AppCharge research estimates the direct-to-consumer (DTC) market for mobile games reached approximately $17 billion in 2025, derived from Newzoo's $113.3 billion in-app sales figure. The report finds a median 15% revenue increase among DTC adopters, with most companies still in exploration or testing phases. Key motivations include bypassing app store fees, building direct player relationships, and improving monetization. AppMagic projects 26% year-on-year DTC growth in the US, with Monopoly Go cited as a notable example. AppCharge's CEO predicts DTC will become the standard operating model for top studios within a few years, with large publishers eventually generating over 50% of revenue through direct sales.
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