Key insights
6 slides
The core imbalance
Licensed IP titles are a small share of U.S. mobile games.
Only 9% of mobile titles in the United States carry an IP license. These games generated 23% of total player spending and 17% of installs.
Disproportionate revenue. Licensed IP titles represent only 9% of the U.S. mobile market but account for 23% of total player spending and 17% of all installs.
Growth parity
IP-based mobile games matched non-IP growth in 2020.
IP-based mobile games achieved a 33.8% year-over-year growth rate in 2020. This matched the growth performance of non-IP titles.
Top performers
Established franchises demonstrate significant revenue potential in mobile.
Top performers include Pokémon GO, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Marvel Contest of Champions. These titles demonstrate the significant revenue potential of leveraging established franchises.
Page 12 of the reportRoblox750
Candy Crush Saga650
Coin Master640
Pokémon GO480
Gardenscapes380
Homescapes370
Clash of Clans310
Slotomania290
Genre reliance
Action, shooter, and RPG genres rely most heavily on licensed IP.
Action, shooter, and role-playing games derive 64%, 45%, and 47% of their respective revenues from licensed IP titles. These genres exhibit the highest proportion of IP revenue.
Low IP genres
Racing and puzzle genres show minimal influence from licensed IP.
Racing and puzzle genres currently show minimal influence from licensed intellectual property.
Minimal IP influence. Racing and puzzle genres currently show minimal influence from licensed intellectual property compared to more action-oriented categories.
Expansion outlook
IP-based games are poised for continued expansion across genres.
Publishers are leveraging popular franchises across multiple genres.
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Summary
The analysis evaluates the influence of licensed intellectual property (IP) on the U.S. mobile gaming market during 2020, using Sensor Tower’s taxonomy and revenue data from the App Store and Google Play. It finds that only 9 % of mobile titles in the United States carry an IP license, yet these games generated 23 % of total player spending and 17 % of installs, indicating a disproportionate revenue contribution. Video game IPs dominate the licensed segment, accounting for one‑third of IP revenue and 60 % of that share; manga IPs represent the second largest category at 13 %, followed by television (12 %) and comics (10 %). The report highlights that action, shooter, and role‑playing game genres exhibit the highest proportion of IP revenue—64 % in action, 45 % in shooter, and 47 % in RPG—while genres such as racing and puzzle show minimal IP influence. Top performers include Pokémon GO (video game IP), Call of Duty: Mobile (shooter IP), and Marvel Contest of Champions (comics IP). Year‑over‑year growth for IP titles matched non‑IP titles at 33.8 %, driven largely by Call of Duty: Mobile and new releases like PUBG Mobile. The findings suggest that, despite a small market share in terms of titles, IP‑based games command significant revenue and are poised for continued expansion as publishers leverage popular franchises across multiple genres.
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