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Genshin Impact

GameBy HoYoverse · Released Sep 28, 2020

Documents about Genshin Impact

Cover of Why Game Stories Matter
Article

Why Game Stories Matter

Effective storytelling serves as a critical driver for player retention and monetization in the mobile gaming industry.

  • Strong emotional investment through storytelling reduces player price sensitivity, making users more likely to spend money on in-game purchases.
  • Effective narrative design acts as a retention tool, keeping players engaged over the long term by creating a sense of 'falling in love' with the game world.
  • Genshin Impact demonstrates that integrating storytelling into live operations—such as voice-acted questlines and unique narratives for seasonal events—is a highly effective engagement strategy.
GameRefineryMar 2021
Cover of Genshin Impact Surpasses $1 Billion in Revenue on Mobile
Article

Genshin Impact Surpasses $1 Billion in Revenue on Mobile

This analysis covers two distinct milestones in the mobile gaming industry: the rapid revenue growth of Genshin Impact and the broader evolution of mobile game ad monetization.

  • Genshin Impact became the fastest mobile game to reach $1 billion in revenue, achieving this milestone in less than six months following its September 2020 launch.
  • Mobile game advertising revenue across 19 major markets exceeded $12 billion in 2025, driven by 2.4 trillion ad impressions.
  • The share of mobile games utilizing ad monetization increased from 45.1% in July 2021 to 55.6% by May 2026, amid a period of stagnation in in-app purchase revenue.
Sensor TowerMar 2021
Article

Genshin Impact Races Past $1 Billion on Mobile

Genshin Impact has achieved a significant financial milestone, surpassing $1 billion in global mobile player spending in less than six months following its September 2020 launch.

  • Genshin Impact became the fastest mobile game to reach $1 billion in player spending, achieving the milestone in less than six months following its September 28, 2020, launch.
  • The game maintains a strong revenue cadence, averaging approximately $160 million in monthly mobile spending since December 2020.
  • Live operations are a primary growth driver, with specific character releases like Xiao and Hu Tao generating single-day revenue spikes of $15 million and $13 million, respectively.
Sensor TowerMar 2021
Article

Top Grossing Mobile Games Worldwide: February 2021

The mobile gaming landscape in February 2021 was characterized by significant year-over-year revenue growth among top-tier titles, driven by strategic in-game events and sustained player engagement.

  • PUBG Mobile from Tencent's TiMi Studios was the top-grossing mobile game worldwide in February 2021, generating $250 million in player spending, a 16.2% increase year-over-year.
  • Tencent's Honor of Kings ranked second globally with $218.5 million in revenue, marking a 57.2% year-over-year growth, with 95.6% of its earnings originating from China.
  • Pokémon GO achieved $124.2 million in February 2021, a 95% year-over-year increase, driven by the ticketed Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event which generated $10.6 million in a single day.
Sensor TowerMar 2021
Cover of Genshin Impact Reaches $874 Million in Revenue
Article

Genshin Impact Reaches $874 Million in Revenue

The provided text covers two distinct analytical reports regarding mobile gaming performance and monetization trends.

  • Within five months of its September 2020 launch, Genshin Impact generated $874 million in mobile revenue, establishing itself as the top-earning mobile RPG globally.
  • Genshin Impact's mobile revenue was driven primarily by China (29%), Japan (27%), and the US (18%), with the game averaging $175 million in monthly mobile earnings during its first five months.
  • In 2025, mobile game advertising revenue across 19 major markets exceeded $12 billion, with 2.4 trillion total ad impressions served.
Game World ObserverMar 2021
Cover of Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review February 2021
Article

Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review February 2021

The February 2021 mobile game market review examines key trends, seasonal event implementations, and notable feature updates across the United States, China, and Japan.

  • Cygames' 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby' reached the number one spot on the Japanese top-grossing list in February 2021.
  • Mobile games are increasingly adopting 'Fall Guys'-inspired PvP modes, as seen in the updates for 'Sausage Man' and 'QQ Speed'.
  • Developers are experimenting with novel monetization and engagement mechanics, such as 'Dragon City Mobile' rewarding players for watching ads and 'Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery' introducing a daily login-based 'Charisma' multiplier for relationship features.
GameRefineryMar 2021
Article

Genshin Impact Hits $874 Million Spent Since Launch

Genshin Impact has established itself as a dominant force in the mobile gaming market, generating approximately $874 million in player spending within its first five months of release.

  • Genshin Impact generated approximately $874 million in mobile player spending during its first five months following its September 28, 2020, launch.
  • The title ranks as the world's third highest-earning mobile game, trailing only Tencent’s Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile.
  • Genshin Impact is the top-earning mobile RPG globally, maintaining a consistent average of approximately $175 million in monthly player spending.
Sensor TowerMar 2021
Article

Mobile Game Taxonomy Report 2021: Hypercasual Accounts for Nearly One-Third of Downloads

The 2021 Mobile Game Taxonomy Report provides a comprehensive analysis of global mobile gaming trends during the 2020 calendar year, a period significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Hypercasual games accounted for 31% of all mobile game installs in 2020, up from 17% in 2017.
  • RPG and Strategy titles combined for 50% of total mobile game revenue among the top 1,000 earning titles in 2020.
  • The 'Fashion' theme was the fastest-growing trend in 2020, with downloads for the top 100 titles using the theme increasing by 109% to 991 million.
Sensor TowerMar 2021
Cover of 2021 Mobile GameDev Awards Winners
Article

2021 Mobile GameDev Awards Winners

The 2021 Mobile GameDev Awards recognize excellence in mobile game design, innovation, and user experience.

  • Genshin Impact (miHoYo) was the standout title of 2020, winning awards for Innovation & Excellence in Core Gameplay, Best Newcomer in the US and Japan, and Best Event in the US for its 'Unreconciled Stars' campaign.
  • The 2021 Mobile GameDev Awards recognized excellence across six categories: Innovation & Excellence in Core Gameplay, Most Promising Soft Launch Game, Biggest Evolver, Best Newcomer, Best Feature Innovation, and Best Event.
  • Farlight 84 (Lilith Games) was identified as the 2020 soft launch game with the highest potential for breakout success based on its gameplay design.
GameRefineryFeb 2021
Article

Top Grossing Mobile Games Worldwide: January 2021

The mobile gaming industry experienced significant revenue growth in January 2021, with major titles demonstrating strong year-over-year performance.

  • Tencent’s Honor of Kings was the top-grossing mobile game worldwide in January 2021, generating $267.3 million in player spending, a 22% increase year-over-year.
  • PUBG Mobile, also from Tencent, ranked second with over $259 million in gross revenue, marking 26% year-over-year growth.
  • Genshin Impact generated $153.4 million in January 2021, with 74.2% of its total revenue originating from Asian markets, led by Japan at 33%.
Sensor TowerFeb 2021
Cover of What Genres Were Booming in 2020
Article

What Genres Were Booming in 2020

This analysis examines the mobile gaming market landscape in 2020, focusing on revenue and download trends across Tier-1 Western and Eastern markets.

  • The mobile gaming market in 2020 remained highly sensitive to blockbuster releases, exemplified by Genshin Impact generating $520 million in its first four months and PUBG Mobile reaching $3 billion in lifetime revenue.
  • Among Us experienced viral growth in 2020, recording a 735% surge in monthly downloads by September.
  • Tier-1 Eastern markets saw sharp revenue spikes in the Battler subgenre, while Third-Person Shooters maintained dominance through established titles like PUBG Mobile.
AppMagicFeb 2021
Cover of Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review December 2020
Article

Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review December 2020

The mobile game market in December 2020 was characterized by a widespread adoption of Battle Pass monetization models and a high volume of seasonal holiday events across major global regions.

  • Tencent successfully launched Call of Duty: Mobile in China in December 2020, where it immediately secured a top-10 grossing position following over 70 million pre-registrations.
  • The Chinese mobile market saw a rare concentration of three shooter games—Game for Peace, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Crossfire—simultaneously occupying the top 10 grossing charts, all of which are published by Tencent.
  • Apple removed approximately 39,000 game applications from its China store in December 2020 due to the lack of required government-issued licenses.
GameRefineryJan 2021