Mobile gaming revenue slows as Asia dominates growth; Google Play submissions double

Global mobile gaming revenue edged down in August despite sustained player engagement across major titles. Consumer spending totaled $6.57bn, down 1% month-on-month, according to Sensor Tower data.

Gossip Harbor, a merge title from Microfun, achieved a milestone by claiming second place worldwide by revenue in August. The game generated $111m in in-app purchase revenue with a 64% year-on-year increase in user base and a 17% rise in average revenue per daily active user. Honor of Kings retained the top spot, followed by Whiteout Survival, Royal Match and Candy Crush Saga in the top five.

The merge match 2 category grew 84% year-on-year, with Gossip Harbor holding a 40% share of that market. Fate/Grand Order led the growth chart, driven by its 11th anniversary celebration.

Asian publishers demonstrated clear market dominance, occupying 18 of the top 20 spots on the global breakout revenue chart as they expand beyond core games into midcore and casual titles. Tencent-owned or published titles claimed five of the top 10 growth spots, led by Teamfight Tactics and Valorant. Zeus: The God of Arrogance entered the worldwide top 10 after topping revenue charts in South Korea.

Downloads reached 3.76bn in August, up 1% month-on-month. Roblox and Free Fire held first and second position overall, while Gangstar Mirage City, which topped the growth chart after its multi-region rollout, climbed to seventh overall. Gangster Miami RP also saw rising engagement amid anticipation for GTA 6.

China's games market generated $51.8bn in 2025, up 5.4% year-on-year and past $50bn for the first time. Niko Partners forecasts the market will reach $53.9bn in 2026, growing to $59.8bn by 2030 at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 2.9%. Average revenue per user hit $70 in 2025 and is projected to reach $77.68 by 2030.

Google Play submissions accelerated significantly, rising from 46,136 in March 2025 to 111,047 in July 2026. The Apple App Store saw similar growth, increasing from 46,889 to 117,648 over the same period.