At the end of last month, Kunlun Tech released its 2024 financial report, introducing two new revenue segments: "AI Software Technologies" and "Short Drama Platforms.” The latter proved particularly noteworthy, generating over RMB 167 million (approx. $23 million), accounting for 2.96% of total revenue. Among these, DramaWave, launched in the second half of 2024, received prominent attention. According to the report, by the end of March this year, the app had achieved an annualized revenue run rate (ARR) of approximately $120 million and surpassed 10 million monthly active users (MAUs), placing it among the top five players in the sector. Launched in September 2023, DramaWave entered a market already dominated by early movers such as ReelShort, ShortMax, and DramaBox, all […]

Here is an analysis of the global non-gaming app user acquisition marketing trends for April 2025, based on ad data from 50 countries/regions and 28 global media platforms, according to AppGrowing's report. In April 2025, tool apps surpassed shopping apps to become the most heavily represented category among actively advertised non-gaming apps. Tools also accounted for the highest share of newly launched ad campaigns, comprising nearly 14% of all new advertising apps this period.Finance maintained its position as the third-largest category by active app volume. Despite maintaining a significant lead in total ad volume, the shopping category experienced a sharp decline, with ad impressions falling below 10 million. Entertainment, tools, and lifestyle apps followed in the rankings. Ad creatives continued […]

At the end of April, Kakao Games officially launched the international version of ODIN:VALHALLA RISING—a Norse mythology-themed MMORPG developed using Unreal Engine 4. The game originally debuted in South Korea in 2021, where it continues to rank among the top-grossing titles. This strong domestic performance has set high expectations for its global release. This article analyzes ODIN:VALHALLA RISING’s international advertising strategy using data from AppGrowing. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, ODIN:VALHALLA RISING ran a total of 1,086 ads across 15 regions and 7 ad platforms.The majority of placements were in-feed ads, accounting for over 64%, followed by native ads at more than 16%. As for ad creatives, the mix between video and image formats was nearly even. Within the video segment, […]

At the end of April, NetEase officially launched the mobile version of its open-world survival game Once Human. Prior to its mobile launch, Once Human had already exceeded 20 million PC downloads globally, with 30 million pre-registrations for the mobile version, according to official figures. This article analyzes the game’s advertising strategy based on data from AppGrowing. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Once Human ran a total of 4,052 ads across 42 regions and 11 ad platforms.The majority of placements were in-feed ads, accounting for over 41%, followed by rewarded videos at over 37%. In terms of creative formats, video dominated the campaign, making up nearly 86% of all ad creatives. Vertical videos alone accounted for close to 39%. Advertising […]

HABBY, the publisher behind global hits like Archero, Archero 2, and Capybara Go!, each of which has surpassed $100 million in revenue, is back with a new title—Wittle Defender. Given the studio’s track record of success, this latest release has naturally drawn industry attention. This article leverages AppGrowing data to analyze Wittle Defender’s advertising strategy in detail. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Wittle Defender has run a total of 2,621 ads across 14 regions and 9 ad platforms. The majority of creatives were in-feed ads, accounting for over 76% of the total, followed by rewarded video ads, which made up over 15%. In terms of ad formats, video made up more than 90% of total creatives, with vertical videos alone accounting […]

On April 22, Level Infinite’s FPS title Delta Force launched across multiple global markets. The game is an officially licensed revival of the classic FPS IP Delta Force, and it shot to the top of the U.S. iOS free games chart on launch day. This article uses AppGrowing data to analyze Delta Force’s advertising strategy. Advertising Overview According to AppGrowing, Delta Force has launched a total of 3,239 ads, spanning 56 regions and 10 ad platforms. The majority of placements were in-feed ads, accounting for over 47%, followed by rewarded video ads, which made up more than 36%. In terms of creatives, Delta Force focused heavily on video formats, which represented more than 75% of total ads. Vertical videos dominated, […]

Jujutsu Kaisen Phantom Parade is a role-playing game based on the Jujutsu Kaisen IP, launched by BILIBILI in November. After release, the game quickly rose to the top of the U.S. iOS free game chart. This article will use AppGrowing data to analyze its advertising strategy and uncover the reasons behind its success. Advertising Strategy According to AppGrowing data, Jujutsu Kaisen Phantom Parade has run a total of 7,906 ads across 26 regions and 8 advertising platforms. Over the past month, 4,838 ads were placed, with a daily peak on October 11, reaching over 1,300 ads. The primary format is in-feed ads, making up nearly 70% of placements. The benefit of in-feed ads is their seamless integration into users' browsing […]

In H1 2024, the global mobile game advertising market continued to show signs of recovery. Over 6,000 new mobile games launched advertising campaigns in the second quarter, marking a significant increase from the first quarter. However, if we look back at the data from 2023, it is evident that since Q4 2023, there has been a steady decline in ad volume in the global mobile gaming market. Game developers are adopting a more cautious approach to user acquisition through advertising, reflecting the increasing competition in the international mobile game advertising arena. Despite this, as advertising has become a standard method for acquiring users, game companies still place significant emphasis on marketing. Meanwhile, Chinese developers remain actively engaged in overseas markets, […]

In the fast-paced world of mobile gaming, where user attention is a scarce resource, the art of advertising has become as crucial as the games themselves. At AppGrowing, we've been closely monitoring these trends, illuminateing the path for developers and marketers alike, and guiding them through the labyrinth of modern advertising strategies. AppGrowing's latest white paper, "Strategy and Creativity on Mobile Game Advertising 2024 Q1", distills the essence of what's working, what's new, and what's next in mobile game advertising. In this article, we'll share a glimpse into our findings and how they can empower your marketing efforts.   Click to Access the Full PDF The Hybrid Casual Revolution The hybrid casual game is emerging as a powerhouse in the […]

Here is AppGrowing's analysis of the global mobile game advertising markets in March 2024, based on advertising data from 25 global media platforms in 50 countries/regions.   01 Advertising Trend   In March, the weekly mobile game ad volume was above 2M. App volume remained above 25K, with increased competition. Creative volume was stable and grew slightly, above 500K in a single week. Both ad volume and app volume peaked at the beginning of the month. Over 1.77M ads on March 3, a significant increase from February. App volume peaked at 22,870 on March 4th. Looking at the markets, the Top 3 are North America, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe. North America accounted for 33.9% of ad volume. Latin America, Japan & Korea also accounted for more […]