Mobile gaming solidified its market dominance in 2017, with consumer spending exceeding the combined total of home consoles, PC, Mac, and handhelds by more than one-third.
See it on page 3Mobile games generated nearly 80% of total consumer spending on the iOS App Store and Google Play, despite accounting for less than 40% of total app downloads.
See it on page 4The Asia-Pacific region, led by China, Japan, and South Korea, drove mobile growth by accounting for over 60% of all global mobile game spending.
See it on page 5Live player-versus-player (PvP) and cooperative gameplay emerged as the primary monetization drivers, with the top two grossing games on both major app stores featuring live PvP elements for the first time.
See it on page 7In the U.S., gamers who engage in live PvP or co-op modes play more hours per week and are significantly more likely to spend money on titles than those playing single-player or turn-based games.
See it on page 11The handheld console market began a transition toward hybrid and mobile platforms, evidenced by major franchises like Pokémon shifting away from dedicated handheld devices.
See it on page 6The maturation of live multiplayer engagement and the rise of the battle royale genre were identified as the primary catalysts for industry growth and monetization heading into 2018.
See it on page 14The 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.
