According to Sensor Tower’s data, US users’ spending on apps has exceeded spending on games in the Apple Store for the first time since 2014. Although non-game spending decreased by 2.5% in the second quarter of 2022, this did not prevent it from getting ahead of App Store games.
In the second quarter of 2022, applications accounted for 50.3% of the revenues in the App Store. Non-game revenues on the App Store have increased 900% since June 2014. Game revenues also showed a small decline in 2022 compared to previous years. When all these factors came together, the application market appeared to be more profitable than the game market in the second quarter.
Subscriptions are the most critical source of app revenues
Monetization methods used in games can be more diverse according to applications. Despite this, we have been encountering various subscription systems in applications lately, and these subscriptions significantly increase revenues. According to Sensor Tower, more than 400 apps reviewed use the subscription system more effectively than games.
The most downloaded app in the US is TikTok, and the most downloaded game is Subway Surfers. US users use the App Store more than Google Play and prefer it as the primary store. The App Store accounts for the majority of US downloads for apps and games.
The combined revenues of TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are greater than some countries’ economies. Games like the newly released Apex Legends or the older Subway Surfers also generate big revenues. While US users see games as an activity for leisure such as travel or vacation, they prefer to use applications as a part of their daily lives.
You can find more details on the subject in the Sensor Tower report.
