10 to 65 are classified as game enthusiasts. Engagement is multifaceted, with 82% of the population playing games and 45% viewing gaming content. Notably, there is a high degree of overlap between these behaviors; 38% of the population both plays and watches games, while only 7% are exclusive viewers. The demographic profile of Spanish gamers is nearly evenly split between genders, with 51% female and 49% male. Participation remains strong across age groups, though it peaks among those aged 21 to 50. Achievement, action, and mastery serve as the primary motivations for play. While mobile is the most popular platform by reach, utilized by 60% of the population, PC and console players demonstrate higher engagement depth, averaging four hours of play per week compared to three hours on mobile. Market behavior indicates a strong propensity for spending, with 48% of the online population identified as payers. The primary drivers for monetization include sales or special offers and the desire to play with friends or family. In terms of content, the market is dominated by major global franchises such as Fall Guys, Fortnite, and FIFA 22, with adventure and sports ranking as the top genres by monthly active users. These findings are based on a 2022 consumer study involving a sample of 2,086 online respondents in Spain, forming part of a broader global research initiative covering 36 markets.

market-analysis player-demographics pc+1

NewzooJan 2022

Report

Games: India Plays!

The report examines the rapidly expanding Indian mobile gaming market, highlighting a projected 91 % share of online gamers playing on smartphones and an estimated revenue of US$2.2 billion in 2022, with a projected average revenue per user of US$1.5 by 2027. It distinguishes between non‑real‑money gaming (non‑RMG) and real‑money gaming (RMG), focusing on the top five non‑RMG genres—Adventure, Battle Royale, Puzzle, Arcade, and Racing—and key RMG categories such as card‑based games, sports‑fantasy, and casual RMG. Data sourced from Newzoo consumer research and MAAS campaign analytics reveal that 62 % of non‑RMG players are male, while RMG users skew slightly more balanced at 55 % male. Millennials and Gen‑Z (ages 13–41) dominate, with 55 % of adventure and battle royale players in the 13‑27 bracket. Motivations differ: non‑RMG gamers seek entertainment and challenge, whereas RMG players are driven by seasonal events like cricket tournaments or festive card‑game gatherings. Key performance indicators for advertisers include install‑to‑registration rates of ~50 % for casual games and ~25 % for card‑based RMG, with retention dropping from 30 % on day one to 3 % by day thirty for casual titles. The analysis underscores the importance of vernacular creatives, cross‑interest programmatic targeting, and multi‑channel optimization to reduce audience overlap. It also notes emerging trends—Web3 play‑to‑earn models, esports growth, and super‑app consolidation—that signal continued market maturation. The report concludes that while monetization remains a challenge for non‑RMG segments, strategic acquisition and in‑game advertising innovations can unlock substantial growth across India’s diverse gaming ecosystem.

market-analysis player-behavior mobile+2

EAJan 2022

Report

Analyzing the Consumer and Market Impacts of Chinese Games Market Policies: China

China continues to dominate the global gaming market, yet a series of regulatory tightening measures—particularly anti‑addiction rules for minors and an expanded licensing framework—have introduced significant uncertainty and higher operational costs for both domestic and foreign developers. The new minor‑protection law caps playtime, limits in‑game spending, and restricts live‑streaming access for users under 18, while the licensing system now demands detailed content reviews and real‑name verification. These requirements are projected to dampen player engagement and increase investment risk over the long term. Regulators enforce licensing through a complex approval process, yet many unlicensed titles persist on platforms such as Steam, VR services, cloud gaming, and mobile ad‑only games. Enforcement remains uneven; fines are issued but monitoring is inconsistent. Console and live‑streaming services often circumvent restrictions via overseas purchases, backdoors, or content renaming, creating a regulatory environment that is difficult to monitor and enforce uniformly. The revised licensing regime now permits a single license for multiplatform releases, encouraging developers to produce cross‑platform titles and streamlining the approval process. The market remains dominated by free‑to‑play mobile games, with LiveOps and regular content updates sustaining high retention. In 2021, half of the top 50 grossing mobile games were launched before 2019. Chinese studios are increasingly exporting their expertise, establishing international studios and publishing arms to tap global markets while leveraging IP‑based mobile games to penetrate China’s competitive scene.

market-analysis player-demographics china

NewzooJan 2022

Report

Shooter Games

Shooter games represent the fifth highest-revenue generating genre globally as of 2022. This genre, defined by the primary mechanic of defeating enemies via firearms or projectiles, maintains a massive footprint across PC, console, and mobile platforms. While historical titles like Doom and Halo established the genre's foundation, modern success is driven by online competitive play and live streaming engagement. Notably, this analysis excludes Battle Royale and Vehicular Combat titles, which are classified as independent genres. Data from August 2022 indicates that shooters command high engagement, ranking as a top genre for monthly active users on both Steam and consoles. The player base is predominantly male (63%) and young, with 38% of players falling between the ages of 10 and 20. High-intensity "Ultimate Gamers" and "All-Round Enthusiasts" show the strongest affinity for the genre, with 82% of the former group having played a shooter in the six months prior to the study. Beyond the core genre, shooter fans show significant cross-genre overlap with adventure and battle royale titles, while showing the least interest in simulation and strategy games. The genre's ecosystem is heavily influenced by specific themes and monetization strategies. Contemporary war is the most popular theme, utilized by 68% of the player base, while levels and maps remain the dominant gameplay mechanic. In terms of monetization, the market is characterized by a high prevalence of both pay-to-play models and in-app purchases, with 97% of players engaging with titles that feature microtransactions. Geographically, the research covers 37 markets, excluding China and India, and utilizes a sample of over 19,000 active gamers to identify these behavioral and demographic trends.

market-analysis global shooter+1

NewzooJan 2022

Report

App Marketer Survey (2022)

The 2022 App Marketer Survey, conducted with more than 500 industry professionals, evaluates the mobile advertising landscape amid significant privacy‑driven disruptions. Nearly sixty percent of respondents report a neutral or optimistic outlook, yet almost half struggle to meet the more aggressive key performance indicators they have set. Privacy remains the dominant challenge, with 43 % identifying it as the top concern for 2023 and only a quarter believing recent regulatory changes will benefit marketers. Despite these hurdles, 52 % plan to increase advertising spend next year, shifting focus toward influencer and organic/viral channels while still exploring new creative formats to counter the data scarcity created by Apple’s App Tracking Transparency and Google’s GAID deprecation. The survey highlights that 73 % of marketers feel “in the dark” about user data, and 72 % cite rising costs as a major obstacle. These constraints have prompted a pivot toward campaign analysis and management, with an emphasis on data‑driven strategies that can operate within the new privacy framework. Marketers acknowledge the need for innovative approaches to maintain reach and conversion in a rapidly evolving mobile ecosystem. Liftoff, a leading mobile growth acceleration platform founded in 2012, offers a comprehensive suite of solutions—including Accelerate, Direct, Influence, Monetize, Intelligence, and Vungle Exchange—to help advertisers, publishers, game developers, and DSPs acquire high‑value users, optimize ad creatives, and monetize in‑app traffic. Serving over 6,600 mobile businesses across 74 countries, Liftoff’s data‑driven tools support programmatic reach to engaged users and guide development strategy with game analytics, positioning it as a key partner for navigating the challenges identified in the survey.

marketing mobile global+2

LiftoffJan 2022

Report

Gaming Deals Activity Report: H1 2022

The global gaming industry reached a record-breaking $113.6 billion in total deal value during the first half of 2022. This surge in valuation, driven primarily by a select group of high-profile mega-deals, occurred despite a broader contraction in the total volume of transactions. While public markets experienced a significant downturn resulting from macroeconomic instability and post-pandemic corrections, private investment remained resilient, contributing $4.6 billion to the sector. This activity underscores a strategic shift toward mobile-focused acquisitions and a maturation of the blockchain gaming space, which is currently pivoting away from speculative models toward more sustainable, content-driven development. The scope of this analysis encompasses global closed and announced transactions across the gaming industry, excluding pure gambling and non-gaming blockchain entities. Within this landscape, the data reveals a persistent structural challenge regarding corporate governance and inclusivity, as 88% of company founders are identified as men. This lack of gender diversity remains a notable trend within the leadership ranks of the organizations securing capital. Ultimately, the industry is navigating a period of transition characterized by a flight to quality and a focus on long-term project viability. Although the frequency of deals has declined compared to previous periods, the concentration of capital into large-scale acquisitions and strategic private investments suggests that institutional confidence in gaming remains high. The sector is effectively recalibrating, moving past the rapid expansion of the pandemic era toward a more disciplined investment environment that prioritizes established mobile platforms and robust, sustainable gaming ecosystems.

market-analysis mergers-acquisitions investment+2

InvestGameJan 2022

Report

Key Insights Into UK Gamers

The United Kingdom represents a major global gaming hub, ranking as the sixth-largest market by revenue and tenth by player population as of late 2022. Research conducted among the online population aged 10 to 65 indicates that gaming is a primary entertainment pillar in the region, with 71% of the population identifying as game enthusiasts. This engagement is split between active play and content viewership, with 36% of the population exclusively playing games and another 35% both playing and viewing gaming video content. The demographic profile of UK gamers is nearly balanced by gender, consisting of 52% male and 47% female players. While gaming spans all age groups, the 21-35 bracket is the most active. Motivation for play is driven primarily by the desire to unwind and relax, followed by the pursuit of achievement and social interaction. When categorized by persona, Time Fillers—those who play casually to pass the time—represent the largest segment, followed by Mainstream Gamers who engage deeply with both play and viewership. Platform preferences show that mobile gaming has the highest reach at 46%, followed by console at 41% and PC at 29%. However, PC and console players demonstrate higher average weekly time commitments compared to mobile users. Financial engagement is also significant, with 63% of players identified as payers. The primary driver for spending is the availability of sales or special offers, though social motivations, such as spending to play with friends or family, also influence purchasing behavior. The findings are based on a 2022 survey of 2,010 respondents in the United Kingdom, part of a broader global study covering 36 markets. The methodology utilizes a representative sample of the online population to track dozens of key performance indicators, including audience profiles, platform behavior, and monetization trends.

market-analysis player-demographics esports+1

NewzooJan 2022

Report

Unity Gaming Report 2022

The global gaming industry experienced a massive production surge throughout 2021, characterized by a 93% increase in game creation and a 31% rise in the number of active creators. While the easing of pandemic-related restrictions led to a stabilization of engagement levels, the market established a "new normal" where total revenue grew by 30%. This growth was particularly pronounced in the Americas and EMEA regions, driven by a combination of in-app purchases and robust advertising revenue. Hypercasual and casual genres emerged as the primary catalysts for this expansion, with hypercasual titles seeing a 137% increase in production and a 162% surge in in-app purchase revenue. Strategic shifts toward multiplatform development and multiplayer experiences are now essential for maximizing player retention and market reach. Although mobile remains the dominant platform, especially in markets like China and Japan, developers are increasingly prioritizing cross-platform compatibility to extend the lifespan of their titles. Industry consolidation reached record levels with $85 billion in acquisitions, yet small indie studios remain vital drivers of innovation. These smaller entities are leveraging accessible development tools and specialized analytics to compete with larger enterprises, focusing on "live game" models where consistent content updates can boost revenue by over 85% for top-performing games. Portfolio diversification has proven to be a critical factor for financial success, as publishers operating across three or more genres generate up to 197% more daily revenue than those specializing in a single category. Despite this clear advantage, 76% of developers continue to focus on a single genre, representing a significant area for potential growth. Moving forward, the industry is trending toward the standardization of cross-platform play and the adoption of sophisticated third-party engagement tools. These advancements allow developers of all sizes to manage post-launch content more effectively, ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive global market.

market-analysis game-development global

UnityJan 2022