27 Game Engine Statistics About the Rise of Gaming

A game engine creates a video game’s structures and designs using elements such as graphics and sound. It’s like a toolbox for making video games that lets developers reuse game components, saving them time and effort. 

Suppose you need a character to jump. The engine already has a set way to do it – you can simply customize it for you and your game. Many developers use game engine software to design and customize their games more efficiently.

Game engines come in all types and sizes, some with features for simple games, some for complicated ones. Developers choose them based on what they need for each game, how it's made, and who’s going to play it.  

Overall, game engines make it easier for developers to bring their creative ideas to life. Take a look at the statistics below for more insight into the state of game engines in the present market. 

Game engine technology and platform statistics

Game engine technology works behind the scenes to create the games we adore. This kind of tech has solutions with varied costs and features. For example, CryEngine by Crytek only charges a small fee to game developers after they earn a certain amount. 

The majority of game engines are quite affordable. They use technologies like FMOD for sound effects and augmented or virtual reality (FMOD is a sound effect engine and authoring tool, with “F” referring to its maker Firelight Technologies, and “MOD” is a throwback to mod-tracking.) Linux is becoming popular for PC games as the industry is moving toward open-source and easy-to-use game development tools.  

Our statistics here talk about how developers are using different game engine technologies and platforms. 

• CryEngine, designed by Crytek, imposes a 5% royalty fee on developers, but the first $5,000 of annual revenue per project is exempt​.
• The global game engines and development software market was $852.5 million in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% and reach $2168.9 million in 2028. 
• 85% of game engines, other than the major ones, set their release price below $19.99.
• 20% of newly launched games used "unknown" engines in 2021, a category mainly comprising custom engines.
• 80% of PC games on Steam are compatible with Linux, which is gaining popularity as a PC gaming platform.
• Unity3D is used for 60% of augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) content and 50% of mobile games, with over 24 billion installs in the past year.

• 70.04% of gaming and game engine software development kits (SDKs) apps incorporate FMOD. 
• 31% of apps with gaming and game engine SDKs have integrated Google Play Game Services, accounting for 46.74% of downloads in this category.
• Of all apps using gaming and game engine SDKs, 5.97% have integrated the Google Play Games plugin for Unity, making up 14.86% of downloads in this category.
• 2.34% of apps have adopted LibGDX, a free, open-source, game-development application framework.
• 1.1% of apps use the Godot Engine, contributing to less than 1% of downloads.

Gaming industry economics

On a global scale, the gaming industry is experiencing remarkable growth across segments. Whether eSports, virtual reality gaming, mobile gaming, or cloud gaming, every area is trending upward, attracting more and more players every year. 

• The gaming console market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6% from 2023 to 2030​​.
• From 2020 to 2022, there was a 43% increase in the number of transactions across African game companies​​.
• There are 1.5 billion players in the Asian-Pacific region. 
• By 2027, revenue from eSports, which drives the demand for multiplayer game engines, is projected to reach $3 billion​​​​.

• The virtual reality gaming market is projected to reach $45 billion by 2025​​​​.
• The mobile gaming industry saw a 12% increase in players in 2020 compared to 2019, totaling over 2.5 billion players. With movement restricted due to Covid-19, this number would have increased further. 
• The global cloud gaming market will reach approximately $6.3 trillion in 2024.

Gaming market segment and trends

Gaming is a dynamic market. In 2022, action and adventure games topped the popularity charts, and current trends indicate an interesting shift toward the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). 

Africa’s gaming industry shows significant growth with increasing revenues. Similarly, Asia-Pacific regions indicate a strong presence in gaming technology. Let’s look at these statistics to see where there is increasing interest and investment in gaming. 

• Action and adventure games had a global market share of 21% in 2022. It was the highest in the segment. 
• Revenue for game companies in Africa increased by 35% between 2020 and 2022.
• 636 gaming company acquisition deals were announced in 2022, valuing $124.5 billion in total.
• The average development and launch cost of Triple-A (AAA) games has risen by $10 to $20 million in 2023 compared to five years ago​​. AAA games are an informal reference to video games produced with higher development and marketing budgets.

• Between 2017 and 2021, the market share for action and adventure games increased by $524.19 million. 
• Asia-Pacific had a 36% market share in game engines in 2022. 
• The multiplayer online battle arena segment in eSports is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 18.9% from 2023 to 2030​​.

The game is on

Engines affect how a game is made and what it’s like when finished. They’ve gotten better with time and effort, and now developers rely on them to create games for computers, consoles, and phones. The gaming industry is responding extremely well to this evolution. 

The majority of the population in Saudi Arabia have become game enthusiasts. Similarly, the stats above suggest the gaming industry is booming in the Asia-Pacific region, too. As technology evolves, the gaming market will likely expand globally, presenting numerous opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs everywhere around the world. 

Learn more about game engines and how industry professionals use them.