WeChat Mini-Games Garner Over 400 Million Monthly Active Users
WeChat, the popular Chinese social media platform, has revealed that its mini-games attract more than 400 million monthly active users. This information is based on a presentation by Gamelook, a Chinese game analytics firm, as reported by GameDev. Additionally, WeChat has more than 1 billion users worldwide, both within and outside of China. The platform introduced mini-games in China in 2017 and expanded their availability globally in 2019. WeChat is known for its all-in-one features, serving as a social media platform, payment system, and messaging app that has dominated the Chinese market.
WeChat’s mini-program allows users to access various functionalities such as video streaming and document sharing. It is widely used for personal communication as well as business interactions. While WeChat’s user base is primarily in China, it has a significant presence worldwide. Developed by Tencent in 2011, WeChat stands as one of the company’s most popular products.
Mini-Games: A Lucrative Market
Considering the vast number of overall users, it is not surprising that WeChat’s mini-games attract a substantial player base. With over 1 billion people using WeChat for various purposes, it is natural for them to enjoy the available games as a means of relaxation. In 2019, businesses began exploring ways to capitalize on this trend. Other platforms, like TikTok, have also embraced the mini-game craze, testing them in the UK with a focus on hypercasual-style titles. However, for developers and publishers, the question remains about how to monetize mini-games since they differ significantly from full-fledged mobile titles. The large user base of WeChat provides a valuable sample size to determine whether mini-games will emerge as major contenders or merely a passing trend.