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STORE INTELLIGENCE · CRAIG CHAPPLE · SEPTEMBER 2021

Genshin Impact Generates $2 Billion on Mobile in First Year

Genshin Impact had a more successful first year on mobile than Pokémon GO and Lineage M, Sensor Tower data shows.

Genshin Impact Generates $2 Billion on Mobile in First Year main image feature

Genshin Impact from miHoYo has generated approximately $2 billion in worldwide player spending across the App Store and Google Play in the year following its official launch on September 28, 2020, Sensor Tower Store Intelligence data shows.

During its first year, Genshin Impact was the No. 3 revenue generating mobile game globally, not including spending through third-party Android stores, behind Tencent’s Honor of Kings at No. 1 and PUBG Mobile at No. 2, and above Pokémon GO from Niantic at No. 4 and Roblox from Roblox Corporation at No. 5. Excluding China, Genshin Impact ranked as the No. 1 top grossing mobile game worldwide, ahead of Pokémon GO at No. 2 and Roblox at No. 3.

Top Grossing Mobile Games Worldwide Between September 28, 2020 and September 27, 2021

Genshin Impact has had one of the most successful mobile game launches ever. The title took less than six months to reach its first $1 billion, faster than the nine months it took Pokémon GO and the 10 months it took Lineage M from NCSoft to achieve the same milestone. In its first full year, Lineage M picked up close to $1.2 billion, while Pokémon GO accumulated $1.1 billion.

Global Impact

China ranked as the No. 1 market for player spending in the mobile version of Genshin Impact during its first year, generating approximately $577 million to date, or 28.6 percent of total global revenue, via iOS alone (Sensor Tower does not track spending on third-party Android stores, such as those found in China). Japan ranked No. 2 with 23.7 percent of player spending, while the United States rounded out the top three with approximately 21 percent of revenue.

The App Store accounts for the majority of global revenue, picking up 61.8 percent of player spending due to the title’s popularity in China. Google Play, meanwhile, accounts for 38.2 percent of revenue. Outside of China, however, Google Play takes the lead, representing 53.6 percent of player spending, while the App Store makes up 46.4 percent.

Game Changer

Genshin Impact has been a groundbreaking release, riding the trend of cross-platform titles and changing expectations of what kinds of experiences are possible on mobile with its expansive world. Hot on the heels of what is its best month ever, Genshin Impact looks to have a long and positive future ahead, having already become one of the highest grossing mobile games ever in just the span of a single year.


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Craig Chapple

Written by: Craig Chapple, Mobile Insights Strategist, EMEA

Date: September 2021