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Key Insights
2023 Liftoff Company Midcore Gaming Apps Report
Liftoff~28 min full read
- 01
Midcore mobile games now account for 35% of total iOS gaming revenue in the United States, demonstrating significantly higher market longevity than casual titles.
See it on page 17 - 02
Shooter games represent the most high-stakes category, commanding a $7.47 cost per install while delivering a leading 6% Day-7 return on ad spend.
See it on page 13 - 03
Top-performing midcore titles maintain engagement through aggressive LiveOps, typically running fifteen simultaneous unique events and fifteen limited-time gachas at any given time.
See it on page 29 - 04
Retention strategies are heavily reliant on competitive social structures, with 88% of leading titles utilizing permanent PvP seasons and over 50% incorporating guild-based competitions.
See it on page 30 - 05
North America remains the most lucrative region for midcore apps, yielding a 4.5% Day-7 return on ad spend despite performance disparities between Android and iOS user acquisition costs.
See it on page 8 - 06
Developers are increasingly bypassing app store commissions by directing players to external web stores to offer better value and improve margins.
See it on page 28 - 07
To combat late-game stagnation, developers are adopting sophisticated mechanics such as extraction shooters, multi-layered Battle Passes, and seasonal progression resets.
See it on page 27
That's the gist.
Dive into the full report for the data, charts, and sources behind these takeaways.
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