Market (Mobile)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by PocketGamer.biz
Rising user acquisition costs are the primary threat to profitability, cited by 64.2% of industry professionals as the greatest challenge to the sector.
The industry is in a period of consolidation, with 56.7% of professionals identifying widespread layoffs as the most impactful trend of the 2024/25 period.
Strategic focus has shifted away from new IP, as evidenced by over 40% of organizations releasing zero new titles in the past year to prioritize existing live operations.
The market landscape is increasingly dominated by established players, with nearly 39% of companies operating for over a decade while startup formation has notably declined.
Despite current headwinds, 44.1% of industry professionals maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook for growth in 2025.
Professional networking remains critical for survival, with nearly 90% of industry participants attending summits to network and over 31% specifically seeking investment or publishing partnerships.
Industry growth strategies are increasingly targeting emerging markets like the MENA region and relying on data-driven retention models rather than speculative new ventures.
Rising user acquisition costs are the primary threat to profitability, cited by 64.2% of industry professionals as the greatest challenge to the sector.
The industry is in a period of consolidation, with 56.7% of professionals identifying widespread layoffs as the most impactful trend of the 2024/25 period.
Strategic focus has shifted away from new IP, as evidenced by over 40% of organizations releasing zero new titles in the past year to prioritize existing live operations.
The market landscape is increasingly dominated by established players, with nearly 39% of companies operating for over a decade while startup formation has notably declined.
Despite current headwinds, 44.1% of industry professionals maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook for growth in 2025.
Professional networking remains critical for survival, with nearly 90% of industry participants attending summits to network and over 31% specifically seeking investment or publishing partnerships.
Industry growth strategies are increasingly targeting emerging markets like the MENA region and relying on data-driven retention models rather than speculative new ventures.