Steam wishlists allow users to add games they want, receiving notifications for launches, discounts, and updates. Friends can see and gift from these lists. Recently, the value of wishlists has been debated as developers aggressively push users to add games, leading to fake or low-intent wishlists.
This report explores the data behind wishlist importance in 2025, questioning whether they still reflect genuine purchase intent or have been diluted by gaming the system.
Scaling a gaming app to 1 million users requires AI-driven user acquisition with personalized creatives and playable ads, cross-platform storytelling, and influencer collaborations. Retention relies on adaptive content, community building, localization, and deep linking for seamless re-engagement. Hybrid monetization combining IAP, subscriptions, and ads with dynamic pricing optimizes revenue. Advanced analytics and predictive insights enable real-time campaign optimization. Decision-makers should prioritize AI and machine learning for UA and retention, implement deep linking for frictionless user journeys, and leverage data-driven monetization strategies to sustainably scale and retain a large player base.
The mobile advertising industry is optimistic heading into 2025, with 80% of marketers expecting the year to be as strong or stronger than 2024. Non-gaming apps are driving growth, with downloads up 12% YoY and IAP revenue increasing 20%+. Marketers are prioritizing profitability and ROAS, with over half reporting more aggressive KPIs. Generative AI is already benefiting creative production and optimization. iOS re-engagement remains underleveraged, and most marketers are still adapting to SKAN. Budgets are increasing, with a focus on ad networks and self-attributing networks.
Ultra casual games are emerging as a dominant force in mobile gaming, offering simple, satisfying gameplay and ad-based monetization. They generate significant revenue through high-volume ad impressions, rewarded video, and interstitial ads, with some titles earning $50k-$70k daily. Vietnamese studios lead the market due to cost-effective development and data-driven optimization. For ad ops decision-makers, the key takeaway is the potential for high-reach, low-CPM campaigns in markets like Vietnam, aided by MMPs for accurate attribution.
Unity trademarks are owned by Unity Technologies. Other names and brands are trademarks of their respective owners. This notice clarifies trademark rights in advertising.
2024 mobile gaming revenue reached $80B on App Store & Google Play (+4% YoY), with casual, casino, and strategy genres showing double-digit growth. Key 2025 trends include user-level monetization customization, IP-driven games reducing CAC, AI-powered personalized gameplay, programmatic CTV maturing with greater accountability, and puzzle game dominance in markets like Vietnam. Decision-makers should focus on live-title optimization, genre expertise, and cross-platform programmatic strategies.
Mobile CPI and app store fees are eroding ROAS, making web gaming a viable acquisition channel. Full Unity-to-HTML5 ports now deliver 30-50% lower CAC and avoid 15-30% store revenue cuts via web payments. Measurement parity is here: AppsFlyer enables independent attribution, conversion signals, and unified reporting. Retention can improve; one strategy title jumped from 6-7 minutes mobile to 70+ minutes web. Best fit: deep RPG, strategy, puzzle, story games, not hypercasual. Action: audit catalog, pilot web ports, link accounts cross-platform, and use owned media to drive high-intent web users.
This article notes that Unity, its logos, and trademarks belong to Unity Technologies. Other brands are trademarks of their respective owners. It's a legal disclaimer found in advertising contexts.
For ad ops decision-makers, in-app bidding is now the dominant mobile ad monetization approach, comprising ~80% of typical setups. It outperforms waterfall by automating demand prioritization, driving higher eCPM and ARPDAU through real-time competition. Hyper-casual games benefit from high fill rates and efficiency; casual games leverage hybrid IAP/IAA with bidding for volume; mid-core/hardcore games see premium eCPM without latency. Ad networks like Moloco offer 100% direct demand, enhancing transparency and revenue. Starting A/B testing and transitioning from waterfall is recommended for future-proofing monetization.
Automotive advertisers are shifting budgets toward localized digital acquisition as domestic growth slows. In China, pre...
Breakout game launches are increasing, driven almost entirely by indie studios. 76 titles sold 500k+ paid units in their...
Sensor Tower’s 2026 game ad report shows ad ops must manage more creative volume, not just bigger budgets. Top US mobile...
Target’s 2026 back-to-school retail media campaign became more concentrated: impressions fell 66% YoY to 781M and partic...
The holiday retrospective shows three distinct ad ops plays. Coca-Cola doubled spend (+110%) and impressions rose 91%, c...
Mobile finance is outpacing broader app trends: global finance app downloads are projected at 8.9B in 2026 (+6% YoY), wi...