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Monetization & Live Ops

Monetization & Live Ops

Revenue models, in-game economies, retention and live operations.

324 documents

Cover of Evolution of Mobile Esports for the Mass Market

Niko Partners · 2019

Evolution of Mobile Esports for the Mass Market

Mobile esports is positioned to become the primary catalyst for growth in the digital games industry over the next five years, leveraging a global player base of 2.53 billion that already surpasses the combined reach of PC and console gaming. In 2018, mobile esports titles generated $15.32 billion in revenue, representing over a quarter of the total mobile market. This expansion is driven by high smartphone penetration and a fundamental shift from high-profile spectator events toward a pervasive ecosystem of regional and online-only competitions. By lowering barriers to entry, the sector has successfully attracted a more diverse and gender-balanced audience than traditional competitive gaming platforms. The industry is currently transitioning from a publisher-funded marketing tool into a scalable mass-market powerhouse. While professional PC esports historically dominated revenue, mobile esports is rapidly closing the gap, fueled by sophisticated monetization strategies including media rights, sponsorships, and microtransaction-based models like season passes. Asia serves as the epicenter of this evolution, with China and Southeast Asia hosting the most concentrated markets for competitive mobile titles. Significant investments from traditional sports franchises and the expansion of media rights into mainstream cable television further signal the professionalization and maturation of the sector. Technological advancements in 5G and cloud gaming are disrupting the historical dominance of PC titles by delivering high-quality competitive experiences on accessible hardware. This technological shift, combined with strong government support in Asian markets, has led to explosive growth, exemplified by a 44.5% revenue increase in top Belt and Road markets during the first half of 2019. As industry leaders establish franchised leagues and record-breaking prize pools, the mobile esports model is proving more sustainable and participatory than its predecessors. Ultimately, the sector’s massive reach and superior monetization capabilities ensure its trajectory to overtake PC esports as the dominant global competitive gaming format.

Cover of Mobile Benchmarks Report GameAnalytics

GameAnalytics · 2019

Mobile Benchmarks Report GameAnalytics

The mobile gaming landscape in the first half of 2019 reflects a significant structural shift as developers increasingly pivot from in-app purchases toward ad-based monetization models. Analysis of 100,000 titles and 1.2 billion monthly active users reveals a 15-20% year-over-year decline in Average Revenue Per Paying User (ARPPU) and Average Revenue Per Daily Active User (ARPDAU). While the median ARPDAU sits at $0.02, hyper-casual games maintain viability through advertising, supported by median eCPMs of approximately $5.00. Despite these shifts, Mid-core genres like Strategy and Role-Playing Games continue to dominate financial performance, yielding the highest conversion rates and revenue generation across the industry. Engagement metrics remain the primary indicator of long-term success, with top-performing titles aiming for a 35% Day 1 retention rate and a 4% Day 28 retention rate. Classic genres, specifically Card and Casino games, lead the market in player stickiness, boasting session lengths that can reach 22 minutes compared to the broader median of 4-5 minutes. Geographic trends further highlight the rising prominence of the Chinese market, where over 60% of the population engages in mobile gaming and median eCPMs have climbed to $3.90, nearly rivaling established Western markets like the United States. Industry leaders utilize these benchmarks to streamline publishing pipelines, often requiring a minimum 50% Day 1 retention rate to greenlight titles for further optimization. Success in this competitive environment relies on the integration of real-time data, remote configuration, and advanced player segmentation to manage game lifecycles. By monitoring key performance indicators and error logs through automated dashboards, publishers can identify high-potential titles early and refine gameplay mechanics to meet the rigorous standards of the current mobile ecosystem.

Cover of 10 Years, 10 Highlights of Google Play

data.ai · 2018

10 Years, 10 Highlights of Google Play

This analysis examines the ten-year trajectory of the Google Play Store, detailing its growth from January 2012 through August 2018. During this period, the platform facilitated nearly 330 billion downloads and generated over $85 billion in consumer spend. By August 2018, the ecosystem supported over 2.8 million available apps, with more than 5,000 individual titles surpassing $1 million in lifetime consumer spend. The findings exclude pre-installed applications and focus on worldwide performance, excluding China. Geographic data reveals a significant divide between volume and monetization. India leads the world in total downloads with 36.9 billion, followed closely by the United States and Brazil. However, Japan represents the largest market by consumer spend, contributing $25.1 billion, which significantly outpaces the United States at $19.3 billion and South Korea at $11.2 billion. This revenue growth was heavily influenced by the 2012 introduction of in-app subscriptions and a 2017 policy change that reduced developer transaction fees for long-term subscribers, resulting in a 55% year-over-year increase in spend between 2016 and 2017. The gaming sector remains a primary driver of engagement and revenue. Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga are identified as the most downloaded games of all time, while Monster Strike and Puzzle & Dragons lead in total consumer spend. Outside of gaming, Facebook-owned properties dominate the download charts, while communication and entertainment apps like LINE, Tinder, and Netflix lead in revenue. The analysis concludes with a forecast that Google Play consumer spend will reach $42 billion by 2022, representing a 90% increase from 2017 levels, driven by the continued evolution of video streaming, social platforms, and subscription-based monetization models.

Cover of Gaming Spotlight 2017 Review

App Annie · 2018

Gaming Spotlight 2017 Review

The global gaming industry experienced a significant shift in 2017 as mobile gaming solidified its dominance over traditional platforms. Mobile consumer spending exceeded the combined total of home consoles, PC, Mac, and handheld consoles by more than one-third, representing a substantial increase from the single-digit margin recorded in 2016. While games accounted for less than 40% of total mobile app downloads, they generated nearly 80% of combined consumer spend on the iOS App Store and Google Play. This growth was primarily driven by the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea, which accounted for over 60% of all mobile game spending. A critical trend identified throughout the year was the rise of live player-versus-player (PvP) and cooperative gameplay. For the first time in mobile history, the top two grossing games on both major app stores featured live PvP elements, a shift influenced by PC gaming heritage and the rising popularity of esports. In the United States, survey data from 3,991 gamers revealed that those engaging in live PvP or co-op modes skewed younger and male, played more hours per week, and were significantly more likely to spend money on titles compared to those playing single-player or turn-based games. The handheld console market also reflected this shift toward multiplayer engagement, with four of the top five grossing titles supporting live PvP or co-op. Despite the continued strength of the Nintendo 3DS in 2017, the industry began transitioning toward hybrid and mobile platforms, evidenced by major franchises like Pokémon moving away from dedicated handhelds. Analysts concluded that the maturation of live multiplayer engagement, bolstered by the emergence of the battle royale genre, would remain the primary driver for industry growth and monetization moving into 2018.

Cover of Global Mobile Market Report 2018

Newzoo · 2018

Global Mobile Market Report 2018

The global mobile market is undergoing a significant transformation characterized by a shift toward immersive, competitive gaming experiences and the integration of high-engagement subscription services. With global app store revenues reaching $92.1 billion in 2018, mobile gaming remains the primary economic driver, accounting for 76 percent of total expenditures. This financial growth is supported by hardware manufacturers who are increasingly developing dedicated gaming smartphones to meet the demands of high-performance software, particularly within the expansive Chinese market. Simultaneously, major media and technology firms are pivoting toward original video content to capture consumer attention, mirroring the subscription-based models popularized by leading streaming platforms. The industry’s expansion is underpinned by a robust increase in global smartphone adoption, which is projected to reach 3.8 billion users by 2021. This growth is heavily concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, which continues to serve as the primary catalyst for global market penetration. While Samsung and Apple maintain their status as the dominant hardware manufacturers, the software landscape remains highly competitive, with casual gaming publishers and video-streaming services leading their respective revenue categories. These insights are derived from a comprehensive analytical framework that monitors the top 100 global markets, representing 98.5 percent of the world’s smartphone users. By integrating historical data, socio-economic indicators, and telemetry from over 400 million active devices, this intelligence provides a precise view of evolving consumer behaviors. The continuous refinement of these predictive models ensures that stakeholders can effectively navigate the rapid technological and economic shifts defining the mobile ecosystem as it matures into a central pillar of global digital entertainment.

Cover of Libro Blanco del Desarrollo Español de los Videojuegos

DEV – Asociacion Espanola de Empresas Productoras y Desarrolladoras de Videojuegos · 2018

Libro Blanco del Desarrollo Español de los Videojuegos

LIBRO CENTRO UNIVERSITARIO Fando Eurapeo de DE TECNOLOGIA Y ARTE DIGITAL Ung manere de hacer Eurapa Asociación Española de Empresas Productoras y Desarrolladoras de Videojuegos y Software de Entretenimiento 1 . INTRODUCCIÓN 05 2. CADENA DE VALOR DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL VIDEOJUEGO 07 2.1. Cadena de valor tradicional de la industria de videojuegos 08 2.2.

Cover of The Data Behind 10 Years of the iOS App Store – 2018

data.ai · 2018

The Data Behind 10 Years of the iOS App Store – 2018

The iOS App Store underwent a profound transformation between 2010 and 2018, evolving from a nascent marketplace into a mature global economy characterized by massive revenue growth and a shift in monetization strategies. During this period, the platform facilitated over 170 billion downloads and generated $130 billion in consumer spend. While download volume grew at a steady compound annual growth rate of 15%, revenue surged at 52%, signaling a highly lucrative ecosystem where nearly 10,000 individual apps reached at least $1 million in annual consumer spend by 2017. The gaming sector emerged as the primary economic engine of the platform, accounting for 75% of total consumer spend despite representing only 31% of total downloads. This financial dominance was mirrored by a fundamental shift in business models, as the industry moved away from paid downloads—which fell to less than 1% of the market—toward free-to-play mechanics and in-app subscriptions. Clash of Clans and Netflix established themselves as the all-time leaders in consumer spend for games and non-games respectively, while Facebook maintained the highest volume of total downloads. Geographically, the center of the app economy shifted toward the Asia-Pacific region, which now accounts for nearly 60% of global iOS revenue. China, in particular, experienced a meteoric rise, overtaking the United States in 2016 to become the world’s largest market for both downloads and spending. This regional growth was largely propelled by domestic tech giants such as Tencent, Baidu, and NetEase. As the marketplace continues to mature, data-driven insights from providers like App Annie remain essential for businesses navigating this complex, multi-billion dollar landscape.

Cover of The Data Behind 10 Years of Google Play (2018)

data.ai · 2018

The Data Behind 10 Years of Google Play (2018)

This analysis examines the growth and performance of the Google Play Store over a nearly seven-year period, spanning from January 2012 to August 2018. Utilizing data from the App Annie platform, the findings track the evolution of the Android ecosystem from its early stages to a mature marketplace featuring over 2.8 million available apps. During this timeframe, the platform recorded nearly 330 billion total downloads and generated over $85 billion in consumer spend, with more than 5,000 individual apps surpassing the $1 million revenue milestone. Geographic trends reveal a significant divide between volume and value. India leads the world in total downloads at 36.9 billion, followed closely by the United States and Brazil. However, Japan emerges as the most lucrative market, contributing $25.1 billion in consumer spend, significantly outpacing the United States and South Korea. The data highlights a shift in monetization strategies, particularly the 2017 transition toward in-app subscriptions. This change, supported by a reduction in Google’s transaction fees for long-term subscribers, resulted in a 55% growth in spend for non-gaming apps between 2016 and 2017. The competitive landscape is dominated by major social media and gaming entities. Facebook-owned properties occupy the top four spots for all-time downloads, while LINE and Tinder lead in non-gaming consumer spend. In the gaming sector, Subway Surfers is the most downloaded title, but GungHo Online’s Puzzle & Dragons and Mixi’s Monster Strike lead in total revenue. Looking forward, the analysis projects continued aggressive growth, estimating that annual consumer spend on Google Play will reach $42 billion by 2022, a 90% increase from 2017 levels.

Cover of Casual Games Sector Report: 2017

Newzoo · 2017

Casual Games Sector Report: 2017

The global games market is undergoing a period of rapid expansion and structural transformation, with total revenues projected to exceed $100 billion by 2017. This growth is driven by the globalization of business models, such as free-to-play, and the increasing ubiquity of mobile devices. While mature markets in North America, Western Europe, and Oceania currently account for 51% of global revenue, emerging regions—including Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—are expected to drive a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% over the forecast period, eventually shifting the majority of market share toward these developing territories. Mobile gaming serves as a primary catalyst for this expansion, with smartphone and tablet usage becoming essential for global consumers. By 2017, mobile gaming is expected to capture 34% of the total market, up from 23% in 2013. Simultaneously, the industry is evolving as games transition into broader entertainment brands that span multiple media platforms. This cross-media presence, supported by the rise of eSports and digital content consumption, allows developers to increase engagement and monetize non-paying users more effectively. China represents a significant focal point for industry growth, with revenues quadrupling between 2008 and 2013. Despite challenges related to piracy and strict censorship, the Chinese market is characterized by a robust mobile app ecosystem and high engagement with both domestic and foreign titles. Success for international companies in this region increasingly depends on local partnerships, effective localization, and the integration of in-game monetization models. The analysis relies on a combination of primary consumer research, transactional data, and financial analysis to provide a comprehensive view of these shifting global dynamics.

Cover of Global Esports Market Report: 2017

Newzoo · 2017

Global Esports Market Report: 2017

The 2017 Global Esports Market Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the esports industry’s transition into a mainstream global business. The primary thesis posits that esports is accelerating the convergence of gaming, media, and traditional sports, driven by significant investments from non-endemic brands and major media conglomerates. The report identifies this convergence as a strategic necessity for media companies seeking to engage digital natives and Millennials, as well as for traditional sports leagues looking to revitalize an aging fan base. Key financial findings indicate that the global esports economy reached $696 million in 2017, representing a 41.3% year-on-year growth. Sponsorship remains the largest revenue stream at $266.3 million, while media rights are identified as the fastest-growing segment, projected to reach $340 million by 2020. The report forecasts total market revenues to hit $1.488 billion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of 35.6%. Audience metrics show a global reach of 385.5 million viewers in 2017, consisting of 191 million dedicated enthusiasts and 194 million occasional viewers. The scope of the analysis covers global markets across 10 subregions, utilizing a proprietary forecasting model that integrates primary consumer research from 27 countries, census data, and engagement metrics from streaming platforms and event organizers. The methodology distinguishes between "Esports Enthusiasts"—defined as frequent viewers and active participants—and occasional viewers, while excluding revenues from betting, fantasy leagues, and in-game transactions to maintain a focus on the professionalized esports economy. The report concludes that while esports is currently not a profitable venture for most game publishers, their continued investment is justified by the positive impact on game engagement and the long-term potential of esports as a standalone business. The integration of traditional sports clubs into the ecosystem, particularly through FIFA-branded leagues, further validates the industry's shift toward mainstream acceptance and professionalized competition.

Cover of 2016 Global Esports Market Report: An Overview of the Esports Market & Its Valuable Audience

Newzoo · 2016

2016 Global Esports Market Report: An Overview of the Esports Market & Its Valuable Audience

The 2016 Global Esports Market Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the burgeoning esports economy, identifying it as a transformative force in the video game industry. The primary thesis posits that esports is shifting gaming from a personal activity to a spectator sport, creating significant monetization opportunities for publishers, brands, and media companies. By evolving games into entertainment brands, the industry is successfully engaging a highly valuable, difficult-to-reach demographic that traditional media increasingly fails to capture. Key findings highlight rapid financial and audience growth. The global esports economy reached $325 million in 2015, with projections indicating continued acceleration. The total esports audience is expanding, driven by a 13.3% year-over-year increase in enthusiasts. Revenue per enthusiast is also rising, climbing from $2.20 in 2014 toward a projected $6.00 by 2019. This growth is supported by a surge in non-endemic brand sponsorships and increased investment from media rights, merchandise, and ticket sales. The report covers a global scope, with specific data points across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions. The methodology relies on a multi-layered approach, integrating complex databases, predictive modeling, and result validation through primary consumer research across 26 countries. By profiling esports awareness and engagement across 100+ variables, the analysis characterizes the audience as high-earning, tech-savvy, and more likely to spend on digital subscriptions, mobile gaming, and hardware than the general online population. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the esports market is maturing into a sustainable, high-value ecosystem that demands a specialized marketing approach distinct from traditional gaming audiences.

Cover of Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry: 2013

Entertainment Software Association · 2013

Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry: 2013

The computer and video game industry in the United States demonstrated significant economic strength in 2013, generating a total revenue of $21.53 billion. This financial performance underscores the sector's role as a major contributor to the national economy, driven by robust consumer demand for interactive entertainment across various platforms and delivery methods. Consumer spending on game content accounted for $15.39 billion of the total industry revenue. A notable shift in purchasing behavior is evident in the 11 percent year-over-year growth of digital format sales. This trend highlights a transition toward digital distribution models, reflecting evolving consumer preferences for immediate access to content over traditional physical media. These findings provide a snapshot of the domestic gaming market during the 2013 calendar year, focusing specifically on revenue generation and sales distribution. By tracking the growth of digital formats alongside total content expenditure, the data illustrates a maturing market that is increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure to sustain its financial trajectory. The industry maintains a strong foothold in the entertainment sector, characterized by consistent revenue streams and a clear movement toward digital-first consumption patterns.

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