Gamma Data: Long-term products drive growth, China's gaming market size in April increased by 21.93% year-on-year

According to Zhitong Finance APP, Gamma Data recently released the "April 2025 Monthly Report on China's Game Industry (Full Version)." In April 2025, the scale of China's game market reached 27.351 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 21.93% and a month-on-month increase of 2.47%. The main growth driver for the market this month may come from long-term products (operating cycle ≥ 1 year), benefiting from related activities such as collaborations and new seasons, leading to a significant increase in revenue for some long-term products.

Cross-platform products are an important source of growth:

Client games market achieves double growth in revenue month-on-month and year-on-year

In April 2025, the scale of China's client games market was 5.799 billion yuan, with a month-on-month growth of 3.75% and a year-on-year growth of 2.78%. The incremental growth in the client games market this month was mainly provided by cross-platform products (where client and mobile platforms share accounts, data, etc.), while non-cross-platform products saw a decline in revenue this month. Among cross-platform products, "Honkai: Star Rail" performed well in the market, with anniversary events and version updates attracting many new and returning users, resulting in a month-on-month revenue increase of over 100 million yuan for the game client; additionally, the launch of new season-related activities and version updates also led to revenue growth for cross-platform games such as "Delta Force" and "Zero Zone."

Long-term products and new releases jointly drive growth:

Mobile games market revenue increased by over 28% year-on-year

In April 2025, the scale of China's mobile games market reached 20.424 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 28.41% and a month-on-month increase of 3.07%. In the mobile games market, long-term products performed well this month, with significant revenue growth for some leading products. For example, "Honor of Kings" saw a nearly 60% month-on-month revenue increase, mainly due to the launch of the S39 new season at the beginning of the month, collaborations with the Sanrio family, and the collaboration event with "Nezha: The Devil's Child," as well as benefits during the "May 5th Blackout Festival" such as free limited skins, no star loss for team play, all heroes free access, and discounts in the mysterious shop; "Naruto" launched a wandering samurai-themed event on April 25, allowing players to obtain Lin Nohara (Wandering Traveler) for free, reaching the TOP3 on the iOS bestseller list that day and maintaining it for four consecutive days. In addition, new releases (defined as products launched or returning to the mainland market after the same period last year) also contributed to the year-on-year growth of the market, such as "Dungeon & Fighter: Origin," "Endless Winter," and "NBA All-Star."

Gamma Data Mobile Game Revenue Ranking TOP10:

"Honkai: Star Rail" Rises 20+ Places

TOP2 Product Ranking Remains Unchanged

In April 2025, according to statistics, "Honkai: Star Rail" rose 23 places to rank 7th in the Gamma Data Mobile Game Revenue Ranking TOP10, becoming one of the products with the largest increase this month.

The revenue of "Honkai: Star Rail" increased by over 300% month-on-month, possibly related to the anniversary celebration event (starting April 26) and the 3.2 version update (new character 'Xia Die'). The anniversary celebration event attracted many new and old users with benefits such as physical art books and free characters. The 3.2 version "Walking Through the Flower Fields of Sleep" and new characters "Xia Die" and "Na Ke Xia" have also gained high popularity.

"Naruto" saw a month-on-month revenue increase of over 50% due to the launch of the fourth season 'Wandering Samurai' (including the new ninja 'Uchiha Obito: Wandering Traveler' and limited skins), ranking 8th in the Gamma Data Mobile Game Revenue Ranking.

iOS Channel Download Ranking TOP10:

Two New Games Enter the Rankings, "Delta Force" Tops the List

In April 2025, "Delta Force" ranked first in the Gamma Data iOS Channel Download Ranking TOP10, with new games "Seven Days World" and "Master Comes Down the Mountain" entering the rankings.

"Delta Force" started a new season in April, introducing new maps, operators, weapons, vehicles, and limited-time gameplay along with a new season pass. The game has consistently ranked within the TOP10 of the App Store's free games list, achieving first place three times.

In April, both new games entered the iOS Channel Download Ranking TOP10 within 15 days of their launch, with "Seven Days World" entering just one week after its release. "Seven Days World" features a supernatural apocalyptic theme, "new horror stories" style, and SOC (open-world survival building) gameplay, adapted from the same-named PC game, which has accumulated over 10 million global players. The mobile version performed strongly in its early launch. "Master Comes Down the Mountain" adopts an ink wash cultivation theme, with estimated revenue exceeding 60 million yuan in the first month.

Analysis of Hot Game Advertising Investment

"Zhangmen Xia Shan"

"Zhangmen Xia Shan" adopts a cultivation theme and was launched on April 17. The game's advertising investment peaked on April 17 and April 20; during the statistical period, "Zhangmen Xia Shan" reached a highest ranking of 16 on the App Store's best-selling games list. In terms of advertising format, the game primarily used information flow ads, which accounted for 62.41%.

Top 5 Revenue Rankings for New Games in the First Month:

Sci-Fi Themed New Game Tops the List

The estimated revenue for the top 5 products in their first month is all below 100 million yuan.

In April 2025, according to Gamma Data's revenue estimation list for new games in their first month (excluding client revenue), the sci-fi themed new game "Star Era" ranked first, with the estimated revenue for the five games in their first month all below 100 million yuan (including iOS + Android).

"Star Era" is set against the backdrop of alien mech wars, incorporating strategy gameplay while also integrating various gameplay styles such as RTS and tower defense. It collaborates with "Nantianmen Project," "Starship Troopers," and "Devouring the Stars," with the "Nantianmen Project" collaboration mechs 'Bai Di' and 'Cheng Ying' having a usage rate exceeding 40% in the first week. It entered the App Store's best-selling games list TOP 20 twice, on the first day of open beta on April 17 and after the version update on April 25.

Top Products Contributing Incremental Revenue:

Self-developed overseas market revenue increased by 9.62% to $1.554 billion

In April 2025, the actual sales revenue of Chinese self-developed games in the overseas market was $1.554 billion, an increase of 9.62% year-on-year, but a decrease of 4.4% month-on-month. The year-on-year growth was driven by long-term products such as "Last War: Survival Game" and "Whiteout Survival."

Changes in the overseas game market:

"Honkai: Star Rail" ranks first

"Kingshot" continues its growth trend In April 2025, the top 10 overseas market product revenue growth saw "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Kingshot" occupying the top two positions.

"Honkai: Star Rail" achieved a peak revenue since its anniversary celebration on the first day of the anniversary event and new version activities launched in April, with overseas revenue surging over 130%.

After its launch in February, "Kingshot" has seen continuous revenue growth, with a month-on-month increase of over 180% this month. The game still adopts the "SLG + sub-gameplay" model that is a specialty of DianDian Interactive, and it features a medieval theme. Based on the successful experience of DianDian Interactive's "Whiteout Survival," its SLG framework has been validated for medium to long-term retention capabilities.

In April, "Mahjong Soul" launched a collaboration event with the theatrical version of "Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel]" in the Japanese market, introducing characters and decorations such as "Sakura Matou" and "Rin Tohsaka." The product's revenue in the Japanese server skyrocketed to nearly six times that of March, ranking first on the iOS game bestseller list in Japan on April 24