Shorooq Partners
esports expansion. Mobile‑first development dominates, with 70 % of developers prioritising data analytics and 50 % investing in AI tools. In‑app purchases, advertising and subscriptions drive revenue, with
British Esports, Ukie
revenue streams but require regulatory clarity and infrastructure investment. Coordinated action across stakeholders is essential to unlock the UK’s full economic and cultural potential in esports
Telekom Malaysia, Twimbit
highly spend‑active. eSports viewership is nascent but growing, with SEA tournaments ranking among the world’s most‑watched events; mobile eSports is expected to lead future growth
GamesBeat, Xsolla
Monster Hunter generating $215 billion in worldwide influence and $178.8 million in IP revenue, while mobile titles like Fate/Grand Order expand overseas earnings. The country’s mature domestic
Newzoo
posits that the sector is shifting toward an interconnected, cross-platform ecosystem where revenue diversification and creator-driven engagement models are essential for growth. While consumer skepticism persists
Newzoo
This analysis outlines the primary trends shaping the global games, esports, and mobile markets for 2021. The central thesis posits that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated engagement
Newzoo
The analysis projects that 2022 will be defined by a cautious expansion of emerging monetisation
Tencent
driven by cross‑platform titles such as Genshin Impact and the rise of esports and metaverse expectations. Geographically, China’s HK/Macau/TW region maintained RPG dominance but broadened
PayPal
study demonstrates that European esports audiences are expanding rapidly, with a projected 92 million viewers by the end of 2020 and a year‑over‑year growth
Lucidity Insights
Legacy hardware sales remain a key revenue driver, with story‑rich single‑player titles and console sales generating multi‑billion dollar revenues. However, the rise of subscription models
Niko Partners
also forced a rapid evolution in industry operations, particularly within the esports and development sectors. Esports tournaments successfully migrated to online formats, supported by municipal government initiatives
Epic Games
digital-first model, with digital sales accounting for 95% of total revenue. Marketing strategies now prioritize influencer partnerships and transmedia collaborations over traditional retail channels
Niko Partners
anime and manga aesthetics, with RPGs accounting for nearly half of its mobile revenue. South Korea leverages its robust 5G infrastructure and "PC bang" culture to sustain
Gaming in Turkey
burgeoning esports ecosystem supported by approximately 6 million followers and a national federation overseeing 165 licensed clubs. Turkey’s selection as the host for the Global Esports Games
Newzoo
This analysis explores the trajectory of the global games, esports, and mobile markets for 2021, forecasting a year of sustained engagement despite the easing of pandemic-related lockdowns
Newzoo
France represents a significant gaming market, ranking seventh globally in terms of revenue and fifteenth in total player count as of 2022. The French gaming population is highly
GWI
digital-first ecosystem where subscription services and digital sales dominate the market. Revenue models have transitioned accordingly, with in-game microtransactions and downloadable content emerging as the primary
Drake Star Partners
billion. Deal distribution spanned mobile ($1.5 billion), PC/console ($0.8 billion), platform/tools ($0.4 billion), esports ($0.3 billion) and blockchain/VR‑AR ($0.2 billion). Key investors included CVC, Blackstone, Tencent
Newzoo
United States represents the second-largest gaming market globally, generating $47.3 billion in revenue from a population of 191 million gamers. Research conducted in 2022 indicates that
SGA
produced about 2,200 titles that generated an estimated US$125 million in revenue. The majority of earnings—between 75 % and 100 %—derived from markets outside the country
Niko Partners
popular esports genres like MOBAs, recent policy shifts have transformed the landscape. Following the 2019 removal of most legal restrictions and the formation of the Japan Esports Union
Newzoo
South Korea represents the fourth largest gaming market globally by revenue, valued at $8.3 billion, with a highly engaged population of 33 million gamers. Research conducted
CESA – Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association
costs, employment, cross‑media context. | | Chapter 3 – User Trends | Player demographics, platform usage, esports, multi‑platform activity. | | Chapter 4 – CESA Activities & Member Initiatives | Overview of CESA‑hosted events
Stream Hatchet
successfully attracted high-profile creators through non-exclusive contracts and aggressive revenue-sharing models. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region remains the primary engine for mobile streaming growth, while
Gamota
Conversely, total in-app purchase (IAP) revenue grew by 3.13% month-over-month, with midcore revenue rising by 4.44%. This revenue expansion was driven primarily by long-lifecycle
InvestGame
Ludus, whose mobile titles have achieved multi‑million downloads and cross‑platform revenue streams exceeding $2 million. The mobile segment dominates, with Playrix, Easybrain, and Outfit7 leading
Lumikai, Lumikai Investment Advisors
suspension of major titles like BGMI and Free Fire, as in-app purchase revenue for other titles grew by 37%. A survey of over 2,000 users reveals
Newzoo
with 91% playing on mobile devices. Revenue for 2022 reached $2.2 billion, with RMG contributing over 50% of the total industry revenue in the preceding year. Demographic data
Stream Hatchet
highlights 10 peak moments that drew record concurrent viewership, underscoring the influence of esports and mobile‑game tournaments. Demographic analysis shows a persistent gender imbalance: only
Niko Partners
recalibrated growth, with total revenues across key sub-regions projected to reach significant milestones by 2025. China remains the dominant force, with revenues expected to hit $51.2 billion
The report argues that the MENAP region is poised to become a major hub for gaming, driven by rapid mobile‑gaming adoption, esports growth and an expanding local startup ecosystem. It identifies talent development, IP creation and cross‑industry collaboration as key levers for sustained expansion, while noting challenges such as technical upskilling, content localisation and stakeholder coordination.
Globally, the gaming market is shifting toward cloud‑based development and AI‑powered tools, with 68 % of studios already using AWS for Games and a projected $7.1 bn market by 2032. Generative AI is expected to reach a $7.1 bn valuation in gaming by 2032, growing at 23.3% CAGR, and private deals now account for 68 % of total investment activity. In MENAP, the market is projected to hit $2.8 bn by 2026 at a 10% CAGR, underpinned by mobile adoption and esports expansion.
Mobile‑first development dominates, with 70 % of developers prioritising data analytics and 50 % investing in AI tools. In‑app purchases, advertising and subscriptions drive revenue, with IAP rising 28 % YoY to $374.1 million and ad revenue up 6.1%. Platform shifts such as iOS SKAN 4.0 and Android privacy changes are reshaping monetisation strategies, while cloud‑gaming infrastructure is projected to grow 250 % by 2030.
Investment flows reflect these trends: seed‑stage funding in MENAP has reached $15 million across 20+ startups, and international firms target the region for free‑to‑play and Web3 opportunities. Funds like SHFT’s $15 million Gametech Fund aim to provide capital, expertise and networking to help local studios compete globally. The overall outlook indicates a 6.1% YoY revenue growth for global and MENAP gaming, with a 15 % rise in mobile gaming and a 43 % share captured by platform‑based titles.
This chart compares the year-over-year growth rates of the mobile game industry for iOS and Android platforms across three periods: 2019 vs. 2020, 2020 vs. 2021, and 2021 vs. 2020. It highlights a significant contrast in performance, showing positive growth for both platforms in the first period, followed by a decline for iOS and a continued, albeit slowing, growth trend for Android in the subsequent periods.
