Vungle

Organization

4 documents

Documents

In-Game Events Snapshot

The snapshot presents a comprehensive overview of in‑game event strategies across the global mobile gaming market, focusing on seasonal and promotional collaboration events. It establishes that 90 % of the top‑grossing 100 mobile titles deploy seasonal events, while 40 % of US iOS top‑100 games feature brand collaborations. These events are highlighted as key drivers for player re‑engagement, new user acquisition, and revenue spikes, with examples such as Sky: Children of the Light’s Kizuna AI partnership and Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite event, which each generated multi‑million daily revenue surges. The report details the taxonomy of events—UI changes, limited‑time offers, playable content, and special bundles—and identifies profitable revenue streams: time‑limited skins, character drops, themed currency, and gacha mechanics. Seasonal calendars list major holidays (Christmas, Lunar New Year, Halloween) and region‑specific observances (Double Five in China, Sakura season in Japan), underscoring the importance of cultural relevance. Geographic scope covers North America, China, and Japan, with data on event adoption rates: 51 % of Chinese top‑100 games and 62 % of Japanese top‑100 games use promotional collaborations, compared to 42 % in the US. Methodology relies on GameRefinery’s SaaS platform, aggregating revenue and event data from thousands of titles. Key conclusions emphasize that events remain a differentiator for high‑performing games, offering scalable monetization and cross‑brand synergy. The snapshot recommends that developers evaluate event fit against audience demographics, content alignment, and potential for brand partnership to maximize engagement and revenue.

monetization live-ops global

GameRefineryJan 2021

Report

Market Snapshot: Q2 2021 US, China & Japan

The snapshot presents a Q2 2021 mobile‑games market analysis across the United States, China, and Japan, focusing on genre dynamics, publisher performance, feature‑update cadence, and player motivations. In the U.S., strategy titles have risen to parity with puzzle and casino genres, while puzzle share has slipped; in Japan, sports dominate and continue to grow, whereas RPGs decline. China shows a reversal from Q1, with RPG regaining share and shooters falling. Supercell’s resurgence is highlighted by the strong performance of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, pushing its market share above King’s; Cygames captures over 9 % of Japan’s market with Umamusume Pretty Derby, and Leiting Games nearly doubles its share in China. Feature‑update frequency has increased 37 % YoY, with strategy games leading at a 208 % rise. Live events and limited‑time IAP offers have surged 143 % and 122 %, respectively, becoming key engagement tools across puzzle, RPG, and strategy titles. The report also maps player archetypes to motivations: skill‑masters dominate competitive PvP, shooters and sports appeal mainly to men aged 25–44 seeking fast‑paced action, while casino games attract older players drawn to jackpot thrills and collectible mechanics. Methodologically, the analysis draws on iOS revenue data, publisher share tables, and a proprietary motivation survey of 7 000 English‑speaking mobile gamers. The findings underscore shifting genre preferences, the importance of frequent content updates, and nuanced player motivations that inform monetization strategies.

market-analysis china japan+1

GameRefineryJan 2021

Report

In-Game Events Snapshot: November 2021

The snapshot focuses on in‑game events as a revenue and player‑engagement lever for mobile titles across the globe. It argues that seasonal events dominate the top‑grossing segment, with 90 % of the highest‑earning 100 games deploying them, while partnership events are rising in the U.S. iOS market to 40 % of top titles. The report cites case studies such as Sky: Children of the Light’s collaboration with Kizuna AI and Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite, illustrating how themed content can trigger daily revenue spikes of up to $1.25 million in a single day. Geographic coverage spans North America, China, and Japan, with regional calendars highlighting public‑holiday events (e.g., Lunar New Year in China, Sakura season in Japan) and culturally specific celebrations (Double Five, Double Eleven). The data show that events not only re‑engage existing players but also attract new audiences, especially when aligned with brand demographics. Monetization analysis points to time‑limited skins, character bundles, and event‑specific gacha as the most profitable streams. Methodologically, the analysis draws on GameRefinery’s SaaS platform, aggregating revenue and player‑activity metrics from thousands of titles. Sample sizes are implied by the “top 100” focus, while event performance is measured through daily revenue, in‑app purchase volume, and player retention metrics. The report concludes that as the mobile market expands, event design will become increasingly critical for sustaining growth and differentiating titles in a crowded ecosystem.

monetization live-ops global+1

VungleJan 2021

Report

Market Snapshot: Q2 2021 US, China & Japan

The snapshot analyzes Q2 2021 mobile game performance across the United States, China, and Japan, focusing on genre dynamics, publisher influence, feature updates, and player motivations. In the U.S., Strategy games gained the most market share, overtaking Puzzle while RPG titles declined; China reversed its Q1 trend with RPG regaining share and shooters falling, whereas Japan saw Sports solidify dominance. Supercell’s resurgence is attributed to Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, while Cygames captured over 9 % of Japan’s market share with Umamusume Pretty Derby, and Leiting Games nearly doubled its China share. Feature‑update cadence rose 37 % YoY, with Strategy games experiencing a 208 % increase. Live events and limited‑time IAP offers surged 143 % and 122 %, respectively, becoming key monetization levers across Puzzle, RPG, and Strategy titles. The report also maps player archetypes: Skill Master and Thrill Seeker dominate U.S. top‑grossing games, with shooters and sports appealing mainly to men aged 25–44, while casino titles attract a broader age range. Methodologically, the analysis draws on iOS revenue data, genre‑level market share calculations, and a proprietary motivation survey of 7 000 English‑speaking mobile players. The taxonomy employed classifies games into Category → Genre → Subgenre, enabling granular insights into genre performance and feature adoption. Overall, the snapshot highlights a shift toward strategy‑heavy, update‑intensive titles and underscores the importance of live events for sustaining engagement and revenue.

market-analysis usa china+1

VungleJan 2021