Games, Apps & Social Media Industry Market Research

Competitive Intelligence, Business Analysis, Forecasts, Market Size, Trends, Companies, Statistics

Available Data Services: Custom Research Projects, Database Subsription or PDF eBooks

Games, Apps & Social Media OVERVIEW

The convergence of games, apps, and social media (GASM) continues to redefine digital culture, communication and commerce.  As technology rapidly evolves, these once-separate sectors now overlap and collaborate in ways that blur boundaries and create rich, integrated user experiences.
1.    AI Disruption Across All Fronts
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how content is created, experienced and managed across GASM.  In gaming, AI powers everything from responsive NPCs (non-playable characters) to entire virtual worlds such as No Man’s Sky’s 18 quintillion planets.  In apps, AI-driven chatbots and assistants like Grammarly and Intercom’s Fin improve productivity and engagement.  Social platforms use AI to personalize content recommendations and moderate vast streams of user-generated content in real-time, making experiences more curated and immersive than ever.
2.    Mobile-First and Cloud Gaming Soars
Smartphones are now the primary platform for gaming, with mobile game revenues hitting $100.3 billion in 2024.  Cloud gaming is gaining traction, with platforms like Xbox’s xCloud and Facebook Gaming offering high-performance titles without the need for expensive hardware.  The shift toward “freemium” models, free games monetized through in-app purchases, is also cementing mobile’s dominance.
3.    Social Media as an E-Commerce Powerhouse
With over 3 billion users globally, social media platforms are becoming crucial channels for online shopping.  Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram are investing heavily in native shopping tools, allowing users to purchase directly within posts and videos.  TikTok in particular has emerged as a global trendsetter, influencing not just consumer behavior but also challenging retail giants like Amazon.
4.    Streaming and Cord Cutting Redefine Entertainment
Streaming apps are rapidly overtaking traditional cable and satellite TV.  Services like Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube TV are attracting hundreds of millions of subscribers, aided by faster internet speeds and app-enabled smart TVs.  With younger audiences leading the charge, the "cord-cutting" phenomenon continues to reshape how people consume media.
5.    Rise of the Immersive Internet: VR, AR, and the Metaverse
Virtual and augmented reality technologies are finding real-world applications beyond gaming, from corporate training and remote healthcare to virtual shopping and fitness.  Devices like Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro are pushing the envelope.  Despite the hype, the metaverse has yet to achieve mainstream adoption, hindered by high costs and limited use cases.
6.    eSports and Fantasy Sports Go Mainstream
Spectator gaming is booming.  eSports are now watched by over 640 million people worldwide and generate billions in revenue.  Meanwhile, fantasy sports engage 63 million players across North America, with platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel capitalizing on real-time data and interactive features.
7.    Privacy and Regulation Intensify
Governments worldwide are enacting stricter privacy regulations and antitrust measures.  From the EU’s Digital Markets Act to growing scrutiny of TikTok’s data practices, tech companies are being forced to prioritize user privacy and ethical data usage in unprecedented ways.

PLUNKETT PROVIDES IN-DEPTH STATISTICS TABLES COVERING THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRY TOPICS:

Top Companies Profiled

The following is a partial listing for this industry. As a subscriber, you will have access to the leading companies and top growth companies. This includes publicly-held, private, subsidiary and joint venture companies, on a global basis as well as in the U.S.


Hundreds of Top Companies Profiled, Including:

PLUNKETT PROVIDES UNIQUE ANALYSIS OF THE FOLLOWING TRENDS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS INDUSTRY:

Key Findings:

A complete market research report, including forecasts and market estimates, technologies analysis and developments at innovative firms within theGames, Apps & Social Media Industry. Gain vital insights that can help shape strategy for business development, product development and investments.

Key Features:

  • Business trends analysis
  • In-depth industry overview
  • Technology trends analysis
  • Forecasts
  • Spending, investment, and consumption discussions
  • In-depth industry statistics and metrics
  • Industry employment numbers

Additional Key Features Include:

Industry Glossary

Industry Contacts list, including Professional Societies and Industry Associations

Profiles of industry-leading companies

  • U.S. and Global Firms
  • Publicly held, Private and Subsidiaries
  • Executive Contacts
  • Revenues
  • For Public Companies: Detailed Financial Summaries

  • Statistical Tables

Key Questions Answered Include:

  • How is the industry evolving?
  • How is the industry being shaped by new technologies?
  • How is demand growing in emerging markets and mature economies?
  • What is the size of the market now and in the future?
  • What are the financial results of the leading companies?
  • What are the names and titles of top executives?
  • What are the top companies and what are their revenues?

This feature-rich report covers competitive intelligence, market research and business analysis—everything you need to know about theGames, Apps & Social Media Industry.

Plunkett Research Provides Unique Analysis of the Following Major Trends Affecting the Games, Apps & Social Media Industry

  1. Major Trends Affecting the Games, Apps & Social Media Industry

  2. Introduction to the Games, Apps & Social Media Industry

  3. Overview of the Electronic Games Industry

  4. Overview of the Mobile Apps Industry

  5. Overview of the Social Media Industry/TikTok Soars to 170 Million U.S. Users, Faces Ownership Legislation

  6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Rocks the Games, Apps & Social Media Industry

  7. Social Media Rakes in Global Online and Mobile Ad Revenues

  8. Streaming Apps Take Over TVs, Leading to Cord Cutting/Subscription Losses for Cable and Satellite

  9. Video Game Console History/New Technologies and Features Boost Console Sales

  10. Online (Cloud Gaming) & Mobile Games Compete with Consoles

  11. Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality and 3-D Technologies Create Opportunities for the Tech Industry/Immersion Games to Grow

  12. The Metaverse Has Difficulties Gaining Steam

  13. Fantasy Sports Post Growth, with 63 Million Players

  14. eSports: Electronic Games Become Spectator Sports

  15. Virtual Worlds Provide Revenue for Games Publishers

  16. Global Mobile Apps Revenues Hit $150 Billion Yearly

  17. Embedded LTE Wi-Fi and Onboard Apps Incorporated by Auto Makers in New Car Infotainment Systems

  18. Gamification:Games Technology Boosts Education and Training

  19. Sports Equipment and Social Media Converge

  20. Digital Assistants Include Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home/Alexa and Similar Software Power Third-Party Developers

  21. Regulatory Environment Is Challenging for Online Businesses & Social Media

  22. The Future of Games, Apps & Social Media

Plunkett Research Provides In-Depth Tables for the Following Games, Apps & Social Media Industry Statistics

  1. Games, Apps & Social Media Industry Statistics and Market Size Overview

  2. Global Digital, Network, Computer & Telecom Industries—Key Statistics & Market Size Overview

  3. Internet Usage Demographics, U.S.: 2024

  4. Use of Different Online Platforms: 2024

  5. Social Media Usage Demographics, U.S.: 2024

  6. Home Broadband Adoption Demographics, U.S.: 2024

  7. Smartphone Adoption Demographics, U.S.:2024

  8. Number of Business & Residential High Speed Internet Lines, U.S.: 2021-2026

  9. Software Publishing Industry, U.S.: Estimated Revenue & Inventories: 2017-2022

  10. Software Publishing Industry, U.S.: Estimated Selected Expenses: 2017-2022

  11. Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite): Estimated Sources of Revenue & Expenses, U.S.: 2019-2022

  12. Internet Publishing & Broadcasting & Web Search Portals: Estimated Revenue & Expenses, U.S.: 2017-2022

  13. Estimated U.S. Information & Entertainment Sector Revenues by NAICS Code: 2017 - 2022

  14. Internet Access Technologies Compared

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eBook or Book:

This industry onlyPublication date: Jul 2025
ISBN-13: 978-1-64788-572-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-64788-080-4