Summary

The global mobile gaming market has seen substantial growth, with mobile gaming revenues reaching $93.2 billion worldwide in 2021, led by smartphone games at $81.5 billion and tablet games accounting for over half of total gaming revenues. The market is expected to record an average annual growth rate of 12.3% between 2021 and 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably accelerated growth, with over 1.2 billion mobile game downloads in a single week in March 2020.

In France, a similar upward trend has been observed, with sales peaking in 2020 due to store closures. Major players such as Tencent, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts dominate the market, although there is room for new entrants, particularly in Europe. Free-to-play models, supported by in-app purchases, are the main revenue generators, accounting for 98.4% of the sector's revenues. Market innovation is evident in services such as Apple's Arcade, which offers subscription-based access to exclusive games.

In France, regulatory control guarantees consumer protection and data confidentiality, with the CNIL ensuring compliance. Mobile gaming has also expanded into the realm of e-sports, with tournaments such as the Arena of Valor World Cup 2022, with prize pools of up to $8 million, testifying to the sector's lucrative potential and growing appeal.

Mobile gaming in France: Riding the waves of technological innovation and cultural change

France has carved out a remarkable niche for itself in the burgeoning mobile games sector. The mobile games market, which essentially comprises games played on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, has grown not only financially, but also culturally. Born from a simple version of Tetris in 1994, the mobile games market experienced a meteoric rise in the late 2000s with the smartphone revolution. Born of the idea of downloading games directly from a phone's application store, a concept inaugurated by Apple's App Store in 2008, the mobile games sector now includes more than eight games, each of which has generated sales in excess of one billion dollars.

According to Newzoo, a market intelligence company, by 2021, the mobile games sector alone will contribute over $180 billion in sales, overtaking the console and PC games markets. Strikingly, more than half the revenues of the entire video game sector are attributed to mobile games. Smartphones are the champions of these revenues, taking the lion's share with over $80 billion, followed by tablet games with a substantial $11.7 billion. France mirrors the global craze for mobile games.

While the lockdown-ridden year 2020 was the exception, with an exceptional rise in mobile game sales, 2021 also posted impressive figures. The free-to-play model reigns supreme in the sector. On the consumer side, Minecraft Pocket Edition and management simulation games like Soccer Manager, and even classics like Monopoly and GTA: San Andreas, topped the list of paid games in France, demonstrating the diversity of gaming preferences. Free-to-play games such as Coin Master and Brawl Stars topped the download charts, showing that the freemium model is succeeding in capturing users' attention.

COVID-19 acted as an unprecedented gas pedal for the market, triggering over a billion game downloads in just one week, at the height of the pandemic's closure. This substantial growth contributed to a 12% year-on-year increase for the video game sector as a whole. In particular, the pandemic prompted 32% of French gamers to play more often, especially those aged between 10 and 24, thanks to the benefits of distance learning.

The demographic profile of French gamers is predominantly adults, who account for 88% of the gaming population - a notable continuity with the widespread adoption of smartphones. Interestingly, gaming as a recreational activity is equally appealing to all socio-economic classes in France.

Dominating the virtual playground

In the ever-expanding world of mobile gaming, certain developers and publishers are monumental pillars shaping the landscape of this digital arena. These companies have not only captured the imagination of gamers the world over, but have also established themselves as innovators and market trailblazers. Their creations range from addictive puzzles to elaborate role-playing games, offering an escape into virtual worlds to millions of eager fingers.

  • Ubisoft: A pioneer of gaming adventures Ubisoft, a titan of the gaming industry, is renowned for its diverse portfolio of games that cater to a variety of tastes. From the adrenaline-packed action of Assassin's Creed to the enchanting realms of Rayman, Ubisoft continues to push the boundaries of mobile gaming with its creative prowess and commitment to delivering captivating experiences.
  • Gameloft: Mastering the art of mobile entertainment Gameloft is one of the pioneers of mobile game development, with a keen eye for what makes a game truly captivating. The company is behind popular hits that span a wide range of genres, inviting players to indulge in everything from high-speed chases in Asphalt to strategizing in Kingdoms & Lords.
  • Green Panda: The challenger in the making Green Panda, a rising force in the gaming community, continues to make waves. While not as massive as some of its competitors, Green Panda has made its mark with a steady stream of innovative and enjoyable titles, demonstrating that the mobile gaming ecosystem is ripe for growth and creativity.
  • Supercell: The strategist's arena Thanks to its strategy-focused approach, Supercell has won the hearts and minds of competitive gamers. Games like Clash of Clans and Clash Royale offer deep tactical gameplay that rewards intelligence and adaptability, ensuring that every match is as exciting as it is cerebral.
  • King: the sweet taste of addictive gameplay King, the name behind the cultural phenomenon Candy Crush Saga, has achieved almost iconic status in the world of mobile games. The company's talent for creating sweet puzzle games has won it a huge following, proving that simple, addictive gameplay can lead to global success.
  • Ankama: Unleashing the realms of imagination Ankama, another esteemed entity in the gaming sphere, is best known for its story-rich, artistic games such as Dofus and Wakfu. The developer infuses its games with distinctive artistic styles and expansive worlds, demonstrating a commitment to quality and originality.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 19/07/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Introduction and scope of study

The mobile gaming market covers video games playable on mobile devices, i.e. cell phones, smartphones, mobile tablets and cell phones. Mobile games are mainly dissociable from console games, whether portable or not, and PC games.

Created in 1994 with a version of the famous Tetris, the mobile game took on a predominant role in the video game market in the late the late 2000s thanks to the rise in popularity of smartphones, enabling games to be downloaded from the phone's application store. Apple's App Store in 2008 was the first of this initiative, revolutionizing the market to offer the beginnings of today's features.

By 2021, the mobile gaming market will account for over $180 billion in sales according to Newzoo, far more than the console gaming market. What's more, 8 games have passed the symbolic $1 billion revenue mark.

The mobile gaming market is expected to register a CAGR of 12. 3% over the period 2021-2026.

List of charts

  • Worldwide video game market revenue breakdown
  • Mobile game sales
  • Sales breakdown
  • Smartphone ownership by age
  • Percentage of players by age group
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Latest news

Gameloft reaps the rewards of its new video game strategy - 10/03/2023
  • In 2022, sales were €321 million, up 19.4%
  • Console and PC business accounted for 28% of total sales, compared with less than 15% the previous year
After a setback in 2022, the French video game market is back on track - 23/03/2023
  • The sector contracted by 1.6%, to 5.5 billion euros in 2022, according to Sell
  • PC game sales up sharply
  • Fifa is still in first place on all consoles, with over 1.7 million units sold last year, generating revenues of 107 million euros
  • - French video game market: 5.5 billion euros by 2022 - up 11% over 3 years
  • - Console segment: 2.57 billion euros in 2022
  • - Game sales: 1.63 billion
  • - PC segment: 1.55 billion euros
  • - Additional content sales: 2 billion euros
The French video game market awaits better days - 30/05/2023
  • French video game market down 1.6% in 2022
  • French video game market sales in 2022: 5.5 billion euros
  • World video game market decline in 2022: 4.6%
  • Hardware sales down in 2022: 10%
  • Increase in game sales in 2022: 6%
  • Nintendo Switch sales in France since launch: 7 million units
  • Sales of Fifa 23 (Electronic Arts) in France: nearly 60 million euros
  • Gameloft growth in 2022: 21
  • Share of Gameloft sales generated by consoles: 28%
  • Gameloft's target for console sales by 2026: 50%

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Ubisoft
Gameloft
Green Panda Games
Supercell
King Digital Entertainment
Ankama Games
Zynga
EA Mobile (Electronic Arts)
Niantic
Tencent
Nintendo
Rovio

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