Market (Mobile)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by GameRefinery
Midcore games now account for 35% of total US iOS gaming revenue, driven by a player migration from hyper-casual titles toward deeper, more complex gameplay.
Android is significantly more cost-effective for developers than iOS, with a $0.73 CPI compared to $3.86 and nearly double the Day-7 ROAS at 6.1%.
The EMEA region offers the best market value, balancing a low $0.80 CPI with a competitive 4.4% ROAS, while North America remains the most expensive market at a $5.45 CPI.
Genre-specific acquisition costs vary widely, with Shooters requiring the highest investment at $7.47 per install, while RPGs offer the lowest entry cost at $0.60.
To drive long-term profitability and bypass platform fees, developers are increasingly utilizing external web stores and aggressive LiveOps strategies, often maintaining 15 simultaneous active events.
Despite higher average user acquisition costs of $2 per install, the midcore segment maintains high profitability through multi-layered Battle Pass systems and sophisticated service-based ecosystems.
Midcore games now account for 35% of total US iOS gaming revenue, driven by a player migration from hyper-casual titles toward deeper, more complex gameplay.
Android is significantly more cost-effective for developers than iOS, with a $0.73 CPI compared to $3.86 and nearly double the Day-7 ROAS at 6.1%.
The EMEA region offers the best market value, balancing a low $0.80 CPI with a competitive 4.4% ROAS, while North America remains the most expensive market at a $5.45 CPI.
Genre-specific acquisition costs vary widely, with Shooters requiring the highest investment at $7.47 per install, while RPGs offer the lowest entry cost at $0.60.
To drive long-term profitability and bypass platform fees, developers are increasingly utilizing external web stores and aggressive LiveOps strategies, often maintaining 15 simultaneous active events.
Despite higher average user acquisition costs of $2 per install, the midcore segment maintains high profitability through multi-layered Battle Pass systems and sophisticated service-based ecosystems.