Seoul, July 9
Mobile game sales generated from South Korean companies fell 13 per cent from a year earlier in the first half of 2025, industry data showed on Wednesday.
Combined sales of local gaming companies from January to June totaled 3.3 trillion won ($2.4 billion), down from 3.8 trillion won a year earlier, according to market tracker Sensor Tower, reports Yonhap news agency.
The number of downloads reached 222 million in the six-month period, down from 245 million a year ago.
By platform, sales made via Apple's iOS accounted for 26.4 percent of total sales for South Korean mobile games, up slightly from 24.1 percent in the first half of 2024, while sales via Android declined to 73.6 percent.
In terms of individual titles, NCSOFT Corp.'s Lineage M ranked first in global sales, followed by China's Whiteout Survival.
Three other newly released Korean titles made it to the top 10 list, marking the first time multiple Korean titles became top sellers since the market tracker started compiling relevant statistics in 2014.
Meanwhile, the head of US gaming giant Epic Games said the company has dropped an antitrust lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. involving the blocking of software originating from sources outside of app stores of Google and Samsung on the South Korean tech company's mobile devices.
"We're dismissing our court case against Samsung following the parties' discussions. We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic's concerns," Tim Sweeney, chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Epic Games, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Epic Games, best known for popular online shooter Fortnite, had filed the lawsuit last year in the U.S. over a feature on Samsung devices that automatically blocks the installation of apps from sources outside the Google Play Store and Samsung's own Galaxy Store, according to the report.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The drop in Android sales is surprising. In India, almost everyone uses Android phones. Maybe Korean developers should focus more on optimizing for Android to regain market share.
As a game developer myself, I think this shows the market is becoming more competitive globally. Indian studios have a chance now if we can create quality games with our cultural stories.
The legal battle between Epic and Samsung is more interesting than the sales figures. Consumers should have freedom to install apps from any source they choose. Good that Epic stood their ground!
Maybe the decline is because of PUBG ban in India? That was one of the most popular Korean games here. Our government should support local alternatives like FAU-G.
The article mentions new Korean titles in top 10 - that's impressive! But I wish Indian games would also make it to global charts. We have so much potential with our mythology and history.
While the sales decline is notable, let's not forget that $2.4 billion is still massive. The gaming industry remains strong, just going through natural market fluctuations.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.