For a long time gaming apps have sat at the top of the pile on smartphones, but according to new data social networking apps are closing in.<\/p>\n
Flurry Analytics have released a new report which looks at smartphone app usage per category, and found that while in Q1 2011 game app usage led social networking by about ten minutes per day, in Q1 2012 the times are even, with both categories garnering an average use of 24 minutes per day.<\/p>\n
Flurry said that this could mean a decreasing interest in smartphone gaming. As the growth slows down, demand could be becoming saturated, which is why more and more smartphone users are turning to social networking instead.<\/p>\n
Flurry also commented on advertising revenue, where social networking apps have also seen a much more significant growth. Between February and April 2012, game apps earned 35 and 36 percent of total ad revenue on Flurry Analytic\u2019s network, with social networking apps seeing a significant jump from 24 to 37 percent.\u00a0 April was the first month in which social networking apps generated more ad revenue than games.<\/p>\n
According to Flurry, this data could mean that growth for smartphone games could be reaching a plateau, where it becomes more difficult to attract new players.\u00a0 This means that developers will eventually be competing for the attention of a limited number of users.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, even as new users enter the market, gaming apps will have to compete with the increasing popularity of social networking applications.<\/p>\n
The data casts a shadow over smartphone gaming in general \u2013 are users becoming disinterested and looking elsewhere?<\/p>\n
Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n Pachter: Social gaming is not a bubble<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Epic: There are \u201ctoo many platforms\u201d on the market<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n