Top Mobile Marketing Reads of 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to look back on an extraordinary year for the mobile marketing industry. From groundbreaking acquisitions to record-breaking mobile games, this year has been a showcase of rapid evolution and creative brilliance. As we do each year at Mobile Marketing Reads, we’ve again explored every major trend, groundbreaking app or game, and significant announcement shaping the mobile landscape.

In this article, we bring you the top stories of 2024—those that resonated the most with our readers, sparked global conversations, and set the tone for the future of mobile marketing. Let’s revisit the moments that defined this remarkable year.

The Rise of New App and Game Marketplaces

From the start of 2024, the mobile app and game marketplace landscape experienced significant growth, driven largely by the influence of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This legislation played a pivotal role in shaping the industry, prompting the launch of numerous new platforms throughout the year.

Here are the app marketplaces announced or launched in 2024:

• PhonePe launches Indus Appstore to rival Apple and Google
• Digital Turbine acquires ONE Store International to accelerate expansion into U.S. and LatAm markets
• Mobivention launches its own app marketplace for iOS apps in the EU ahead of iOS17.4 launch
• Epic Games Store will come pre-installed on Telefónica’s Android devices
• Third-party iOS app marketplace AltStore PAL arrives in the EU
• Aptoide launches its alternative iOS game store
• MacPaw launches alternative app marketplace Setapp Mobile in open beta in the EU

Sensor Tower’s data.ai acquision

In one of the most notable developments of the year, Sensor Tower, a leading mobile app store market intelligence company, announced its acquisition of data.ai, formerly known as App Annie, for an undisclosed amount. Oliver Yeh, CEO of Sensor Tower, described the acquisition as a transformative moment, stating, “We have long admired data.ai’s stellar product and high-quality team. This partnership will enable us to bridge the gap between companies and consumers, while broadening our audience and enhancing our offerings across the digital economy.”

Founded in 2010, San Francisco-based data.ai serves more than 1,400 clients and has over one million registered users globally. While Sensor Tower expressed enthusiasm about integrating new team members from data.ai, the company also confirmed workforce reductions as part of the merger. “We are committed to supporting our departing colleagues through this transition,” Yeh added. Ted Krantz, CEO of data.ai, highlighted the opportunity for growth, stating, “This evolution offers the best path to innovation, more insights across channels, and greater value for our clients.” This acquisition follows Sensor Tower’s 2021 purchase of Pathmatics, further solidifying its position as a leader in the mobile intelligence space.

Monopoly Go! broke the record for the fastest mobile game to gross $3 billion

Scopely’s MONOPOLY GO! reached a historic milestone by surpassing $3 billion in gross revenue worldwide, according to Sensor Tower, solidifying its position as the most successful mobile game launch to date. This remarkable achievement highlights the game’s widespread appeal and its dominance in the mobile gaming industry.

The game set a new record by becoming the fastest mobile title to hit $3 billion in consumer spending, accomplishing this feat in just 473 days following its global launch on April 11, 2023. This performance outpaced other major titles like Genshin Impact, which took 594 days, and Monster Strike, which reached the mark in 998 days. The United States played a pivotal role in this success, accounting for 34 percent of the 137 million downloads and a staggering 77 percent of the total revenue, contributing $2.32 billion. High engagement also drove this success, with 10 million players participating daily, underscoring the game’s strong global footprint.

Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group in $13.25 billion deal

Omnicom revealed its acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG) in a landmark $13.25 billion deal, marking a pivotal shift in the advertising industry. The agreement, which received unanimous approval from Omnicom’s board, aimed to position the company as the largest advertising holding firm globally, overtaking key rivals such as Publicis and WPP. This merger was not only a financial achievement but also a strategic move to integrate resources and expertise, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the sector.

The transaction, structured as a stock-for-stock agreement, ensured that the combined organization would operate under the Omnicom name and maintain its New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol (OMC).

LoopMe’s acquisition of Chartboost from Zynga

Chartboost, the mobile advertising and monetization platform acquired by Zynga for $250 million in 2021, was acquired by LoopMe in the last month of 2024. The acquisition is a strategic move for LoopMe, complementing its rapid growth, which saw a 40% compound annual growth rate from FY2018 to FY2023. This deal expands LoopMe’s SDK network and enhances its AI-driven brand advertising platform. Stephen Upstone, CEO of LoopMe, shared his excitement about the acquisition, saying, “We view mobile in-app and CTV as the future of brand advertising. Chartboost brings us a talented team, cutting-edge technology, and a wide publisher network that will significantly strengthen our capabilities.”

Top Deals and IPOs of 2024

Notable Funding Rounds of 2024

• Disney to take $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games
• Google invests $350 million in Flipkart, valuing the e-commerce giant at $36 billion
• InMobi secures $100 million from MARS Growth Capital
• ContextSDK secures $4 million in seed funding
• Whatfix secures $125 million in Series E
• OpenAI raises $6.6 billion in new funding at a $157 billion valuation
• Ad fraud detection and prevention firm HUMAN raises over $50 million
• Appcharge secures $26 million
• Aonic raises €152m from Metric Capital Partners and Active Ownership
• Databrick raises $10 billion Series J at $62 billion valuation

Notable Acquisitions of 2024

• LiveRamp acquires Habu for $200 million
• TapNation acquires UAhero
• Walmart acquires Vizio for $2.3 billion
• Take-Two acquires Gearbox for $460 million
• Cadent acquires AdTheorent for $324 million
• Permira acquires majority stake in Biocatch at $1.3 billion valuation
• Robinhood to acquire crypto exchange Bitstamp for $200 million
• Voodoo acquires BeReal for €500 million
• Equativ and Sharethrough merge to form a global ad tech powerhouse
• Verve acquires mobile advertising company Jun Group for $185 million
• Keywords Studios accepts $2.8 billion bid from EQT
• Publicis Groupe acquires influencer marketing platform Influential
• Outbrain acquires Teads for $1 billion
• Adelaide acquires Rita
• Playtika to acquire SuperPlay for up to $1.95 billion
• Zeta Global acquires LiveIntent in $250 million deal
• Samba TV acquires Semasio
• Supercell acquires Space Ape
• MTG acquires Plarium for $620 million
• Wonder acquires Grubhub for $650 million
• Publicis Groupe acquires Mars United Commerce
• Embracer Group divests Easybrain to Miniclip in a $1.2 billion deal
• Viant acquires IRIS.TV
• Robinhood acquires TradePMR for $300 million
• Mediaocean to acquires Innovid for $500 million
• Brightcove to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $233 million