The mobile gaming industry is set to grow by $8 billion annually through 2029, reaching $156.5 billion. The U.S. and China will account for nearly 55% of this revenue. With 2.4 billion users by 2029, mobile games continue to thrive, driven by emerging markets, rising user spending, and innovative monetisation strategies.
The mobile gaming sector, once a disruptive force within the video game industry, has proven itself to be a key driver of overall market growth. Despite concerns that mobile gaming’s rapid expansion might slow, forecasts suggest that the industry is far from plateauing.
In fact, mobile games are projected to see consistent and substantial growth, generating $8 billion in additional revenue annually until 2029.
This marks a significant milestone as the global gaming industry is poised to surpass half a trillion dollars in total market value by 2025, with mobile games accounting for a substantial portion of this growth.
Consistent Revenue Growth in Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming’s growth trajectory remains impressive, even after more than a decade of market dominance. According to Statista’s market forecast, mobile gaming generated $118.5 billion in revenue last year, with expectations to grow by 6.4%, reaching more than $126 billion by 2025.
This surge reflects the resilience and ever-expanding reach of mobile gaming, driven by the platform’s inherent accessibility. With easy entry points, engaging social features, and increasingly addictive gameplay, mobile games continue to outperform traditional console and PC games in terms of user engagement and market share.
The mobile games industry has proven to be a robust pillar of the gaming market, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the entire sector’s revenue. Despite signs of saturation in some regions, it remains a key revenue contributor with sustained momentum. By the end of the decade, the mobile gaming industry is expected to reach $156.5 billion in revenue, marking a 32% increase from current levels.
Rising Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
In addition to the overall growth in revenue, the average amount spent by each user is set to rise steadily. In 2024, global mobile gamers are projected to spend an average of $59 on gaming apps, with this figure expected to increase year by year. By 2029, the average spend per user is forecasted to exceed $65, marking an upward trend in both the quantity and quality of mobile gaming content.
This increase in revenue per user reflects mobile games’ ability to engage players more effectively, offering not only entertainment but also opportunities for monetisation through in-game purchases, advertisements, and subscription services. Developers are also focusing on creating more value-driven content, ensuring longer player engagement and improving retention rates.
Market Growth Driven by Emerging Economies
The growth of mobile gaming is not solely driven by established markets in the United States and China. While these two countries will continue to lead the charge in spending on mobile gaming, with the U.S. expected to reach $46.9 billion in revenue by 2029 and China projected to generate $38.5 billion, emerging economies are becoming increasingly influential in expanding the market. As new players from developing regions come online, the global mobile gaming base is expected to grow by an estimated 100 million users each year.
In total, the global user base for mobile games is anticipated to reach 2.4 billion by 2029, up from 2 billion today. This means that over the next five years, more than 400 million new players will join the ranks of mobile gamers. These new entrants are expected to contribute significantly to the overall growth of the industry, with many coming from mobile-first regions where access to smartphones is becoming increasingly ubiquitous.
U.S. and China Dominate Mobile Gaming Market Share
The United States and China will continue to be the primary drivers of revenue in the mobile gaming sector. By 2029, these two markets are expected to account for nearly 55% of global mobile gaming revenue, highlighting the dominance of North America and Asia in this space. The U.S. is expected to see a 37% increase in revenue, while China will see a 31% growth, underscoring the strong demand for mobile gaming in these regions.
