Market (Overall)

Reports in the Market (Overall) category.

248 documents

Key Insights into Brazilian Gamers

Brazil represents a significant force in the global gaming industry, ranking as the 10th largest market worldwide by revenue and 5th by total player count as of 2022. The region is characterized by high levels of engagement, with 80% of the online population identified as game enthusiasts. This engagement extends beyond play, as 60% of the audience both plays and watches gaming video content, while only 25% play without viewing. The demographic profile of Brazilian gamers is diverse, though it skews toward younger males. Approximately 51% of players are male and 48% are female, with the 21–35 age bracket forming the largest segment at 43%. Mobile gaming is the dominant platform, utilized by 60% of the gaming population, followed by console and PC at 31% and 30% respectively. Despite the prevalence of mobile, average weekly play times are consistent across platforms, ranging from roughly four and a half to five hours. Monetization trends indicate a healthy spending culture, with 43% of players classified as payers. The primary drivers for spending include unlocking exclusive playable content and personalizing in-game characters. Popular titles in the region include competitive and social games such as League of Legends, Fortnite, and Roblox. The findings are based on a survey of 2,063 active internet users aged 10–65 in residential developed areas of Brazil. The methodology utilizes a "Residential Developed Approach," ensuring the data is representative of the connected population within these specific geographic zones. The research was conducted by Newzoo as part of their 2022 Global Games Market Report and Consumer Insights series.

player-demographics market-analysis brazil

NewzooJan 2022

Report

Key Insights Into South Korean Gamers

South Korea represents the fourth largest gaming market globally by revenue, valued at $8.3 billion, with a highly engaged population of 33 million gamers. Research conducted in 2022 indicates that 76% of the online population are game enthusiasts who engage with the medium through playing, viewing, or social interaction. While 72% of the population plays games, there is a significant overlap with viewership; 48% of South Koreans both play and watch gaming content, while 22% specifically engage with esports. The demographic profile of South Korean gamers is diverse, with a nearly even split between males (54%) and females (45%) and broad representation across age groups, particularly those between 21 and 50. Socializing is the primary motivator for play, followed by action and achievement. Despite the high engagement levels, player personas vary; the most common types are Time Fillers, who play casually to pass the time, and Mainstream Gamers, who invest heavily in both playing and viewing. Mobile is the dominant platform, utilized by 59% of the online population, though PC players record the highest average weekly engagement at five hours. In terms of software, League of Legends and Shooter genres lead in monthly active users. Monetization is also robust, with 38% of the population spending money on games. The primary drivers for spending include the desire to advance more quickly or easily in-game, followed by responding to sales or special offers. The findings are based on a 2022 consumer insights survey of 2,094 respondents from the South Korean online population. The data highlights a mature market where gaming is a mainstream social activity integrated into daily life across all demographics, supported by a strong esports culture and a high propensity for in-game spending.

player-demographics player-behavior market-analysis+1

NewzooJan 2022

Report

The Hyper-Casual Benchmark Report: Q3 2022

The hyper-casual mobile gaming sector experienced a notable escalation in acquisition costs during the latter half of 2022, characterized by rising median cost-per-install (CPI) rates across both Android and iOS platforms. By the fourth quarter of 2022, median CPI reached all-time highs of $0.20 on Android and $0.42 on iOS. This upward trend in acquisition spending was global, as no major market tracked by ad spend experienced a decrease in median CPI on Android, while iOS markets saw varied fluctuations, including a significant decrease in the United States and notable increases in France and Germany. Retention metrics reveal a consistent performance advantage for iOS over Android across all tiers of game quality. For the top 2% of hyper-casual titles, iOS achieved a 45% Day 1 retention rate compared to 38% on Android, with Day 7 retention figures similarly favoring iOS at 19% versus 14%. This performance gap persists among the top 25% of games and the median cohort, where iOS maintains a higher percentage of returning players. These findings underscore a widening disparity between high-performing titles and average games, emphasizing the critical importance of engagement optimization in a landscape of increasing user acquisition costs. The analysis draws upon data from over 100,000 games and one-third of the global mobile player base to establish these benchmarks. By segmenting performance by platform and geographic region, the data highlights the shifting economic landscape for developers and publishers. The findings suggest that while market saturation and rising costs present significant challenges, the ability to maintain player retention remains the primary differentiator between top-tier hyper-casual games and the broader market.

market-analysis monetization user-acquisition+5

TenjinJan 2022

Report

Data Digest Q2 2022

Global mobile app activity in Q2 2022 showed a modest 2.5 % year‑over‑year decline in total downloads, falling to 35 billion worldwide. TikTok remained the undisputed leader on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play, while Meta’s suite of apps—Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger—dominated the top‑10 rankings globally. In the United States consumer spending shifted away from games toward non‑game categories, and Meta’s share slipped to fourth place on Google Play. Europe and Asia mirrored TikTok’s dominance, yet regional leaders varied: Google Maps surged in Europe, and VooV Meeting experienced a 47 % jump amid China’s lockdowns. On Google Play, Asia was the most dynamic market. Instagram captured 22 % of all Meta installs and outpaced Facebook, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. India accounted for 70 % of TikTok’s downloads, while Meesho and WhatsApp Business each exceeded 30 % of their regional installs. Meta’s overall Google Play installs in Asia grew 22 % YoY, whereas competitors showed mixed performance. Worldwide, Meta pulled more than 550 million downloads on Google Play—well ahead of Google’s 320 million—and expanded its lead over the rival. Google Play downloads totaled 7 billion in Q2 2022, a 26 % YoY increase but still 9.7 % below pre‑pandemic Q2 2019 levels. India remained the largest market with 6 billion downloads, despite a ~10 % YoY decline, while Indonesia’s 8.5 % QoQ growth to 6 billion positioned it to potentially overtake Brazil’s 7.26 billion downloads. Other markets, including the U.S. and Mexico, saw modest changes, underscoring India’s continued dominance and Indonesia’s rapid expansion. In gaming, Miniclip’s acquisition of Sybo and the inclusion of Subway Surfers propelled it to sixth place in worldwide mobile game downloads, achieving 472 million installs and $194 million in consumer spending, with a May spike. Travel‑app downloads rebounded to over 100 million in the U.S. and 28 million in the U.K., while ticket‑app installs surged, with the top five apps exceeding 10 million U.S. downloads—an increase of more than 70 % from pre‑pandemic levels—highlighting robust growth potential in both gaming and travel/event segments as consumer activity returns to pre‑COVID norms.

market-analysis global mobile+1

Sensor TowerJan 2022

Report

Key Insights Into French Gamers

France represents a significant gaming market, ranking seventh globally in terms of revenue and fifteenth in total player count as of 2022. The French gaming population is highly engaged, with 71% of the online population aged 10 to 65 identifying as game enthusiasts. While 38% of this group only plays games, a substantial 34% also views gaming video content, and 15% are classified as esports enthusiasts who watch professional competitive gaming at least once a month. The demographic profile of French players is nearly balanced by gender, consisting of 52% men and 48% women. The largest age cohort is the 21-35 bracket, representing 31% of the player base. In terms of behavior, Time Fillers and Mainstream Gamers are the most common personas. Time Fillers use games primarily to pass the time and show less interest in viewing content, whereas Mainstream Gamers are deeply invested in both playing and watching gaming media. Mobile is the most popular platform, utilized by 44% of the online population, followed by console at 41% and PC at 30%. Despite mobile's reach, PC players record the highest average weekly playtime at four hours and forty minutes. Monetization data indicates that 56% of French players are payers, driven primarily by value-based incentives such as sales or special offers. Other significant spending motivators include unlocking exclusive content and the desire to play with friends or family, underscoring the social nature of the market. This analysis is based on a 2022 survey of 2,080 online consumers in France, part of a broader global study covering 36 markets and over 75,000 respondents.

player-demographics market-analysis france

NewzooJan 2022

Report

In-Game Events Snapshot: November 2021

In-game events have become a cornerstone of mobile game monetization and player retention, with 90% of the top 100 grossing mobile titles utilizing seasonal events. This analysis examines the strategic implementation of these live operations across major global markets, including the US, China, and Japan, focusing on data from late 2020 through late 2021. The findings indicate that seasonal events are highly effective at re-engaging existing players and acquiring new ones. In the US, developers primarily leverage public holidays like Christmas and Halloween, while Asian markets utilize region-specific occasions such as China’s Qixi Festival and Japan’s Sakura season. Successful implementations often combine UI changes with playable content, such as the tower defense mode in Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite event, which drove daily revenue from $200,000 to over $1.25 million. Revenue is typically generated through time-limited skins, themed currencies, and special gacha mechanics. Promotional collaborations with external brands represent a significant growth area, appearing in 42% of the top 100 US iOS games—a steady increase since 2017. This trend is even more pronounced in Asia, where 51% of top Chinese games and 62% of top Japanese games feature collaborations. These partnerships extend beyond gaming IPs to include non-gaming brands like KFC or virtual influencers like Kizuna AI. The latter’s partnership with Sky: Children of the Light demonstrated the power of niche fanbases, pushing the game to over $1 million in daily revenue through a single $20 accessory kit. Methodologically, the insights are derived from GameRefinery’s proprietary three-layered taxonomy, which categorizes games by category, genre, and subgenre. The data highlights that while events are ubiquitous among top-tier titles, they remain underutilized by lower-ranking games, serving as a key differentiator for market leaders across the casual, mid-core, and casino segments.

monetization live-ops retention+1

GameRefineryNov 2021

Report

Strategy Genre Snapshot: October 2021

The strategy genre represents a cornerstone of the mobile gaming market, accounting for approximately 17% of total revenue on the US iOS platform as of October 2021. Analysis reveals that the genre is heavily dominated by the 4X strategy subgenre, which comprises 20 of the top 25 grossing strategy titles. While the market is characterized by aging hits and high competition, recent success has been driven by genre-blending, where developers integrate mechanics from other categories—such as merge, match-3, or RPG elements—to broaden player appeal. Key market leaders include State of Survival, which became the top-grossing 4X title following a massive year-long collaboration with The Walking Dead, and Supercell, which remains the primary outlier succeeding with non-4X strategy titles like Clash of Clans. In contrast, the MOBA subgenre continues to face sustainability challenges in the US; despite a strong launch, League of Legends: Wild Rift struggled to maintain a position in the top 200 grossing charts, leaving the long-term viability of newer entries like Pokémon UNITE uncertain. The core appeal of the genre is rooted in long-term power progression, complex live operations, and deep social integration. Data indicates that successful titles leverage permanent boosts, recurring event loops, and competitive guild mechanics to drive engagement. According to a survey of over 7,000 mobile gamers in English-speaking Western markets, the primary motivational drivers for strategy players are strategic planning, resource optimization, and social competition. These findings suggest that while the 4X subgenre remains the revenue leader, the path to growth lies in sophisticated monetization through battle passes and the continuous expansion of social and competitive features.

market-analysis strategy mobile+1

VungleOct 2021

Report

Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021

**Shooter Genre Snapshot – September 2021 (GameRefinery)** --- ### 1. Market Overview | Metric | Insight | |--------|----------| | **Genre rank (US iOS)** | 6th largest mobile genre, ~6 % of total iOS revenue. | | **Revenue share** | The “Big Three” – **Call of Duty: Mobile**, **PUBG Mobile**, and **Garena Free Fire** – generate > 84 % of shooter revenue. | | **Impact of Fortnite removal** | Apple‑Epic lawsuit (Fortnite removed Aug 2020) erased a game that once held ~30 % of the shooter market on iOS. | | **Growth leader** | Garena Free Fire doubled its iOS revenue in 2021, climbing from ~10 % to ~30 % market share and now rivals CoD Mobile for the top spot (Q2 2021). | | **New‑entry stagnation** | No shooter launched in the last **2 years** cracked the top‑grossing 200; only **Bullet Echo** (May 2020) entered the top‑500. | --- ### 2. Top‑Performing Titles (US iOS – Q2 2021) | Rank | Game | Publisher | Sub‑genre | Share | |------|------|-----------|-----------|-------| | 1 | **Garena Free Fire – 4th Anniversary** | Garena International | Battle‑Royale | **28.56 %** | | 2 | **Call of Duty: Mobile** | Activision | Classic FPS/TPS | **28.17 %** | | 3 | **PUBG Mobile – Ignition** | Tencent | Battle‑Royale | **26.55 %** | | 4 | **War Robots** | Pixonic | Tactical Shooter | 3.5 % | | 5 | **Sniper 3D** | Fun Games | Sniper | 3.5 % | | 6 | **Pixel Gun 3D** | Cubic Games | Classic FPS/TPS | 2.12 % | | 7 | **War Machines: Tank** | Fun Games | Tactical Shooter | 1.9 % | | 8 | **Zooba: Zoo Battle Royale** | Wildlife Studios | Battle‑Royale | 1.88 % | | 9 | **World of Tanks Blitz** | Wargaming | Tactical Shooter | 1.61 % | | 10| **Tacticool** | – | – | ~1 % | *Key takeaway:* The top three dominate ~83 % of the genre’s revenue; the rest of the field is highly fragmented. --- ### 3. Why the “Big Three” Stay on Top | Driver | How It’s Implemented | |--------|----------------------| | **Battle Pass** | Seasonal “free + paid” tracks that reward playtime, cosmetics, and progression. | | **Limited‑time Gachas** | Time‑bound loot‑box style draws with increasing price/odds, often tied to events or milestones. | | **Live Events & New Modes** | Frequent, high‑visibility updates (e.g

market-analysis shooter mobile+1

GameRefinerySept 2021

Report

Gaming Deals Activity Report Q1‑Q3 ’21

The global video games industry experienced a period of significant financial expansion during the first three quarters of 2021, characterized by a 2.5x year-over-year growth in cumulative deal value. Total closed transactions reached $57.7 billion across 667 deals, nearly tripling the $22.7 billion recorded during the same period in 2020. This surge was driven by a robust performance in mergers and acquisitions, which accounted for 48% of total value, followed by public offerings at 37% and private investments at 15%. The gaming segment remained the primary driver of activity, representing 75% of total deal value. Mobile gaming emerged as a particularly dominant force, contributing 84% of M&A value in the third quarter alone, highlighted by Electronic Arts’ $1.4 billion acquisition of Playdemic. While public offerings faced a cooling period in the third quarter due to market turbulence and share price declines among industry leaders, the period still saw massive exits, including the $3.75 billion IPO of Krafton. Private placements also hit record levels, with late-stage funding rounds for companies like Sorare and Discord signaling sustained investor confidence. A notable shift in the industry landscape is the rapid ascent of blockchain gaming. This sub-sector saw a 34x year-over-year increase in deal value, reaching $1.56 billion. Investment is currently concentrated in companies building platform layers and infrastructure for non-fungible tokens and play-to-earn models. Geographically, China remained a focal point for strategic activity, largely led by Tencent, which closed 69 deals during the nine-month period. The data is compiled through the tracking of closed transactions across the gaming, platform, tech, and esports segments, excluding pure gambling and betting. Methodology involves a combination of public media monitoring, business partner insights, and S&P Capital IQ data. The findings suggest that despite a slight quarterly deceleration in public markets, the broader gaming ecosystem continues to attract record-breaking capital from both venture funds and strategic corporate investors.

mergers-acquisitions investment market-analysis+1

InvestGameSept 2021

Report

A Rising Market: Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia represents a rapidly accelerating segment of the global esports market, characterized by high growth rates in both viewership and revenue. Between 2019 and 2024, the region is projected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in audience size that significantly outpaces global averages, with year-over-year increases reaching as high as 18.2%. This expansion is driven by a mobile-first gaming culture where 82% of the online population plays mobile games and 39% of players identify mobile as their primary platform. Key markets fueling this trend include Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. The regional ecosystem is heavily influenced by mobile-centric titles, specifically Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Garena Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile. These three games accounted for roughly half of all global esports hours watched for those titles on Twitch and YouTube Live during the first half of 2021. Revenue streams in the region mirror global trends, with sponsorship serving as the primary contributor, supported by media rights, publisher fees, and digital goods. Government intervention also plays a critical role in market maturation, with initiatives like the Youth Esports Program in the Philippines and the integration of esports into the 30th SEA Games as a medal event. Data for these findings was sourced from Newzoo’s 2021 Global Esports and Live Streaming Market Report and Consumer Insights. The methodology utilized a Major City Approach for most Southeast Asian nations to represent active internet users aged 10-50, while Singapore data covered the general online population within that age bracket. The findings conclude that improved internet infrastructure and the accessibility of mobile devices are the primary catalysts for long-term engagement and the continued attraction of non-endemic brand sponsorships to the region.

market-analysis esports southeast-asia+1

NewzooJul 2021

Report

RPG Genre Snapshot Report June 2021

Role-playing games (RPGs) represent a cornerstone of the mobile gaming market, accounting for approximately 14% of total revenue on the US iOS platform as of mid-2021. While the genre has long been dominated by established turn-based titles like Raid: Shadow Legends and Marvel Strike Force, recent market data indicates a significant shift toward Action RPGs. This transition is driven primarily by high-production, open-world titles that bridge the gap between mobile and console-quality experiences. The primary catalyst for this shift is Genshin Impact, which alone commands over 10% of the RPG market share. Alongside the more recent launch of My Hero Academia (MHA): The Strongest Hero, these titles emphasize narrative depth, exploration, and high-fidelity graphics. While both utilize an anime art style, they cater to different player motivations: Genshin Impact focuses on single-player exploration and skill-based combat, whereas MHA integrates more competitive social elements, including synchronous and asynchronous PvP. Monetization within the genre remains heavily reliant on character collection mechanics and sophisticated gacha systems. Analysis of top-performing updates shows that revenue spikes are most frequently tied to limited-time "banner" gachas and IP collaboration events, such as the crossover between The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross and Stranger Things. These events often introduce bespoke gameplay modes, such as tower defense or unique PvE challenges, to maintain engagement. The findings are based on GameRefinery’s proprietary three-layered taxonomy and a motivation framework derived from a survey of over 7000 mobile gamers across English-speaking Western markets. The data specifically covers the US iOS market for the 12-month period leading up to June 2021, highlighting a clear evolution from traditional turn-based mechanics toward immersive, open-world action experiences.

market-analysis global rpg+1

GameRefineryJun 2021

Report

RPG Genre Snapshot

Role-playing games represent a significant pillar of the mobile gaming market, currently holding a 14% revenue share on the US iOS platform. While established titles like Raid: Shadow Legends and Marvel Strike Force maintain their positions at the top of the charts, the genre is undergoing a fundamental shift in subgenre dominance. Historically led by turn-based titles, the market is increasingly defined by high-production action RPGs. This transition is primarily driven by the massive success of Genshin Impact, which alone accounts for 10% of the total RPG market share, and the more recent launch of My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero. Analysis of these market leaders reveals a trend toward open-world experiences, narrative depth, and console-quality production values. While both leading titles utilize action-based combat and anime art styles, they cater to different player motivations. Genshin Impact focuses on single-player exploration and skill-based mechanics, whereas My Hero Academia emphasizes social and competitive elements through synchronous and asynchronous PvP. Despite these innovations in gameplay, the genre remains anchored by character collection and gacha-based monetization. Revenue performance in the sector is heavily dictated by live operations and content updates. Data indicates that the most significant revenue spikes occur during limited-time events, particularly those introducing new characters via "banner gachas" or step-up mechanics. Furthermore, collaboration events with external intellectual properties, such as the crossover between The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross and Stranger Things, have proven highly effective at engaging audiences. These findings, derived from GameRefinery’s proprietary SaaS dashboard and genre taxonomy, cover the US iOS market over a twelve-month period ending in mid-2021.

market-analysis rpg mobile+1

GameRefineryJun 2021

Market (Overall)

Key Insights into Brazilian Gamers

Key Insights Into South Korean Gamers

The Hyper-Casual Benchmark Report: Q3 2022

Data Digest Q2 2022

Key Insights Into French Gamers

In-Game Events Snapshot: November 2021

Strategy Genre Snapshot: October 2021

Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021

Gaming Deals Activity Report Q1‑Q3 ’21

A Rising Market: Southeast Asia

RPG Genre Snapshot Report June 2021

RPG Genre Snapshot

Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021