Mobile games earn more than consoles and PCs combined

When we hear the word “gamer”, we usually think of a person wearing a Razer, RGB, maybe a little cheesy headset, banging away at a flashing keyboard in front of two or three monitors. We rarely think of someone typing Clash of Clans on their smartphone while riding the subway.

Yet according to a new report from a global game analytics firm NewZoo (Going through android font), 2021 market analyzes show that mobile games are disrupting the entire gaming industry. In fact, in the last year alone, mobile games brought in more revenue worldwide than dedicated console and PC games. combined.

To put it in numbers, the mobile gaming industry currently holds 52% of the market, and the total revenue it generated throughout 2021 was no less than $90 million. Additionally, mobile gaming is also the fastest growing industry and is only expected to continue to grow as smartphone ownership continues to rise globally.

Mobile games market share chart 1 - Mobile games earn more than consoles and PCs combined

Chart 1 of the mobile games market share

The rise of the universal Android operating system paved the way for this revolution, as it allowed developers around the world to create games for hundreds of different phones from hundreds of different manufacturers, all running the same operating system. exploitation.

And while Microsoft and Sony have kept a low profile when it comes to big game development throughout the pandemic lockdown, smaller-scale mobile developers have had their hands full creating entertainment for ever-growing audiences.

Surprisingly, the Chinese market brought in by far the largest share of total revenue, generating more than $30 billion in the past year. The United States, for comparison, took in $15 billion, while Japan earned just under $14 billion.

Mobile games market share chart 2 - Mobile games earn more than consoles and PCs combined

Chart 2 of the mobile games market share

China has many gaming software companies that have contributed its massive share, including miHoYo, developer of the viral Genshin Impact, and Tencent, which created Call of Duty, PUBG and other popular titles. The revenue generated by Chinese game companies amounted to $18 million.

According to NewZoo report, a surprising selection of emerging markets contributed to this figure, marking a significant shift in the global gaming industry. Latin America, Africa and the Middle East were noted as the fastest growing sectors. fast. And although they represent less than 10% of all gaming market revenue, their growth trajectory is expected to continue unchecked over the next few years.

Mobile game streaming and TikTok have proven revolutionary – and the ‘metaverse’ could become even more so

Facebook’s entire “metaverse” project, with Apple expected to be one of its biggest competitors in VR development, is set to fuel major gaming industry growth in the future, with gaming in virtual reality becoming the main center of social interaction.

Currently, mobile game streaming has become a dominant category in its own right on Twitch, with phones like the webcam-equipped one from Lenovo. Legion Phone Duel 2 creates technology specifically designed for mobile streamers.

Surprisingly, TikTok has also become a hub for mobile gamers, publishers and developers to create and share gaming content, further expanding the tight-knit online community of mobile gamers and content creators. According to NewZoo, Global viewership hours for TikTok’s top 100 gaming topics increased by 533% between 2020 and 2021.

Mobile Gaming Couple Illustration - Mobile gaming pays more than consoles and PCs combined

Mobile game couple illustration

The pandemic of the past two years has undoubtedly worked in favor of the gaming industry as a whole. With people around the world confined indoors for months at a stretch, they’ve had limited entertainment to pass the time.

And while not everyone owns a PlayStation or a powerful gaming PC, most people today own some sort of smartphone. More than 6 billion people, that is to say, according to Statistical. And that number is expected to exceed 7 billion by 2024, predicting unprecedented growth for the mobile gaming industry in the years to come.