US smartphone gamers will spend $18.83 billion on virtual goods this year, a massive sum compared with the $0.78 billion they’ll spend on subscriptions. These intangible assets make up a growing industry in the gaming world, especially as more companies—from Nike to Spotify to Chipotle—enter the metaverse via games like Roblox.

US mobile gaming ad revenues will reach $6.26 billion in 2022, up 14.0% from $5.49 billion in 2021. Healthy double-digit growth will continue through 2024.

Mobile app gaming has managed to hold on to its pandemic-driven success and then some, reversing our previous predictions that time spent gaming with mobile apps would decline in the US after 2020.

Brand interest in video games is rising, especially with the buzz around the metaverse. This report will look at the different ways developers monetize video games, and which of those methods are the most useful for marketers.

Though video gaming has been around for decades, it was the entertainment of choice for many during the pandemic.

People are fine with mobile ads—maybe more so than they were a few years ago. For instance, since 2017, there’s been an increase in the number of gamers who prefer free apps with ads, per April 2017 and February 2022 survey data from Tapjoy’s “Modern Mobile Gamer 2022: Dev & UA Edition” report. As the value of users rises, the in-app consumer experience becomes more important for app developers.

On one hand, regulators see China’s success in this burgeoning space as being in their best interest, as illustrated by the establishment of the Metaverse Industry Committee by state-backed China Mobile Communications Association. Several cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Hefei are also incorporating the metaverse into their five-year development plans.

HBO Max is making a show based on Sony-owned “The Last of Us”; Netflix has several video game adaptations like “Arcane”; Paramount+ has adapted Halo (which was created by Bungie); and Amazon is also working on an adaptation of (now Microsoft-owned) “Fallout.”.

Sony’s future gaming fortunes are in PC titles: The PlayStation maker is betting big on ports of its games on Windows PCs, a market where console rival Microsoft is already a dominant player.

Apple's introduction of AppTrackingTransparency in iOS 14.5 changed how the mobile app industry approaches monetization and measurement. Here’s what you should know about the changes, along with best practices for mobile publishers and advertisers.

Advancements in high-speed mobile communications, boosts in augmented reality (AR)-enabled shopping, and technological advancements in QR code recognition will fuel future growth. New marketing channels for QR codes are emerging. These include interactive TV, vehicle screens, public transit, billboards, product packaging, store shelves, buildings, shopping bags, and business cards.

Consumers are worried about the surge of ads in gaming: Xbox and Sony both have in-game ad programs in the works, and consumers aren’t thrilled.