Apple has garnered more profits from video games than Sony, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft combined, according to a recent analysis conducted by The Wall Street Journal.
The publication compared figures from the companies’ for the 2019 fiscal year, in which it found that Apple’s profits from games came out to $8.5 billion USD.
The news may come as a surprise to some since the technology company doesn’t actually make its own games. Rather, the profits were reported to stem from its App Store, where Apple takes a 30% cut of sales from developers. Epic Games’ “Fortnite” to Tencent’s “Honor of Kings” were named as some of the games that contributed to Apple’s alleged lead over competitors.
Following trends of years past, 2019’s profits were likely amassed by a relatively small group of Apple users. WSJ reported that “6% of App Store game customers in 2017 accounted for 88% of all the store’s game billings for the year, according to court records.”
Apple, however, repudiated the publication’s analysis of its profits: “The tech giant said operating margins discussed during the trial were flawed and as a result are too high,” WSJ wrote.
The publication went on to predict that Apple’s its leading position may be threatened in the future as more companies, such as Facebook, further develop virtual reality technology, which holds potential to make gaming experiences more immersive and entertaining.
In other tech news, former Apple Design Chief Jony Ive penned a letter for Steve Jobs 10 years after his death.
