Mobile gaming market expands in Italy

The mobile gaming market in Italy has evolved into a significant economic ecosystem, driven by high smartphone penetration and advanced connectivity. Approximately 82% of Italians own a smartphone, with 68% of those users downloading at least one gaming app per month. In 2023, this resulted in over 35 million mobile game downloads, a 12% increase from the previous year.

Technological advancements, particularly the rollout of 4G and 5G networks, have facilitated high-definition gaming by reducing loading times to under three seconds on 95% of 5G connections. The market is increasingly defined by the “freemium” model and micro-in-app purchases (IAP). In Italy, the percentage of users spending at least 5 euros per month has risen from 12% to 18%. For instance, Clash Royale generated 1.2 million euros in Italy through IAPs in 2024.

Additionally, the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming has seen a 25% increase in mobile game viewership in 2024, with over 30% of Italian gamers watching at least one streaming session daily. The industry is also seeing growth in augmented reality (AR) integration, which saw a 40% increase in gaming sessions in 2024 compared to 2023.