Tracking mobile games millionaires: downloads peak early, revenues later

Research claims that 10-15% of iOS and Android 'top-performing' games reach $1m in revenues, but only 20% of those go on to reach $10m

Angry Birds maker Rovio's decision to lay off 38% of its staff is the latest reminder that the mobile games industry can be a brutally unforgiving industry, even if the 865m spent by players on Candy Crush Saga in 2014 shows that the rewards for success can be huge.

Now new research from mobile analytics firm App Annie has shed more light on the path to success for successful mobile games, including the claim that while their downloads tend to peak soon after launch, their revenues peak much later.