ReportSensor Tower
Store Intelligence Data Digest: Q2 2020
1 Jan 202066 pages~51 min full read
Worldwide mobile app downloads reached a record 37.8 billion in Q2 2020, a 31.7 percent year-over-year increase driven by pandemic-related shifts in work, education, and entertainment.
See it on page 2Google Play game downloads surged by over 50 percent to 12.4 billion, with hypercasual titles leading in volume and Sandbox and Battle Royale genres flourishing as social hubs.
See it on page 38Business category app installations peaked at 176 percent above pre-pandemic levels, with Zoom becoming the third app in history to surpass 300 million installs in a single quarter.
See it on page 49The mobile Casino genre became the top-grossing category in the United States, generating $1 billion in revenue during the quarter.
See it on page 60Google became the first mobile publisher to exceed one billion quarterly downloads, highlighting the massive scale of the mobile economy during the period.
See it on page 27Travel, navigation, and rideshare sectors experienced significant declines due to global lockdowns, though late-quarter data showed early signs of recovery in domestic travel and sports app engagement.
See it on page 50The global mobile app ecosystem experienced unprecedented growth in the second quarter of 2020, driven primarily by the societal shifts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide app downloads reached a record 37.8 billion, representing a 31.7 percent year-over-year increase. This surge was characterized by a massive transition toward remote work, digital education, and home entertainment. Zoom emerged as a dominant force, becoming only the third app in history to surpass 300 million quarterly installs, while the business category as a whole saw installations peak at 176 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
The mobile gaming sector served as a primary beneficiary of stay-at-home orders, with Google Play game downloads increasing by over 50 percent to 12.4 billion. Hypercasual titles like Save The Girl led the market in volume, while established titles such as Roblox and Brawl Stars reached new performance milestones in the United States and China, respectively. Revenue trends shifted toward social and simulation genres, with Sandbox and Battle Royale titles flourishing as digital social hubs. Notably, the Casino genre became the top-grossing category in the United States, generating $1 billion in revenue during the quarter.
While productivity and entertainment apps thrived, the travel, navigation, and rideshare sectors faced significant declines due to global lockdowns. However, the end of the quarter showed early signs of recovery in these areas, particularly in domestic travel within Scandinavia and a resurgence in sports app engagement as international leagues resumed play. This period also marked a milestone for mobile publishers, as Google became the first to exceed one billion quarterly downloads, illustrating the massive scale of the mobile economy during the height of the global health crisis.
