Pokémon Unite

The State of MOBA Mobile Games 2021

This analysis explores the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) sub-genre within the mobile gaming market, focusing on its rapid financial growth and competitive landscape.

• The mobile MOBA market is a 'winner-takes-all' environment dominated by Tencent, Supercell, and ByteDance, making it difficult for new entrants to succeed without established brand recognition.
• Global MOBA player spending reached approximately $2 billion in the first half of 2021, with Asia accounting for 84 percent of total revenue.
• Honor of Kings is the industry leader with over $10 billion in lifetime revenue, while Pokémon Unite set a sub-genre record with 15 million downloads in its first two days following its September 2021 launch.