Mobile Gaming Vs Console Gaming Statistics 2023: Revenue, and Market Share

In 2021, the mobile gaming industry earned over $90 billion, accounting for more than half of the global gaming market, but dropped down to $81.3b in 2022. In the same year, console games generated approximately $51 billion in revenue, and reached $60.8 billion in 2022, which is still a substantial portion of the global gaming market.

Comparing revenue between these gaming platforms is crucial for understanding the content that players enjoy most and where they are willing to spend their money. This helps game developers determine which platform to focus their resources on.

With that said, let’s dive into more numbers and explore how mobile devices and consoles stack up against each other in the gaming world!

Mobile Gaming Vs Console Gaming Statistics:

1. Mobile games generated an estimated $89.6 billion revenue in 2021, accounting for more than half of the global gaming market. With iOS generating $52.3B of the total.
2. As of 2021, there were around 3.2 billion mobile gamers worldwide, and this number is projected to reach 3.6 billion by the end of 2023.
3. On average, mobile gamers spend 37 minutes per session playing mobile video games.
4. In 2021, mobile games generated approximately $79.6 billion through in-app purchases, representing a substantial portion of the total revenue.
5. About 96% of all mobile games are free-to-play, and game developers are relying on in-app purchases for generating revenue.
6. Approximately 49% of mobile gamers are female, indicating a relatively equal split between male and female players.
7. The majority of mobile gamers fall into the 25-34 age range, followed by the 35-44 age range. With a rise in older age groups, such as those aged 45-54 and 55-64.
8. The most popular genres include puzzle games, strategy games, action games, and simulation games. These genres consistently rank high in terms of downloads.
9. The mobile eSports market is projected to reach $3.1 billion in revenue by 2025, driven by the popularity of games like PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends.
10. Approximately 60% of mobile gamers enjoy playing games with others.

1. In 2021, console games generated approximately $51 billion in revenue, and reached $60.8 billion in 2022, accounting for a huge portion of the global gaming market.
2. As of 2021, there were around 731 million console gamers worldwide, with the majority concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia.
3. Sony’s PlayStation 5 sold over 13.4 million units, while Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S sold over 6.5 million units as of 2021.
4. On average, console gamers spend about 6 hours per week playing games on their consoles.
5. In 2021, digital game downloads accounted for approximately 75% of total console game sales, surpassing physical console game sales.
6. Around 70% of console gamers engage in multiplayer gaming, online or locally with friends.
7. The majority of console gamers fall into the 18-34 age range, followed by the 35-54 age range. However, those aged 13-17, are also active in console gaming.
8. Game genres like action, adventure, sports, and first-person shooter games are among the most popular and console gaming.
9. PlayStation VR, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, has sold over 10 million units.
10. Console eSports has gained traction in recent years. Major eSports events and leagues feature popular console games like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Overwatch.

These mobile gaming vs console statistics provide insights into the scale, revenue, player demographics, and trends within these gaming industries.

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Revenue Comparison: Mobile Gaming Vs Console Gaming

In recent years, mobile gaming has become a significant player in the gaming industry. According to a report by Newzoo, mobile games generated $77.2 billion in global revenue in 2020, while console games generated $45.2 billion.

This trend is expected to continue, with mobile gaming projected to reach US$286.50bn in 2023 and account for 59% of the global video game market’s total revenue. The increasing popularity of mobile devices and advancements in technology have made it easier for people to access and play games on their smartphones where ever they are.

Console Gaming Still Generates Significant Revenue

Despite the growth of playing games on mobile devices, console gaming continues to generate substantial revenues. While console games may not be as profitable as mobile games. They offer higher-quality graphics and immersive gameplay experiences that are difficult to replicate on mobile devices.

Mobile Games Market Vs Console Sales

While both mobile and console gaming industries generate considerable revenues. There is a notable difference in their growth rates. Mobile gaming has consistently shown higher year-over-year growth rates than console gaming.

According to App Annie’s State of Mobile report from 2021, consumer spending on mobile games increased by 25% YoY globally compared to an increase of just 6% YoY for gaming consoles. This indicates that while console gaming remains popular among gamers worldwide; its growth rate is relatively stagnant compared to the mobile game industry.

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Growth of Mobile Games Revenue in Recent Years

Mobile games have become a lucrative industry, with annual revenues hitting billions of dollars. In 2020, mobile gaming revenue amounted to $77.2 billion, up from $63.2 billion in 2019. This represents an increase of approximately 22% year-on-year.

The growth of the mobile games revenue can be attributed to several factors such as advancements in mobile device technology and increased accessibility to smartphones like the ASUS ROG gaming phone and the Razer phone devices, like the Kishi V2, and off course tablets. With more people owning mobile devices today than ever before.

Factors Contributing to the Growth of Playing Games on Mobile

One major factor contributing to the growth of playing games on mobile devices is the rise of free-to-play games. Companies have adopted this business model, which allows players to download and play games for free but then charges them for in-game items.

Another factor contributing to the growth is the popularity of multiplayer games such as PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile. These games allow players to connect and compete with others from around the world, providing a social aspect that many gamers crave.

Many smartphone manufacturers like Huawei, and ASUS have also contributed significantly to the growth by developing high-end smartphones specifically designed for gaming.

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Mobile Game Downloads Vs Console Game Sales

While console gaming still dominates in terms of game sales figures, mobile game downloads have surpassed console game sales by a significant margin. In 2020 alone, there were over 56 billion game downloads on both iOS and Android platforms combined.

In contrast, console game sales amounted to $45.2 billion worldwide in 2020 according to Statista.com. While this figure may seem impressive, it is in no comparison to mobile gaming revenue. Digital downloads alone for consoles will surpass $46.2 billion by 2024.

3 Mobile Game Download Statistics:

1. Among Us: Among Us, a social deduction game developed by Inner Sloth, gained immense popularity in 2020. According to Sensor Tower, Among Us reached over 264 million downloads globally across iOS and Android devices in its peak year.
2. Pokémon GO: Pokémon GO, developed by Niantic in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, is a location-based augmented reality game. Since its launch in 2016, Pokémon GO has accumulated over 632 million downloads worldwide.
3. Subway Surfers: Subway Surfers, an endless runner game developed by Kiloo, has been a consistent hit since its release in 2012. As of 2021, the game has achieved more than 2.7 billion downloads across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

3 Console Game Sales Statistics:

1. Grand Theft Auto V: Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), developed by Rockstar Games, has achieved remarkable sales across multiple console platforms since its release in 2013. As of November 2020, GTA V has sold over 140 million copies, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.
2. Minecraft: Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios, is a sandbox game that has seen tremendous success on consoles. As of June 2020, Minecraft has sold over 200 million copies across all platforms, including consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, developed by Nintendo, was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch console in 2017. As of September 2020, the game has sold over 21.45 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch platform.

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Comparing the Number of Console Gamers vs Mobile Gamers

Number of mobile gamers is consistently growing. As of 2021, there were around 3.2 billion mobile gamers worldwide, and this number is projected to reach 3.6 billion by 2023. And by 2027, the number of mobile gamers is expected to reach a 2.32bn users.

As of 2021, there were around 731 million console gamers worldwide, with the majority concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia. However, as of 2022, this number dropped by 22% to 611 million users, mainly due to the end of the COVID restrictions.

Factors Contributing to the Growth of Mobile Gaming Revenue

One of the main factors contributing to the growth of mobile gaming revenue is its accessibility and convenience. With almost everyone now owning a smartphone, with over 6.5 billion smartphone users in the world, representing 85% of the global population.

As mobile games are easily accessible to users who can now play games anytime, and almost anywhere without having to carry a bulky device. Moreover, mobile games offer a wide range of genres that cater to different interests and preferences.

Lower Cost Compared to Consoles

Another factor contributing to the success of mobile gaming is the lower cost compared to consoles. Purchasing a console can be quite expensive, and most mobile games are free to play. This affordability makes it easier for gamers who cannot afford high-end consoles.

In-app purchases have also become a popular way for game developers to monetize mobile games, offering players additional content and features. This business model has proven successful as users are ok to spend money on in-game items to enhance their experience.

Increase in Smartphone Usage Worldwide

The increase in smartphone usage worldwide has also played a significant role in the growth of mobile gaming revenue. According to Exploding topics, there are 6.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, with this number projected to grow further in the coming years.

As smartphones become more advanced with better graphics capabilities and processing power, they can handle more complex video games that rival console-level experiences. As such, developers are investing more time into creating high-quality mobile games that offer immersive gameplay experiences comparable to those found on gaming consoles.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, our mobile gaming vs console gaming statistics show that mobile gaming revenue has been growing at a faster rate than console gaming revenue. This trend is expected to continue to grow exponentially in the future, with mobile gaming continues to surpass console gaming in terms of both market share and revenue.

Factors contributing to the growth of mobile gaming revenue include the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets, and other accessories for gaming laptops, as well as advancements in technology that allow for more complex and immersive games on mobile devices.

Overall, while console gaming still has a dedicated fan base, it is clear that mobile gaming is rapidly becoming the dominant force in the gaming industry.

Thanks For Reading, Gamers!