We do not typically report on strictly business-related issues right here at PC Gamer, however there’s an fascinating little tidbit stashed away in Activision Blizzard’s latest Q2 2022 monetary report: Over the three months ending June 30, greater than half of the corporate’s complete revenues got here from cellular video games—greater than PC and console video games mixed.
Activision Blizzard earned $332 million on the PC in the course of the quarter, and $376 million on mixed console gross sales. That’s some huge cash! Under the “mobile and ancillary” class, nonetheless—which Activision Blizzard stated “primarily include revenues from mobile devices”—the corporate pulled in a whopping $831 million for the quarter. It earned an additional $105 million in revenues for the quarter within the “Other” class, which incorporates revenues from its distribution enterprise and the Overwatch and Call of Duty Leagues, however even when you add that quantity to PC and console revenues, it is nonetheless not sufficient to surpass the cellular income complete.
It’s fairly a shift from the identical quarter in 2021, when console and cellular revenues have been rather more carefully aligned. Console revenues have been $740 million for the quarter, accounting for 32% of the whole, whereas cellular revenues hit $795 million, making 35% of the quarterly complete. The PC got here in third with $628 million—27% of Activision Blizzard’s revenues for the quarter.
That comparability additionally reveals, fairly clearly, that cellular is the one platform to see year-over-year income progress: While PC and consoles (and the “Other” class) are down sharply, cellular really managed a 5% improve. Activision blamed the decline on “lower engagement for the Call of Duty franchise” and decreased World of Warcraft web bookings in comparison with the identical quarter final 12 months, which is when the Burning Crusade Classic growth launched. The waning of the pandemic increase that benefitted stay-at-home PC and console gaming may be an element within the downturn.
It’s price noting that the majority of Activision Blizzard’s cellular revenues got here from King, the mobile-social game writer Activision acquired in 2016. (It’s additionally the “K” in ABK Workers Alliance, by the best way.) King reported complete revenues of $684 million within the quarter—greater than 82% of the $831 million in complete cellular revenues for the quarter—pushed primarily by the remarkably persistent reputation of Candy Crush, which remained the top-grossing game franchise in US app shops for the twentieth consecutive quarter—that is 5 strong years.
Still, the outcomes clearly illustrate why Activision Blizzard is pushing arduous with cellular game growth, even when there’s backlash from its PC and console viewers. Diablo Immortal is the plain case: It’s been on the receiving finish of fierce criticism over its monetization scheme, but it is also tremendously profitable, having achieved 30 million gamers and an estimated $100 million simply two months after launch.
Activision Blizzard additionally stated in its quarterly report that revenues for Call of Duty Mobile have been “consistent” with the earlier quarter—that’s, individuals have not stopped enjoying it in significant numbers—and it is persevering with to maneuver forward with a cellular model of Call of Duty: Warzone, and the Warcraft: Arclight Rumble cellular technique game, which is now in testing in restricted areas.