In May 2025, the size of the Chinese gaming market reached 28.051 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.86% and a month-on-month growth of 2.56%.
Zhitong Finance APP has learned that Gamma Data has released the "May 2025 Monthly Report on China's Game Industry (Full Version)". In May 2025, the scale of China's game market reached 28.051 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.86% and a month-on-month increase of 2.56%. New products, next-level products (defined as products that went online after the same period last year or returned to the mainland market, the same below), and mature products (operation period ≥ 1 year, the same below) all contributed to the incremental growth.
In May 2025, the scale of China's client game market was 5.819 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.58% and a month-on-month increase of 0.34%. This month's increase in the client game market was mainly driven by new and next-level products.
In May 2025, the scale of China's mobile game market was 21.177 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.96% and a month-on-month increase of 3.69%. This month, some new and mature products performed relatively well.
In May 2025, the actual sales revenue from overseas markets for domestically developed games in China was 1.577 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 6.93% and a month-on-month increase of 1.50%. The month-on-month increase mainly came from "Kingshot" and "Genshin Impact" (原神).
Growth Driven by New and Old Products: In May 2025, the game market scale increased year-on-year by 9.86% to 28.051 billion yuan.
In May 2025, the scale of China's game market was 28.051 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.86% and a month-on-month increase of 2.56%. This month's market scale growth was driven by a wide range of sources, with both new and next-level products (defined as products that went online after the same period last year or returned to the mainland market, the same below) and mature products (operation period ≥ 1 year, the same below) contributing to the incremental growth.
The scale of the client game market is 5.819 billion yuan, with significant growth in new and newer products.
In May 2025, the scale of China's client game market reached 5.819 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.58% and a month-on-month growth of 0.34%. This month's incremental growth in the client game market was mainly driven by new and newer products. New cross-platform products (where the client and mobile sides communicate in terms of accounts, data, etc.) such as 'Goddess of Victory: New Hope' and 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Fantasy Continent 2: The Song of the Hound' performed well, collectively bringing over 100 million yuan in incremental growth to the client game market; the newer product 'Yanyun Shiliu Sheng' launched a new version 'Refreshing Coolness in Liangzhou' on May 16, updating the storyline, maps, and activities, which resulted in over 100 million yuan in month-on-month growth for the game client; in addition, 'Escape from the Dark Zone: Infinite,' which went live at the end of April, focused on survival simulation, resource collection, combat, and evacuation decision-making, bringing a certain incremental growth to the client game market.
The scale of the mobile game market has grown by 11.96% year-on-year to 21.177 billion yuan, with multiple new products generating over 10 million yuan in revenue.
In May 2025, China's mobile game market reached 21.177 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 11.96% and a month-on-month rise of 3.69%. This month, both new and mature products within the mobile game market performed well. Among the new products, 'Brave Land' showed strong performance with revenue exceeding 100 million yuan, and 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Fantasy Continent 2: The Song of the Hound' also contributed several tens of millions in revenue; among mature products, 'Peace Elite' started its SS33 season on the 17th of this month, launching new weapon skins 'Honey Badger - Smart as I Am,' subway supplies, and time welfare fragments, which caused the season update to top the App Store's bestseller list on the day of release.
Gamma Data's mobile game revenue estimation chart ranks the top 10. "Delta Action" enters the top 10, with 80% of products either rising or remaining unchanged in ranking.
In May 2025, "Delta Action" rose 4 places to enter the top 10 on Gamma Data's mobile game revenue estimation chart, ranking 8th, with 8 products in the top 10 either rising or remaining unchanged.
"Delta Action" launched a new 20V20 limited-time mode "Winner Takes All" on May 9 and introduced bundles like the "Flowing Light Platinum Shadow" series. These activities may be significant reasons for the game's revenue growth of over 20% month-on-month.
"Naruto" saw a month-on-month revenue growth of over 10%, likely due to the update of new ninjas Jiraiya "Legendary Sannin", Uchiha Obito "Youth", and related storyline content.
iOS channel download estimation chart top 10: "Delta Action" retains its top position, while a new simulation operation game ranks 4th.
In May 2025, in the iOS channel download estimation ranking by Gamma Data, "Delta Operation" once again took the top spot, with the new games "Loud Chef" and "Brave Land" making the list.
"Delta Operation" may have experienced over a 60% increase in download volume due to the new gameplay modes and props launched in May. Throughout the month, the game maintained a position within the top 10 of the App Store's free game chart, and spent 39% of the time at number one.
In addition, the new simulation game "Loud Chef" ranked fourth, focusing on simulating a kitchen and level challenges. After launching in May, it conducted collaboration activities with Wangzai and China Academy of Art.
Analysis of advertising spending for popular games: "Goddess of Victory: New Hope".
"Goddess of Victory: New Hope" was developed by South Korean company SHIFT UP and launched in the domestic market on May 22. The advertising expenditure was concentrated on the launch day; during the statistical period, the game saw a downward trend in the App Store's game bestseller list after May 29. However, thanks to the launch of the new version "Memory and Forgetting" on June 10, the game entered the App Store's game bestseller list at number seven the following day. In terms of advertising formats, game ads were primarily in the form of splash screens and in-feed ads, with the two types together accounting for 69.46%.
In the first month of launch, the income ranking of new games shows that 'Brave Land' ranks first, with estimated income of over 100 million yuan for new games in their first month.
In May 2025, according to Gamma Data's calculation of the first month income ranking of new games (excluding client revenue), 'Brave Land', a sandbox game, ranks first, with estimated income for the five games in their first month exceeding 100 million yuan (including iOS + Android).
'Brave Land' is adapted from the game of the same name, with 'explosive gear farming' as the core gameplay. As of the day pre-download was opened, the game had over 5 million reservations, and on the first day of pre-download, it topped the App Store's free game chart. As of June 6th at 6 PM, the number of registered users has surpassed 5 million.
Self-developed overseas market revenue reached 1.577 billion USD, achieving growth year-on-year and month-on-month.
In May 2025, the actual sales revenue of China's independently developed games in the overseas market was 1.577 billion USD, with a year-on-year increase of 6.93% and a month-on-month increase of 1.50%. The month-on-month increase mainly came from 'Kingshot' and 'Genshin Impact'; mature products and new releases in 2025 provided year-on-year growth, such as 'Gossip Harbor: Merge & Story', 'Whiteout Survival', and 'Kingshot'.
Changes in overseas market games: "Kingshot" continues its growth trend, rising to the top of the rankings.
In May 2025, among the top 10 overseas market products in terms of revenue growth, "Kingshot" continues its previous growth trend, achieving a doubling of revenue this month and ranking first in overseas market revenue growth.
"Genshin Impact" launched a new version "Paradox" in May, introducing new storylines, new characters, and a series of limited-time events. This month, the game's revenue in the overseas market grew by over 50% month-on-month.
"Love and Deep Space" released a new version "What Spring Does to Flowers" at the end of April, featuring a brand new five-star character and new storylines. On May 19, the game's new main chapter "In Silence, In Rebirth" was launched. Multiple operation events drove a month-on-month revenue increase of over 20% in May for the game in the overseas market.
