Despite recent turbulence in the mobile games industry, data.ai's latest State of Mobile Gaming report reveals several positive trends and milestones achieved in 2023.

One significant highlight is that seven mobile games reached the $1 billion lifetime earnings milestone last year, marking the second-highest number in any single year after nine games achieved this feat in 2021. Moreover, 2023 tied with 2020, with both years seeing seven games reach this milestone, surpassing the pre-pandemic average of four per year since 2017.

Additionally, 2023 proved to be the most successful year on record for mobile apps surpassing $10 million in earnings. A total of 1,511 apps achieved this milestone, surpassing the 2021 record of 1,426 apps. Of these, 924 were mobile games, just one less than the 925 recorded in 2021.

This success is particularly remarkable considering that most regions have returned to pre-pandemic spending levels or even lower due to economic challenges. However, consumers have become more comfortable spending on mobile, especially evident in South Korea.

In South Korea, the average monthly spending on mobile games per user increased on both Apple's App Store and Google Play. On the App Store, the average spending per user rose to $7.29 per month in 2023, up from $6.47 in 2022. On Google Play, South Korea became the world's largest market for individual player spending, reaching $11.38 per month on mobile games.

Furthermore, established games continue to lead in revenue, maintaining stability, while consumer spending on new releases is gaining momentum in key markets such as the US, Canada, the UK, and China. In the US, average spending on new releases increased significantly from approximately $8 million to over $15 million, driven by popular titles like Monopoly Go, Whiteout Survival, and Honkai: Star Rail. Similarly, Canada, the UK, and China also witnessed increased spending on new releases compared to the previous year.

Overall, the mobile games industry is showing resilience and continued growth, with both established and new titles contributing to its success.

Source: adapted from an article by Aaron Astle, News Editor for PocketGamer.biz.