Google Play overtakes Nintendo and Sony handhelds on mobile game spending – report

22 Aug 2013

As mobile gaming continues to shift away from dedicated devices from veterans Sony and Nintendo, the Google Play and iTunes App Store are reaping the benefits.

According to the latest Portable Gaming Report from IDC and App Annie, worldwide consumer spending on the Google Play store has overtaken that of the Nintendo 3DS and Sony’s PlayStation Vita for the first time, while Apple remains No 1 in this regard.

Combined, the iOS App Store and Google Play are raking in four times as much game revenue as these dedicated mobile gaming devices, marking a continued shift in this space.

In Western Europe, however, spending on handheld consoles actually increased in Q2 2013.

App Annie and IDC portable gaming report

Source: App Annie & IDC Portable Gaming Report, Q2 2013

In the app stores, games are the key driver of growth, according to the Q2 figures, representing about 40pc of downloads on both the iOS and Android platforms. They’re also the chief money-makers, as more than 70pc of app revenue in both app stores come from games.

App Annie and IDC portable gaming report

Source: App Annie & IDC Portable Gaming Report, Q2 2013

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com