Worldwide Mobile and Handheld Gaming Forecast, 2024-2028: Spending Rebound Expected Next Year

This IDC study sizes and assesses the mobile and handheld console gaming marketplace worldwide through 2028. The forecast includes four regional breakouts: North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific (AP), and the rest of the world (ROW). Mobile and handheld console device installed bases, monthly active user (MAU) bases, storefront and distribution dynamics, average revenue per user (ARPU), in-game ad revenue, and other key trends are assessed. Market drivers and inhibitors, M&A deals, and leading mobile game developer/publisher dynamics are addressed as well."Global spending on local mobile games fell 3.7% last year, but we're projecting a 2.5% spending rebound in 2024 to $107.3 billion. We also anticipate that improving macroeconomic conditions and other factors will lead to significantly higher growth rates in 2025 and 2026." - Lewis Ward, research director, IDC's Gaming, eSports, and VR/AR services