Mobile gaming solidified its market dominance in 2018, with consumer spending exceeding the combined totals of PC, home consoles, and handheld consoles by nearly 20%.
See it on page 3Mobile games accounted for 75% of total consumer spend on the iOS App Store and Google Play, despite representing only 35% of total app downloads.
See it on page 4The Asia-Pacific region accounted for over 55% of global mobile game spending in 2018, maintaining its lead despite a nine-month freeze on new game approvals in China.
See it on page 5The mobile market is increasingly driven by hardcore-leaning multiplayer experiences, with three of the top five grossing mobile games in 2018 featuring real-time Battle Royale or MOBA mechanics.
See it on page 7Publishers with traditional PC or console backgrounds have become dominant in the mobile sector, occupying seven of the top ten spots for consumer spending.
See it on page 11The U.S. gaming market saw a 3.5% increase in hardcore-leaning players in 2018 compared to 2015, while the dedicated handheld console market contracted as franchises migrated to modern platforms.
See it on page 13The 2018 Gaming Spotlight Review analyzes the global gaming landscape, focusing on the shifting dynamics between mobile, PC, and console platforms. The report establishes that mobile gaming has solidified its dominance, with consumer spending in 2018 exceeding the combined totals of home consoles, PC/Mac, and handheld consoles by nearly 20%. This represents a significant shift from 2016, when mobile spending trailed these combined categories by 14%. The analysis covers global markets with specific emphasis on North America, Asia-Pacific, and Western Europe, utilizing consumer spend data from app stores and retail tracking.
A primary finding is the maturation of mobile gaming into a platform for sophisticated, hardcore experiences. While games accounted for only 35% of total app downloads, they generated 75% of total consumer spend on the iOS App Store and Google Play. The market is increasingly bifurcated between hyper-casual titles that monetize through advertising and hardcore-leaning multiplayer games. In 2018, three of the top five grossing mobile games featured real-time multiplayer elements, such as Battle Royale and MOBA mechanics, reflecting a trend where mobile experiences now rival traditional console and PC gameplay.
Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region remained the leader, accounting for over 55% of global mobile game spending despite a nine-month freeze on new game approvals in China. In North America, the Nintendo Switch drove strong home console performance, while the handheld market faced contraction as franchises like Pokémon migrated from the Nintendo 3DS to more modern platforms. Methodologically, the report compares 2018 data against historical benchmarks from 2014–2017 and incorporates a 2018 survey of U.S. gamers, which revealed a 3.5% increase in hardcore-leaning players compared to 2015. The conclusion highlights that publishers with PC or console backgrounds are increasingly dominant in mobile monetization, holding seven of the top ten spots for consumer spend.
