Once upon a time, gaming was simple. You could play video games on your computer, a handheld device, console or an arcade game. You needed to have the right equipment (e.g., device, console, controller, PC, keyboard, etc.) and a purchased or rented game. Since the earliest video games like Pong, Space Invaders and Pac-Man, gaming options have increased exponentially with the expansion of the console market, downloadable games, gaming apps and now gaming subscriptions. You no longer have to own a game to play it.
As the video game market expanded, so have the ways that developers can monetize their work. In addition to outright purchases, developers have monetized games through in-app purchases on free-to-play games, game-themed item crates like Loot Crate, and through video game subscriptions through console services Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo Switch Online and PlayStation Plus and via individual developer or game subscriptions like EA Play and Fortnite Crew. Gaming monetization options continue to evolve and expand as developers and console makers get more creative to get their share of the growing video game market.
In this 127-page Subscription Insider STAT PACK, we’ll look at gaming revenue worldwide by device, the leading gaming markets, top free-to-play games, downloadable content, gaming subscriptions, and in-game monetization leaders.
Gaming Monetization Table of Contents
Overview
Gaming revenue worldwide 2021, by device
Leading gaming markets worldwide 2020, by revenue
Games market revenue share worldwide 2021, by segment
Most popular gaming business models among developers worldwide, 2020
Share of worldwide mobile app revenues 2019, by channel
Leading mobile app monetization methods worldwide 2019
Free-to-play (F2P) games
Leading F2P games worldwide 2020, by revenue
F2P mobile games revenue worldwide 2018-2021
F2P PC games revenue worldwide 2018-2021
F2P console games revenue worldwide 2018-2021
Highest monetizing F2P mobile game genres worldwide 2020
Premium games
Leading premium PC and console games worldwide 2020
U.S. household expenditure on video games 2011-2019, by type
Premium PC games revenue worldwide 2008-2025, by category
Premium console games revenue worldwide 2018-2021
In-app purchases
Mobile gaming monetization through ads and IAP 2020, by genre
Mobile gaming monetization through ads and IAP 2020, by region
Average number of IAP gaming app transactions per payer 2020, by genre
Average value of IAP gaming app transactions per payer 2020, by genre
Player spend on mobile strategy game in the U.S. 2020
Fortnite Mobile player spending worldwide 2020
PUBG mobile player spending worldwide 2021
Roblox player spending worldwide 2020
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp player spending worldwide 2020
Most popular mobile games for microtransactions among kids in the U.S. 2020
Parents’ opinions on kids’ making in-app purchases in the U.S. 2020
Measures to prevent microtransactions in games by parents in the U.S. 2020
Downloadable content (DLC)
Share of gamers who buy DLC in the U.S. 2019
Share of gamers who buy DLC in the U.S. 2019, by game
Average spend on DLCs in selected video games in the U.S. 2019
Average spend on DLCs in the U.S. 2019, by type
DLC popularity in the U.S. 2019, by type
Most popular games for DLC among female gamers in the U.S. 2019
Most popular games for DLC among male gamers in the U.S. 2019
Global video game loot box market value 2020-2025
U.S. MMO gamer in-game purchase spend on cosmetic items 2020
U.S. MMO gamer in-game purchase spend on non-cosmetic items 2020
U.S. MMO gamer lifetime in-game purchase spend 2020
U.S. console gamer loot box purchase reasons 2019
Most common loot box content according to U.S. console gamers 2019
Top games for loot box purchases according to U.S. console gamers 2019
U.S. console gamer average lifetime loot box spend 2019
Gaming subscriptions
Number of PlayStation Plus subscribers worldwide 2014-2021
Number of Xbox Live MAU 2020
Electronic Arts (EA) EA Play user reach as of Q3 2021
Usage of monthly video gaming subscriptions worldwide 2020
Usage of monthly video gaming subscriptions in the U.S. 2020
Acceptable price point of gaming subscriptions in the U.S. 2020, by gamer
Acceptable price point of gaming subscriptions in the U.K. 2020, by gamer
Impact of monthly video gaming subscriptions worldwide 2020
Gaming platforms used by subscribers to gaming services worldwide 2020
Spotlight: in-game monetization leaders
Activision Blizzard (ATVI) net revenue 2014-2020, by composition
Activision Blizzard (ATVI) net revenue as of Q2 2021, by composition
Ubisoft global net bookings share as of FY 2010-2021, by segment
Electronic Arts (EA) net revenue as of Q1 2022, by composition
Electronic Arts (EA) net bookings as of Q1 2022, by composition
