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Report
Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021
The report examines the mobile shooter genre in the United States, focusing on iOS revenue and market dynamics for 2021. It establishes that shooters rank sixth in the U.S. iOS market, contributing roughly 6 % of total revenue. The removal of Fortnite from the App Store in August 2020 is highlighted as a pivotal event that shifted market share toward the “Big Three”—Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Garena Free Fire. Garena Free Fire’s growth is quantified: its quarterly revenue more than doubled, and it now holds a 28.6 % share of the shooter market, nearly matching Call of Duty’s 28.2 %. The report notes a prolonged stagnation in new shooter releases; no game launched in the past two years has entered the U.S. top‑grossing 200, and only one new title appears in the top 500. Key monetization patterns are identified: battle passes, limited‑time gachas, and frequent cosmetic drops drive revenue. Call of Duty: Mobile’s update history demonstrates a high cadence of content, including new modes, events, and a revamped zombie mode. Garena Free Fire’s monetization relies on a layered gacha system with “Luck Royale” events and store crates. PUBG Mobile’s collection incentives—Show Room and Season Gallery—encourage cosmetic accumulation. The report projects potential disruption from upcoming titles such as Valorant Mobile, Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier. It questions whether these IPs can replicate the content velocity and monetization depth of the current leaders, noting that success will depend on sustaining large user bases and delivering continuous content.
Game RefineryJan 2025
Report
Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021
The report examines the mobile shooter genre in the United States, focusing on iOS revenue and market dynamics for September 2021. Shooters rank as the sixth‑largest genre, contributing roughly 6 % of iOS revenue. A key disruption was Fortnite’s removal from the App Store following the Epic‑Apple lawsuit, which created a vacuum that the “Big Three” – Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Garena Free Fire – filled. Garena Free Fire experienced exponential growth, more than doubling its quarterly revenue and achieving a market share near 30 %, matching Call of Duty. The genre has remained stagnant in terms of new entrants; no shooter released in the past two years entered the top‑grossing 200, and only one new title appeared in the top‑500 over a year ago. The analysis highlights monetization patterns: battle passes, limited‑time gachas, and frequent cosmetic drops drive revenue. Content cadence is high; top shooters release new skins, maps, and modes regularly to sustain player engagement. Upcoming titles such as Valorant Mobile, Apex Legends Mobile, Battlefield Mobile, and Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier could challenge the incumbents, but their success will depend on matching the content frequency and monetization depth of current leaders. Methodologically, data derive from GameRefinery’s proprietary taxonomy and market analytics, supplemented by a 7 000‑respondent survey of mobile gamers in English‑speaking Western markets. The report provides a concise snapshot of market share, growth trends, monetization strategies, and future competitive pressures within the mobile shooter segment.
Game RefineryJan 2021