Sensor Tower vs Similarweb

Mobile Game Spending Hits $6.57B in August, Honor of Kings Leads

In August 2026, global mobile game consumer spending reached $6.57 billion, a 1% month-over-month decline, according to Sensor Tower. Honor of Kings was the top-grossing game, while Roblox led downloads. The US contributed 28.6% of revenue, followed by China at 16.7% and Japan at 12.2%. Tencent-owned or published titles captured five of the top 10 revenue-growth slots, with Fate/Grand Order leading that ranking. Download growth was boosted by new releases like Gangstar Mirage City and Mystery Dumpling, while Roblox remained the most-downloaded game.

• Global mobile game consumer spending reached $6.57 billion in August 2026, down 1% month-over-month.
• Honor of Kings was the highest-grossing mobile game, supported by in-game events in China.
• Fate/Grand Order topped revenue growth rankings, driven by its 11th anniversary and Swimsuit Event 2026 in Japan.

Japan Mobile Game Revenue Tops $10B Despite Download Decline

Japan's mobile gaming market generated over $10 billion in in-app purchase revenue over the past 12 months, a 5.1% year-over-year decline, yet significantly outpacing South Korea and Taiwan. According to Sensor Tower's Japan Gaming 2026 report, downloads fell 5.4% to 585 million, ranking ninth in Asia. Player engagement remained stable at 16.7 billion hours. Konami's eFootball became the highest-grossing game, driven by World Cup activities, while Block Blast! led downloads. Puzzle games dominated downloads, while 4X strategy led revenue growth. The market's maturity is evident, with growth reliant on established titles and high spending rather than new installs.

• Japan generated over $10 billion in mobile game IAP revenue in the past 12 months, down 5.1% YoY.
• Japan recorded 585 million mobile game downloads in the same period, down 5.4% YoY.
• eFootball by Konami became Japan's highest-grossing mobile game from January to July 2026.

Sensor Tower Blog: New Insights on Home Improvement Retail Media and State of Digital Advertising 2026

New blog posts added: 'Home Improvement Built Momentum on Retail Media' and 'State of Digital Advertising 2026: How AI Integration and Streaming Growth Reframe Marketing Strategies'. Also, a new post about the Video Game Insights interface update.

Similarweb Names Michael Akkerman as New Chief Executive Officer

Similarweb announced the appointment of Michael Akkerman as new CEO, along with new product and partnership announcements including the State of Ecommerce 2026 report, NIQ partnership, and AI ad placement tracking.

6-K Financial Filing Analysis for Similarweb (2026-09-24)

Similarweb Ltd. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Michael Akkerman as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2, 2026. Akkerman succeeds Founder and CEO Or Offer, who announced in May 2026 his intention to step down after nearly two decades leading the digital intelligence platform. This leadership transition marks a critical governance evolution as Similarweb moves from founder-led management to its next phase of corporate growth and commercial scaling.

• Michael Akkerman appointed Chief Executive Officer of Similarweb Ltd., effective November 2, 2026.
• Founder and current CEO Or Offer is stepping down after leading the company for nearly 20 years, following an initial transition announcement in May 2026.
• The executive leadership transition was formalized via Board approval and reported on Form 6-K on September 24, 2026.

Generative AI to Become New Discovery Layer in E-Commerce

A report by Similarweb indicates that generative AI is increasingly influencing online purchase decisions, appearing in over 11% of shopping journeys prior to transactions, up from under 5% two years ago. However, traditional search remains crucial, with 89% of AI-influenced journeys also using search engines. AI is primarily used in early stages for problem definition and product comparison, while search is relied upon for specific product checks. This creates challenges in attribution, as last-click models often misattribute AI-driven conversions to search or direct traffic. Retailers must now optimize for visibility across multiple digital layers, including AI-generated answers and on-platform shopping assistants like Amazon's, and ensure structured product data to enhance AI recommendations.

• Generative AI appears in over 11% of shopping journeys before a transaction, up from under 5% two years ago.
• In 89% of AI-influenced purchase journeys, a search engine is also used.
• AI is used mainly for early-stage tasks like problem definition, category learning, and option comparison.