ReportSocialPeta
2021 H1 Global Mobile App Marketing Whitepaper
1 Jan 202193 pages~44 min full read
Chinese developers dominated the global market in 2021 H1, accounting for 70% of top-charting mobile game media buying and 100% of the top ten advertisers on Facebook’s News Feed.
Advertising costs surged significantly, with Facebook’s average CPC and CPM increasing by 128% year-over-year due to heightened competition.
Apple’s IDFA policy changes triggered a 13% decline in the share of iOS advertising creatives, forcing a strategic shift in focus toward Android platforms.
Total advertising creatives for hard-core gaming and non-game sectors saw massive growth, with non-game creatives rising 38% to 47.6 million and total creatives increasing 108% year-on-year to over 19 million.
Strategy games exhibited the highest media buying intensity per advertiser, while RPG and Puzzle genres led the industry in total creative volume.
Marketing strategies shifted toward short-form video, live-action footage, and influencer-led campaigns to mitigate rising acquisition costs and privacy-related tracking limitations.
The global mobile marketing landscape experienced a massive surge in activity during the first half of 2021, characterized by a 108% year-on-year increase in advertising creatives totaling over 19 million. This growth was primarily driven by hard-core gaming titles and a significant expansion in the non-game sector, where creatives rose 38% to 47.6 million. Despite this volume increase, Apple’s IDFA policy changes caused a 13% decline in the share of iOS creatives, shifting more focus toward Android platforms. Geographically, the United States remained the largest advertising market, while Oceania emerged as the fastest-growing region for non-game advertisers.
Chinese companies solidified their global dominance during this period, accounting for 70% of top-charting mobile game media buying and over 25% of the total global market share. These developers maintained a particularly strong presence on major social platforms, representing 100% of the top ten advertisers on Facebook’s News Feed. However, this increased competition contributed to a sharp rise in acquisition costs, with Facebook’s average CPC and CPM both climbing 128% year-over-year. RPG and Puzzle genres led in total creative volume, while Strategy games exhibited the highest media buying intensity per advertiser.
Marketing strategies have evolved toward high-engagement, "snackable" short-form video content and influencer-led campaigns to combat rising costs and privacy-related tracking challenges. In the gaming sector, creative tactics shifted toward live-action footage and gameplay extensions, while non-game apps—particularly in the education and shopping sectors—capitalized on pandemic-related lifestyle shifts. As the industry navigates the post-IDFA era, the integration of high-quality in-game ads and diverse creative formats has become essential for maintaining user retention and driving monetization across both domestic Chinese and international markets.
