We all knew that mobile games were valuable, but now there’s an updated number we can lean on. In a recent report published by Adjust (in collaboration with AppLovin) it was revealed that in 2023, the mobile gaming sector made up 49% of the total revenue generated by the global games market. That’s equal to a whopping $90.4 billion – and it was further revealed that ad spending in mobile games is set to reach a staggering $103 billion by the end of 2024.
Mobile games are dramatically valuable and have long made up the most lucrative portion of the market. Some of the highest-earning games ever made are free-to-play mobile games – I’ll let that sink in for a moment. In 2023, consumer spending on the plethora of mobile games available on the market exceeded $107 billion – console-based gaming comparisons don’t even come close.
Over time, more developers and publishers are opening their doors – and their coffers – to mobile games. From Ubisoft to Electronic Arts and from Rockstar Games to Activision Blizzard, everyone is talking or thinking about a mobile game or two to bolster offerings worldwide. In the last few years, the rise of handheld technology has taken mobile games from stigmatised, low-quality productions to top-tier, AAA games with budgets reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In the esports world, a mobile revolution has been taking place, with some top-shelf handheld-based games quietly taking over the more traditional titles. Until the League of Legends World Championship in 2023 secured a new record, the title for the most-watched esports tournament in history went to Free Fire, a free-to-play mobile battle royale game.
The report published by Adjust and AppLovin confirmed that almost 50% of the total revenue generated by gaming in 2023 was attributed to mobile games. It further revealed that app installs and sessions also rose, showing that more players are finding their way into the world of mobile gaming over time. The fastest-growing region for mobile gamers in 2023 was LATAM – but that region is skyrocketing where the esports industry is concerned, too.
In terms of a breakdown, it was shown that puzzle and action-based games and gaming apps ruled the roost in 2023. Between these two categories, 32% of all installs and 39% of all sessions were recorded. Coming in behind these industry leaders are sports games, ‘hyper-casual’ titles like Candy Crush, and board games. It’s obvious that action-based games are leading the charge, given that the category features games like:
With tech-focused manufacturers leaning heavily on advancements in gaming hardware to bolster their mobile-based offerings, the market is becoming increasingly intelligent and well-stocked. There are more mobile gamers in the world than on any other platform – and it’s still growing at an alarming rate.
If you’re interested in more about mobile games, check out the latest news that VALORANT Mobile has been approved in China.
For more mobile games news, stay tuned to Esports.net
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