Datastream
Visualizing Apple’s Rise to the Top of the Gaming Business
The Briefing
- Apple generates more operating profit from gaming than many of the most reputable gaming companies combined
- Gaming revenues are driven by App Store fees
Visualizing Apple’s Rising Gaming Revenue
In 2020, Apple generated an estimated $13.5 billion dollars in gaming revenue—even though the tech giant doesn’t actually make any games or gaming consoles.
So how does Apple generate all this money from gaming? A key driver of Apple’s gaming revenue is the 30% fee it collects from all app spending, including in-app purchases, subscriptions, and premium app fees.
Through this significant fee structure, Apple has seen its gaming revenue steadily increase over the last few years. Here’s a look at the company’s estimated gaming revenue from 2018 to 2020:
Year | Apple’s Estimated App Revenue from Gaming | % of Total App Revenue |
---|---|---|
2018 | $9.5B | 71.7% |
2019 | $11.0B | 69.0% |
2020 | $13.5B | 66.7% |
Note: For fiscal years ending in September
As the data above shows, a majority of Apple’s App Store revenue comes from games. And because of hefty fees, Apple made more profits off of games than some of the most reputable gaming companies who designed them.
For example, in 2019, Apple generated $2 billion more in operating profit than Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, and Activision Blizzard—combined.
Why Apple’s Dominance is a Problem
The 30% fee is a financial burden for game developers who sell large volumes of in-app purchases. So, in an attempt to bypass Apple’s in-app payment systems, some developers have tried to redirect users to external payment platforms (a competitive tactic called envelopment).
Epic Games tried a version of this by integrating their own payment system into Fortnite. However, Apple then removed Fornite from the App Store, citing violations to the terms of their agreement. In response, Epic Games countered with a lawsuit, accusing Apple of monopolistic practices and antitrust violations.
While Apple ended up winning a majority of the court case, the tech giant was ordered to update their App Store policies, meaning Apple could no longer prohibit gaming companies from directing customers to alternative means of payment.
»>>Like this? Then you might enjoy this article on The History of Gaming, by Revenue Stream
Where does this data come from?
Source: Sensor Tower, via the Wall Street Journal
Economy
Charted: Public Trust in the Federal Reserve
Public trust in the Federal Reserve chair has hit its lowest point in 20 years. Get the details in this infographic.

The Briefing
- Gallup conducts an annual poll to gauge the U.S. public’s trust in the Federal Reserve
- After rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, public trust has fallen to a 20-year low
Charted: Public Trust in the Federal Reserve
Each year, Gallup conducts a survey of American adults on various economic topics, including the country’s central bank, the Federal Reserve.
More specifically, respondents are asked how much confidence they have in the current Fed chairman to do or recommend the right thing for the U.S. economy. We’ve visualized these results from 2001 to 2023 to see how confidence levels have changed over time.
Methodology and Results
The data used in this infographic is also listed in the table below. Percentages reflect the share of respondents that have either a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence.
Year | Fed chair | % Great deal or Fair amount |
---|---|---|
2023 | Jerome Powell | 36% |
2022 | Jerome Powell | 43% |
2021 | Jerome Powell | 55% |
2020 | Jerome Powell | 58% |
2019 | Jerome Powell | 50% |
2018 | Jerome Powell | 45% |
2017 | Janet Yellen | 45% |
2016 | Janet Yellen | 38% |
2015 | Janet Yellen | 42% |
2014 | Janet Yellen | 37% |
2013 | Ben Bernanke | 42% |
2012 | Ben Bernanke | 39% |
2011 | Ben Bernanke | 41% |
2010 | Ben Bernanke | 44% |
2009 | Ben Bernanke | 49% |
2008 | Ben Bernanke | 47% |
2007 | Ben Bernanke | 50% |
2006 | Ben Bernanke | 41% |
2005 | Alan Greenspan | 56% |
2004 | Alan Greenspan | 61% |
2003 | Alan Greenspan | 65% |
2002 | Alan Greenspan | 69% |
2001 | Alan Greenspan | 74% |
Data for 2023 collected April 3-25, with this statement put to respondents: “Please tell me how much confidence you have [in the Fed chair] to recommend the right thing for the economy.”
We can see that trust in the Federal Reserve has fluctuated significantly in recent years.
For example, under Alan Greenspan, trust was initially high due to the relative stability of the economy. The burst of the dotcom bubble—which some attribute to Greenspan’s easy credit policies—resulted in a sharp decline.
On the flip side, public confidence spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was likely due to Jerome Powell’s decisive actions to provide support to the U.S. economy throughout the crisis.
Measures implemented by the Fed include bringing interest rates to near zero, quantitative easing (buying government bonds with newly-printed money), and emergency lending programs to businesses.
Confidence Now on the Decline
After peaking at 58%, those with a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in the Fed chair have tumbled to 36%, the lowest number in 20 years.
This is likely due to Powell’s hard stance on fighting post-pandemic inflation, which has involved raising interest rates at an incredible speed. While these rate hikes may be necessary, they also have many adverse effects:
- Negative impact on the stock market
- Increases the burden for those with variable-rate debts
- Makes mortgages and home buying less affordable
Higher rates have also prompted many U.S. tech companies to shrink their workforces, and have been a factor in the regional banking crisis, including the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
Where does this data come from?
Source: Gallup (2023)
Data Notes: Results are based on telephone interviews conducted April 3-25, 2023, with a random sample of –1,013—adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on this sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. See source for details.
-
VC+2 weeks ago
Coming Soon: Here’s What’s Coming to VC+ Next
-
Personal Finance4 weeks ago
Ranked: The Best U.S. States for Retirement
-
United States2 weeks ago
Visualizing the American Workforce as 100 People
-
Commodities4 weeks ago
Charted: Commodities vs Equity Valuations (1970–2023)
-
Energy2 weeks ago
How EV Adoption Will Impact Oil Consumption (2015-2025P)
-
Money4 weeks ago
Visualizing the Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Banks
-
Wealth2 weeks ago
Ranked: The World’s Top 50 Endowment Funds
-
Markets3 weeks ago
Visualized: Real Interest Rates by Country