August Mobile Data: Merge Games Surge, China's Market to Hit $59.8B by 2030
Sensor Tower data shows Gossip Harbor reached second in global revenue in August, while worldwide downloads hit 3.76 billion. China's games market generated $51.8 billion in 2025, with forecasts of $59.8 billion by 2030. The digest also highlights growth in merge match games and Asian publishers' expansion.
Merge games are demonstrating significant momentum, with the category expanding 84% year-over-year and Gossip Harbor capturing a 40% share of that segment. The title's August performance included $111 million in in-app purchases, a 64% annual rise in its user base, and a 17% improvement in revenue per daily active user, marking its strongest month to date.
China's market continues its steady climb, with 2025 revenue crossing $50 billion for the first time. Niko Partners projects the player base will reach 769 million by 2030. Meanwhile, app store submissions have roughly tripled since March 2025, reflecting lower barriers to entry even as competition intensifies across both major platforms.
The sharp rise in app submissions and Asian publishers' growing dominance could reshape competitive dynamics for independent developers, who may face greater difficulty gaining visibility in crowded stores. The expansion of merge games and China's rising market revenue may also steer investment toward genres and regions with proven returns. Players could benefit from more diverse offerings, though consolidation of market share among major publishers may ultimately limit long-term variety.