We’ve looked at mobile gaming before, and it’s not new news that mobile gamers are whales. How else can the industry rake in billions despite the fact that almost everyone says they never make in-app purchases? However, perhaps like the whale population as well, the numbers are rising.
That’s right, back in November 2015 I told you that only 2.8% of all mobile gamers spent money in apps. Most surprisingly, 67% of those people were men aged 21-35. Well, now there’s new data in town, and it appears that more gamers are spending money in apps.
Our data showed that only about 3.5% of gamers spend money in-app, but those users are big spenders, spending 30 times more than the average gamer (paying and non-paying) with $9.39 vs. $0.32 a month per gaming app.
As expected, iOS users spend a lot more money than Android users, nearly 2.5 times more. Plus, iOS users are 50% more likely to spend any money than Android users. This aligns with my anecdotal experiences – most Apple users are fine with paying for the odd app or game, whereas almost every Android user I know flat out refuses. I’d just be curious about the age and gender of these whales – has the number gone up with more women making purchases, or are those categories still pretty much the same proportion but just more people whipping out their credit cards?
This also explains more about why companies go out of their way to take care of the big users and spenders. There really aren’t that many of them, but they are responsible for most of their income. It makes sense, then, that some companies add specific cosmetic upgrades or items based on other interests of their whales.
I have bought a few games and apps over the years, but still never made any in-app purchases. Are any of you whales?
Last Updated: July 1, 2016
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 14:09
…
VampyreSquirrel
July 1, 2016 at 14:13
I thought of that when I saw the header… then you post this…
Ottokie
July 1, 2016 at 14:20
Make things awkward?
That’s my cue!
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 14:24
Pic or it didn’t happen!
Ottokie
July 1, 2016 at 14:25
I will get banned O.o
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 14:38
I’ll allow it
VampyreSquirrel
July 1, 2016 at 14:12
In app purchases… not even once…
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 14:24
…warframe plat?
VampyreSquirrel
July 1, 2016 at 14:51
sorry… *Mobile in app purchases… not even once…*
Technically Warframe plat is a website based purchase… not in app.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 1, 2016 at 14:20
Thanks whales, you bloated plankton sucking pieces of floating blubber. Thanks for making MT a thing leading to making lootbox purchases possible in Overwatch
http://66.media.tumblr.com/bf86fb01be876d0c9f487baefa24f181/tumblr_mn51iqrnAE1r4gei2o3_500.gif
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 14:24
Calling Kromas a whale?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 1, 2016 at 14:27
Does he swim in the ocean and is he being chased by the Japanese?
The Order of the Banana
July 1, 2016 at 14:30
Not really, although I’ve bought some platinum for Warframe once, but I figured the devs made such an awesome game, that I would gladly give them a tip.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 1, 2016 at 14:31
But you didn’t spend $9.39 a month on platinum. That makes you a dolphin… or bananaphin 😛
konfab
July 1, 2016 at 14:32
I don’t speak “whale”
Someone should go and find Dory
http://www.fusionviralvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/dory-speaking-whale2.jpg
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 1, 2016 at 14:40
Lesson one:
https://cache-content.credit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tips-for-paying-off-credit-card-debt.jpg
Dane
July 1, 2016 at 14:58
Anyone here a fan of Artix Entertainment? It’s a browser based development country. I love their style and their games, so I bought founder packs for their eventual mobile apps. Coming to roughly $30.
Fox1 - Retro
July 4, 2016 at 10:44
Android users are just smarter 😛