Mobile downloads ofAmong Us, the viral social deception game, have nearly eclipsed those ofPokemon GOat the peak of its popularity in 2016. However,Among Ushas not done so well in terms of financial gross, whilePokemon GOcontinues to shine four years after release.
The report, which comes from research analytics firm SuperData, reflects just how popularAmong Usreally is. Although the game initially released in 2018, it became popular with streamers midway through 2020. This has causedmobile downloads to grow exponentiallyeach month since then. Beyond the game itself, the playable astronaut characters have become a staple in memes across every corner of the Internet, providing the game even more exposure.
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Although the SuperData report does not include a specific number of downloads forAmong Us, the game had over 80 million downloads on mobile in the middle of September. If its downloads rival those ofPokemon GO,the number must have risen even further since. One statistic not mentioned in the report is player engagement, which was a key part ofPokemon GO’ssuccess. After all,Android owners usedPokemon GOmore than Tinderand other social media apps in mid-2016. If the huge presence ofAmong Uson social media is any indication, however, user engagement is probably very high.
That said,Among Usdid not make the top 40 highest-grossing mobile games of September 2020. The report notes that the game’s only in-app purchases are to remove ads and add cosmetic items, neither of which drive strong sales. Even though thedifferently-colored astronauts ofAmong Usmay be connected by a deeper backstory than initially believed, the optional cosmetic items have nothing to do with this backstory. Developer InnerSloth seems to prioritize player goodwill over monetization, so this is not surprising. Perhaps surprisingly,Pokemon GOwas the second-highest grossing game of September.
It’s important to note thatAmong Usis hugely popular on PC in addition to the mobile version. If those downloads were to be added in,Among Uswould surely overtakePokemon GO. SinceAmong Ushas reported almost four million concurrent playersbetween mobile and PC players, the game’s user engagement statistics from mobile and PC together might also overtake those ofPokemon GOat its peak.
One major consequence ofAmong Usbecoming so popular is the role it is playing in 2020 politics. For example,United States Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently playedan enormously popular stream of the game. Although some may prefer that politics remain separate from gaming, it is inevitable that something as popular asAmong Uswill have a real-world impact.
Among Usis available now on PC, iOS, and Android devices.
