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Report
Mobile Gaming Report 2020
The mobile gaming landscape in the United States and Canada experienced significant growth throughout 2019, with active player populations reaching 214 million. This demographic represents a substantial portion of the general population, as nearly three-quarters of all individuals in these regions engage with mobile games. Engagement is particularly high among younger demographics, with 93 percent of children aged 2 to 17 and 70 percent of adults over the age of 18 playing on mobile devices. The average time spent gaming on mobile platforms has increased to approximately nine hours per week, reflecting a shift toward more frequent and sustained play sessions across all age groups. Revenue trends indicate a maturing market where monetization is increasingly driven by a small but highly active segment of the population. While the majority of players engage with free-to-play titles, approximately 45 percent of mobile gamers reported making in-app purchases over the past year. This spending is concentrated in specific genres, with puzzle and strategy games continuing to dominate the charts in terms of total consumer expenditure. Furthermore, the rise of subscription services and battle pass models has begun to stabilize revenue streams, providing developers with more predictable long-term financial outcomes compared to traditional one-time microtransactions. Technological advancements and the expansion of hardware capabilities have broadened the scope of the industry, allowing for more complex, "core" gaming experiences on handheld devices. The data, collected through a combination of consumer surveys and point-of-sale tracking, suggests that mobile platforms are no longer viewed solely as secondary devices for casual play. Instead, they have become primary gaming hubs for a diverse audience. As 5G technology begins to roll out, the potential for cloud gaming and high-fidelity multiplayer experiences is expected to further integrate mobile gaming into the broader interactive entertainment ecosystem, bridging the gap between mobile and traditional console or PC gaming.
NPDJan 2020
Report
2018/2019 Gamer Segmentation Report
The 2018/2019 gamer landscape reveals a highly diversified ecosystem where engagement patterns are increasingly defined by platform synergy and monetization preferences rather than age or gender alone. This analysis identifies distinct consumer archetypes across the United States, ranging from casual mobile users to high-spending enthusiasts who anchor the industry’s growth. A primary finding indicates that the average time spent gaming has increased significantly, with the most engaged segments dedicating over fifteen hours per week to interactive entertainment. This shift reflects the transition of gaming from a niche hobby into a dominant pillar of the broader media landscape. Data suggests that cross-platform play has become a critical driver of retention, as consumers who engage with titles across console, PC, and mobile devices demonstrate higher lifetime value and brand loyalty. The research highlights that while mobile gaming maintains the largest reach in terms of total player count, the core console and PC segments contribute disproportionately to total industry revenue through a combination of premium software purchases and recurring microtransactions. Specifically, the rise of live-service models has stabilized revenue streams, allowing publishers to monetize long-term engagement through seasonal content and cosmetic upgrades. Demographic trends show a narrowing gap in participation across age groups, though spending habits remain distinct. Younger cohorts prioritize social connectivity and competitive multiplayer environments, whereas older segments lean toward solo experiences and puzzle-based mobile titles. The methodology relies on extensive consumer surveys and point-of-sale data to map these behaviors, providing a comprehensive view of the North American market during the 2018 to 2019 period. Ultimately, the findings underscore a market where success depends on understanding the nuanced motivations of different player personas, particularly as the industry moves toward a more integrated, digital-first distribution model.
NPDJan 2019