Market (Mobile)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Almedia
82% of developers using reward-based user acquisition report that these campaigns outperform traditional channels, with 79% noting stronger long-term retention from rewarded users.
77% of mid-sized mobile game developers in the US and UK have integrated reward-based campaigns into their strategies, with 59% planning to increase these budgets in 2025.
Fraud concerns for rewarded user acquisition have stabilized, with 47% of developers citing risks compared to 46% for traditional UA channels.
95% of developers currently using rewarded strategies believe they provide a distinct competitive advantage in an environment where 64% find standard UA increasingly challenging due to privacy rules and costs.
43% of developers not currently using rewarded UA intend to adopt the strategy in 2025, driven by a 62% concern among non-adopters about falling behind competitors.
90% of experienced developers predict that reward-based mechanisms will expand beyond mobile and web platforms into the console gaming market.
Real-world rewards, specifically cash and gift cards, are shifting from experimental tactics to fundamental discovery and engagement mechanisms for the industry.
82% of developers using reward-based user acquisition report that these campaigns outperform traditional channels, with 79% noting stronger long-term retention from rewarded users.
77% of mid-sized mobile game developers in the US and UK have integrated reward-based campaigns into their strategies, with 59% planning to increase these budgets in 2025.
Fraud concerns for rewarded user acquisition have stabilized, with 47% of developers citing risks compared to 46% for traditional UA channels.
95% of developers currently using rewarded strategies believe they provide a distinct competitive advantage in an environment where 64% find standard UA increasingly challenging due to privacy rules and costs.
43% of developers not currently using rewarded UA intend to adopt the strategy in 2025, driven by a 62% concern among non-adopters about falling behind competitors.
90% of experienced developers predict that reward-based mechanisms will expand beyond mobile and web platforms into the console gaming market.
Real-world rewards, specifically cash and gift cards, are shifting from experimental tactics to fundamental discovery and engagement mechanisms for the industry.