We zoom in on the publishers who led the app economy in 2018 in our annual rankings.
Today, we’re pleased to announce the top publishers of 2018.
As is tradition at App Annie, we assign each publisher with a playing card, creating a custom deck of cards comprised of the winners - forming the Top 52. Earning a spot on this Top 52 is a special honor, reserved for the top-earning publishers globally on the iOS and Google Play stores.
The full list is below:
Focusing on the Top 10
There are typically few changes in the top 10 publishers each year. China’s Tencent took the top spot for an impressive third consecutive year; NetEase (China) retained its spot in 2nd place; Activision Blizzard (United States) climbed one spot to third; while Japan’s Bandai Namco broke into the top five for the first time leapfrogging three places into 4th; and South Korean powerhouse Netmarble rounded out the top companies in 5th place. The only new addition to the top 10 in 2018 is Playrix, which jumped two places to 9th.
Asia-Pacific Dominates
Over the last few years, we have seen Asia-Pacific (APAC) publishers dominate the Top 52 and this year was no exception. Seven of the top ten publishers are headquartered in APAC: the top 2 are both Chinese, while four Japanese publishers found their way into the top 10. Meanwhile, South Korea is represented by powerhouse Netmarble. Further down the list, an impressive 33 of the Top 52 in 2018 were APAC publishers.
The Data Behind the Rankings
The App Annie 52 is comprised of the top 52 earners by combined iOS and Google Play consumer spend from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 inclusive. Revenue rankings are based on revenue earned from paid downloads and in-app purchases on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. They do not include revenue earned from in-app advertising or subscriptions outside app store channels.
To track downloads and revenue for the world’s top apps, and millions more, be sure to sign up for a free App Annie Intelligence account today.
February 26, 2019
data.ai News