Apple said on Jan 5 its App Store generated US$20bil (£16.16bil) for developers in 2016, a 40% increase from 2015, riding on the popularity of games such as Pokémon Go and Super Mario Run and increased revenue from subscriptions.
App Store sales topped more than US$3bil (£2.42bil) in December, helped by the launch of Nintendo Co Ltd.’s Super Mario Run, which saw more than 40 million downloads in the first four days of its launch.
Billings from popular subscription-based apps such as Netflix, HBO Now and MLB.com At Bat jumped 74% to US$2.7bil (£2.18bil) in 2016.
Apple said customers spent nearly US$240mil (£193.94mil) on apps and in-app purchases on New Year’s Day, the biggest sales day ever.
Apple said app sales in China jumped 90% last year. However, it did not provide details.
Apple said on Jan 5 it had removed the New York Times Co’s English- and Chinese-language news apps from its iTunes store in China at the request of local authorities.
Apple’s own iBooks and iTunes Movies stores have been blocked since April as Chinese authorities worry about social disorder, moral harm and threats to national security.