Google Play is the fastest growing volume app store in the world.
According to App Annie, it doubled overall revenue in the last half of 2012, although in absolute terms it remains some distance behind Apple's App Store.
Digging into the geographical detail, it's clear that (alongside the US) Japan and Korea are now the key markets.
Indeed, some commentators say that Japan is already the largest Android market in terms of revenue (including carrier transactions), and will become the largest iOS market in the coming months too.
Similarly, in Korea, the carriers have their own Android-based app stores, which are around the same size as Google Play in terms of generated revenue, suggesting App Annie's figures (in this case just being based on Google Play) are an underestimate.
All about games
Nevertheless, even dealing with App Annie's estimates, these two highly developed mobile market made up 50 percent of Google Play revenue in the period October to December 2012.
And what's really significant is these two markets are massively indexed for games.
95 percent of all revenue on Google Play in Korea was generated by games, while in Japan it's 88 percent and the US, a 'mere' 76 percent.
The moral of this story? It could be to dial back on China for the time being.
Instead, focus on Japan and Korea, and especially their fast-growing social mobile networks - KakaoTalk and Line.
[source: App Annie]
Chart of the Week
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
Related Articles
as
Chart of the Week
Aug 18th, 2016
How changing one screen led Games2Win to increase Parking Frenzy 2.0's retention by 5%
Chart of the Week
Jul 22nd, 2016
20% of the 106 million US mobile gamers account for 62% of time spent playing
Top Stories
News
12 hours, 29 minutes ago
Reverse: 1999 celebrates one year in China with $74 million and "semi-anniversary" in the West
Feature
May 29th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: The industry has its say on Squad Busters ability to draw in “untapped audiences” with its “influence from a range of genres”
Feature
May 29th, 2024
Supercell's big Squad Busters mistake and how they're missing out on millions
Events
Indie Craft K-Game Festival 2024 | Europe | May 31st |
Indie Game Fest & Indie Campus 2024 | Europe | May 31st |
Game Access Conference 2024 | Europe | May 31st |
GDCy Fest 2024 | May 31st | |
BostonFig Online 2024 | Jun 1st | |
GameSummit Summer 2024 | Jun 1st | |
Gaymer Pride | North America | Jun 1st |
Gotland Game Conference 2024 | Nordic | Jun 3rd |