Chinese mobile game publishers claimed 36 spots in the global top 100 revenue rankings for January 2026, collectively generating $2.18 billion and accounting for 37.8% of total revenue among the world's leading publishers, according to data released by Sensor Tower on February 4. The figures exclude revenue from third-party Android channels in China and highlight the continued dominance of Chinese developers in the global mobile gaming market.

Tencent retained its position as the world's top-grossing mobile game publisher, with revenue surging 43% month-over-month driven by blockbuster performances from flagship titles including "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite." The company's revenue spike came as both games launched premium cosmetic items and seasonal updates that resonated strongly with players.

FunPlus secured second place globally, while Moonton Technology's revenue jumped 77% following a 118% revenue surge from "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," which reclaimed the top spot in Southeast Asia's mobile game revenue rankings. The performance underscores the commercial potential of esports-driven monetization strategies.

Several Chinese publishers experienced dramatic growth tied to anniversary celebrations and new game launches, with Yostar Network's revenue climbing nearly 60% and Hypergryph's soaring sevenfold following the global launch of its new strategy RPG.

Tencent's Flagship Titles Drive Revenue Surge

Tencent's January performance was anchored by two mobile gaming juggernauts that delivered exceptional monetization results. "Honor of Kings" saw revenue explode 105% month-over-month to reach $220 million, fueled by the January 1 launch of the "Sun Wukong - Wuxiang" premium skin. The cosmetic item triggered an immediate spike in player spending that sustained throughout the month.

"Peacekeeper Elite" posted an even steeper 156% revenue increase, surpassing $110 million. The tactical shooter benefited from dual catalysts: the release of the "Twilight Rose Shadow - Arya" skin and the "Silk Road New Year" seasonal update. The twin releases exemplified Tencent's strategy of layering content updates to maximize revenue windows.

The combined strength of these two titles propelled Tencent's overall mobile gaming revenue to peak levels for the month, reinforcing the company's market leadership position.

FunPlus and Moonton Post Strong Gains

FunPlus maintained its runner-up position in the global rankings, driven by continued momentum from its portfolio of hit titles. The publisher's merge game "Tasty Travels: Merge Game" posted a 33% revenue increase, reaching record daily gross levels following the introduction of the "Echoes of Vitality" collection event.

The company's 4X strategy game "Whiteout Survival" continued its market-leading performance, with cumulative global revenue surpassing $4.15 billion. The dual-product strategy enabled FunPlus to secure its position as the world's second-highest-grossing mobile game publisher for January.

Moonton Technology experienced a 77% revenue surge, propelled by "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," which saw revenue jump 118%. The game's performance was attributed to the strategic overlap of two major events: the M7 World Championship esports tournament and the 2025 Starlight Festival. The complementary commercial mechanics of these events demonstrated effective integration of esports ecosystems with monetization systems, driving the game back to the top of Southeast Asia's mobile game revenue rankings.

Anniversary Events and New Launches Fuel Growth

Yostar Network's revenue climbed nearly 60% in January, lifting the publisher to 12th place in the global rankings. The growth was driven by anniversary celebrations for two key titles: "Blue Archive" marked its fifth anniversary in the Japanese market, while "Arknights" celebrated its sixth. Both games deployed new storylines, limited-edition characters, and substantial player rewards, resulting in revenue increases of 220% and 122% respectively.

Hypergryph saw even more dramatic growth, with revenue surging to seven times the previous month's level, propelling the publisher to 14th place globally. The spike followed the mid-to-late January global launch of "Arknights: Endfield," a new 3D real-time strategy RPG. The game immediately topped iOS download charts in China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The title built upon the core strengths of the original "Arknights" while introducing innovations in gameplay mechanics, technology, and platform capabilities.

X.D. Network doubled its revenue and returned to 17th place in the global rankings, driven by the overseas version of "Heartopia." The game launched in early January and quickly topped iOS download charts in Japan, the United States, and South Korea, maintaining the top position in Japan for over ten consecutive days. The casual exploration and building game posted 516% revenue growth, boosted by themed events including "Ice and Snow Season" and "Senling Spell."

Chinese Market Dynamics

Within China's App Store, Tencent demonstrated overwhelming market dominance, occupying eight of the top ten revenue positions. The company's titles "Honor of Kings," "Peacekeeper Elite," "Delta Force," and "Teamfight Tactics" claimed the top four spots.

miHoYo's "Genshin Impact" climbed to 11th place in China's iOS market after revenue increased 69% following the January 14 launch of version 4.4, "Song of the Empty Moon - Finale." The update drove the game to the top of the global mobile game revenue rankings on launch day.

Tencent's new PVE shooter "Counter Strike: Future" debuted at 13th place on China's App Store revenue rankings. The game launched January 13 and immediately topped China's iOS download charts while entering the revenue rankings at fourth place. The title features no pay-to-win mechanics, cross-platform play, and seasonal content updates, filling a gap in Tencent's portfolio for science fiction FPS games that blend PvE and PvP modes. The game also featured cross-promotion with "Delta Force," demonstrating Tencent's strategy of creating synergies across its shooter franchises.

Beyond the top publishers, the 36 Chinese companies in the global top 100 included BeHeFun Games, Youku Shengshi, Yishijie, GameTree Entertainment, Boyaa Interactive, and Mattel163.