Reports

China's mobile gaming market - including revenues from both single-player and multi-player games - increased approximately 45% YoY to reach roughly RMB 113 billion (USD 16.8 billion) in 2017. In 2017, mobile games adapted from popular IP (e.g. films, novels, PC games, and comics), and acceleration in the uptake of mobile e-sports and virtual reality-based games continued to buoy market growth.

Mobile gaming-related M&A deals in Q4 2017 focused heavily on the domestic market, with at least 23 major domestic mobile gaming M&A or venture financing deals announced during the quarter. Despite more stringent regulations, firms belonging to non-entertainment industries like sea cucumber farming and wood-based activated carbon manufacturing continued to pursue acquisitions of mobile gaming firms to diversify revenue streams. The number of investments in overseas mobile gaming or sector-related firms was more modest than in some quarters past, but included several high-profile deals, such as Tencent's acquisition of a 12% stake in US mobile messaging firm Snap - which Tencent hopes to assist in the gaming space - and NetEase's purchase of a stake in Pokemon Go developer Niantic.

During the quarter, mobile gaming companies also continued to expand aggressively into other complementary entertainment sectors through the acquisition of stakes in film, TV, animation and comics, marketing, and mobile social networking firms. Q4 2017 also saw an increasing focus on "instant mobile games" that require no download or installation.

To help investors and game industry enterprises identify opportunities among China's sea of mobile game titles, developers, and publishers, Marbridge has developed the Chinese Mobile Gaming Industry Matrix. The Q4 2017 edition of the Matrix provides details, in Excel (read-only) format, on:

Leading Mobile Game Companies (670)

• Listing Status (public, to list, private)
• Location (city in which operator/developer is headquartered)
• Company Homepage URL
• Company Contact Phone Number
• Experience in Overseas Game Publishing (specific examples available for ~6% of companies)
• Games Operated/Developed (with top grossing games highlighted)

Top Mobile Games (1,870)

• Game Environment (Android, iOS, WP)
• Game Type
• Game Dates (expected release, beta test, commercial launch)
• Game Source (self-developed vs. licensed)
• Revenue Model (pay-to-play vs. in-game items)
• Game Operation Statistics (DAU, monthly revenue, cumulative downloads - as available)
• Game Homepage URL

Industry News Summaries - Q4 2017

• M&A and Internal Investment Deals (25 items)
• Partnerships (12 items)

Regulatory Announcements - Q4 2017

• Overview / Impact
• Announcement Date
• Implementation Date

The Chinese Mobile Gaming Industry Matrix is available either for one-off purchase or on a subscription basis with quarterly updates.