Dungeon & Fighter Mobile is a massive contributor to Tencent's mobile-gaming revenue

Dungeon Fighter Mobile's Stunning Success Makes Tencent's App Store Standoff Even Bolder

Dungeon Fighter Mobile (DnF Mobile) has exceeded expectations, significantly impacting Tencent's mobile revenue. This success underscores the boldness of Tencent's recent decision to challenge app stores.

Last week, we discussed DnF Mobile's popularity in the Chinese market and Tencent's subsequent conflict with app stores. We explored the potential ramifications for Tencent's relationship with its home market's app stores.

Now, the extent of DnF Mobile's success is clear. The South China Morning Post reports that in its first month alone, the game contributed over 12% to Tencent's total mobile gaming revenue. Considering Tencent's position as the world's largest gaming company by revenue, this represents a substantial sum. While the game's strong initial performance isn't surprising given the DnF franchise's popularity and the typical profitability of a game's launch period, the context is crucial.

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The Strategic Gamble

Tencent's decision to challenge app stores, using this incredibly successful game as its lever, is a high-stakes gamble. Removing the game from app stores, even while directing users to a direct download, represents a significant financial risk.

The ultimate success of this strategy remains to be seen. However, for those interested in the latest mobile gaming trends, our list of the best mobile games of 2024 (so far) and our upcoming games preview are excellent resources.