Genshin Impact

Is Genshin Impact the biggest game in the world?

Genshin Impact Best Gear

Before diving into details, Genshin Impact’s meteoric rise can be measured across multiple dimensions: eye-popping revenue, massive download numbers, and a global presence that rivals, and in some metrics surpasses, other gaming juggernauts. Since its September 2020 launch, MiHoYo’s open-world gacha title has amassed billions in player spending, hundreds of millions of installs, and cross-platform expansions that few free-to-play games have replicated. Yet, when stacked against the likes of Fortnite, Roblox, and PUBG Mobile, the question remains whether Genshin Impact truly sits atop the gaming world, or if its “biggest” claim hinges on evolving metrics and market definitions.

Genshin Impact by the Numbers

Revenue Milestones

Genshin Impact shattered mobile gaming records by grossing over $1 billion in player spending in just six months post-launch, averaging $160 million per month from December 2020 onward. By late 2021, it had surpassed $3 billion in mobile revenue alone and generated approximately $3.6 billion across platforms by autumn 2022. Projections suggest China-only earnings exceeding $5 billion, with a global total on track for $10 billion by 2025.

Player Base and Downloads

Installation figures underscore its reach: over 225 million installs have been recorded, including 37 million in 2024 alone. Early reports noted 33.3 million downloads within 2020’s final quarter and 86.1 million by end-2021. Although official active-user counts are less transparent, sensor data suggests a daily peak of millions across regions, cementing its status as a flagship live-service title.

Cross-Platform Reach

Initially available on Android, iOS, Windows, and PlayStation 4, Genshin Impact expanded to PlayStation 5 in April 2021 and Xbox Series X/S in November 2024, further broadening its audience. Its free-to-play gacha model, coupled with regular region updates (Inazuma, Sumeru, Natlan), keeps players engaged and funnels continuous spending worldwide.

Comparing to Other Blockbuster Games

Fortnite and Roblox

Fortnite boasted over $9 billion in lifetime revenue by 2023 and remains a cultural phenomenon, but it draws on battle-royale mechanics rather than the gacha loops that drive Genshin Impact’s earnings. Roblox, with over 65 million daily active users, reported $3.7 billion in platform revenue in 2024, comparable to Genshin Impact’s mobile take, but differing in player demographics and content models.

PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile surpassed $10 billion in global player spending by mid-2023, led by China’s 60 percent share, while Honor of Kings maintained about $1.5 billion in annual earnings. Genshin Impact’s cross-platform earnings are remarkable for an RPG/gacha hybrid but still lag behind Tencent’s battle-royale powerhouse on sheer revenue.

What Makes Genshin Impact So “Big”?

Gacha-Driven Monetization

The game’s “wish” banners and character-drop mechanics tap into proven gacha psychology, generating outsized revenue per user compared to skin-sales models in other free-to-play titles. Limited-time characters and event collaborations (e.g., KFC in China, McDonald’s in the U.S.) amplify engagement and spending cycles.

Global Marketing and Updates

Localized launch strategies, anime-style art direction, and regularly scheduled content patches (versions 1.0 through 5.0 and beyond) sustain excitement. Partnerships with food brands, tourist sites, and media tie-ins contribute to brand visibility well outside traditional gaming channels.

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Jake Skudder

Jake is an SEO-minded Football, Combat Sports, Gaming and Pro Wrestling writer and successful Editor in Chief. Most importantly, he is a Gacha players who specialises in Genshin Impact. On top of that, Jake has more than ten years of experience covering mixed martial arts, pro wrestling, football and gaming across a number of publications, starting at SEScoops in 2012 under the name Jake Jeremy. His work has also been featured on Sportskeeda, Pro Sports Extra, Wrestling Headlines, NoobFeed, Wrestlingnewsco and Keen Gamer, again under the name Jake Jeremy. Previously, he worked as the Editor in Chief of 24Wrestling, building the site profile with a view to selling the domain, which was accomplished in 2019. Jake was previously the Editor in Chief for Fight Fans, a combat sports and pro wrestling site that was launched in January 2021 and broke into millions of pageviews within the first two years. He previously worked for Snack Media and their GiveMeSport site, creating Evergreen and Trending content that would deliver pageviews via Google as the UFC and MMA SEO Lead. Jake managed to take an area of GiveMeSport that had zero traction on Organic and push it to audiences across the globe. Jake also has a record of long-term video and written interview content with the likes of the Professional Fighters League, ONE and Cage Warriors, working directly with the brands to promote bouts, fighters and special events. Jake also previously worked for the biggest independent wrestling company in the UK, PROGRESS Wrestling, as PR Head and Head of Media across the social channels of the company.

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