Gaming App Downloads in European Top 5 Skyrocket 30% – 430 Million in Q1 2020
When the world hit the pause button and cats took over living rooms, people armed themselves with smartphones and downloaded everything from endless puzzle trips to epic battle arenas. The result? A 30% surge in mobile game downloads across Europe’s five biggest markets, blasting the total up to a staggering 430 million hits by the end of the first quarter of 2020.
United Kingdom: The Gaming Stronghold
- Pre‑pandemic spree: 84 million downloads (Google Play & App Store) over the 30 days before the 200th confirmed case.
- Post‑200th case boom: A 23% jump to 103 million downloads in the ensuing month. That’s almost a full‑length season of the Tetris world champion in a single country.
France: Still in the Leaderboard
- Already down 78 million titles before the lockdown.
- Added 19 million in the first month of the outbreak, crossing the 97 million mark.
Germany: The Third‑Place Powerhouse
- Conclusion of Q1: 89 million downloads in total.
- After the breakthrough 200th case, another 14 million gamers added to the tally.
Spain & Italy: The Under‑The‑Surface Surge
- Spain: From 43 million pre‑pandemic to a 55% spike, reaching 66 million downloads.
- Italy: A 37% jump from 55 million to 75 million in just under a month of lockdown-induced fidgeting.
In total, the UK, France, and Germany shipped their combined 289 million downloads by Q1‑2020’s close, a massive line‑up that could easily fill up a Wembley stadium with 10‑minute‑long silent fans.
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