Market (Overall)·Updated Mar 21, 2026 by data.ai
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%.
Mobile games accounted for 75% of total consumer spend on the iOS App Store and Google Play, despite representing only 35% of total app downloads.
The 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.
The 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.
Publishers with traditional PC or console backgrounds have become dominant in the mobile sector, occupying seven of the top ten spots for consumer spending.
The 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.
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%.
Mobile games accounted for 75% of total consumer spend on the iOS App Store and Google Play, despite representing only 35% of total app downloads.
The 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.
The 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.
Publishers with traditional PC or console backgrounds have become dominant in the mobile sector, occupying seven of the top ten spots for consumer spending.
The 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.