How Much Money Has Among Us Made in Total? An In-Depth Look at the Viral Hit‘s Revenue Growth
Among Us, the online multiplayer social deduction game from developer InnerSloth, has become one of the biggest viral hits of the last few years. Since its release in 2018, the game has amassed over 100 million downloads across platforms and over half a billion monthly active players at its peak. But just how much has Among Us‘ wild popularity translated to in revenue? Let‘s take an in-depth look at the game‘s monetization strategies and the impressive money it has hauled in so far.
The Explosive Growth of Among Us in Simple Terms
To start off, here is a quick snapshot of Among Us‘ growth:
- Over $86 million in total revenue as of June 2021
- Over 100 million downloads across iOS, Android, and PC
- Over 0.5 billion monthly active players at peak in late 2020
- #1 most downloaded game on mobile worldwide in Q3 2020
These simple stats demonstrate just how quickly Among Us went from a relatively unknown indie game to an absolute viral sensation and one of the most popular mobile and PC games in the world.
Driving Factors Behind Among Us‘ Viral Success
But how exactly did Among Us go from less than a million downloads in 2 years to over 100 million downloads in 2020 alone? There are a few key factors:
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The COVID-19 pandemic – Stay-at-home orders led people to look for online social games they could play with friends. Among Us fit the bill perfectly.
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Popular livestreams – Twitch, YouTube, and personality streamers like PewDiePie drove awareness through viral videos.
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Free on mobile – Making the mobile version free-to-play with in-app purchases significantly expanded the player base.
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Fun social gameplay – The game‘sSIMPLE rules and focus on deception/discussion made it popular as a party game.
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Cross-platform play – Playing on both mobile and PC drove adoption and network effects.
Among Us was thus the perfect game that launched at the perfect time – its multiplayer social experience resonated with millions looking for quarantine entertainment.
Breaking Down Among Us‘ Major Revenue Sources
Among Us generates revenue through two main methods: in-app purchases on mobile and one-time purchases on PC. Let‘s look at both models:
In-App Purchases on Mobile
- Among Us is free to download on iOS and Android
- Makes money through in-app purchases for cosmetic items
- Pets ($1.99 each)
- Hats ($1.99 each)
- Skins ($1.99 each)
- Name change ($0.99)
- Ad revenue from advertisements between games
This is by far the biggest source of revenue for Among Us, accounting for over $86 million total. In-app purchases allow monetization of the huge free mobile player base.
One-Time Purchase on PC
- $5 one-time purchase to download Among Us on PC (Steam, Itch.io)
- No in-app purchases
- All cosmetic items included in initial purchase
The PC version has brought in around $5 million in revenue – much smaller than mobile. However the PC version serves as marketing for mobile.
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Analyzing Among Us‘ Revenue Growth Timeline
Just how quickly did Among Us‘ revenues grow alongside its viral explosion? Let‘s look at the timeline:
- <$5 million total revenue prior to 2020
- $24.5 million revenue as of October 2020
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$60 million more in revenue from Oct 2020 to June 2021
Revenues grew slowly for 2 years before skyrocketing in late 2020. In just 9 months, Among Us generated over 10 times more revenue than its first 2 years combined. The growth correlates almost directly with its surge in downloads and players.
How Does Among Us‘ Revenue Compare to Other Top Games?
To put Among Us‘ earnings into perspective, let‘s compare it to other top mobile and PC games:
| Game | Lifetime Revenue |
|---|---|
| Fortnite | $5.8 billion |
| PUBG Mobile | $7 billion |
| Roblox | $2.29 billion |
| Among Us | $86 million |
Although Among Us‘ revenues are impressive, they pale in comparison to the world‘s highest grossing multiplayer games like Fortnite and PUBG which earn billions. However, Among Us achieved its success on a much smaller budget and with only 3 developers!
Key Takeaways – What Led to Among Us‘ Massive Financial Success?
Looking at the numbers, what are the key factors behind how Among Us was able to build such a hugely successful business?
- Perfect timing – It rode the social gaming wave during COVID lockdowns
- Viral marketing – Livestreamers and word-of-mouth fueled growth
- Free mobile version – This significantly increased players and revenue
- Engaging social gameplay – Led to retention and monetization
- Cross-platform capabilities – Drove network effects between PC & mobile
Through a combination of luck, strategic decisions, and fun gameplay, Among Us leveraged viral momentum to earn over $86 million and cemented itself as one of the most popular games in the world.
The Future and Challenges Ahead
While Among Us has seen incredible growth so far, maintaining this momentum presents challenges. As the pandemic recedes, it risks losing players to in-person entertainment. It also faces fierce competition from gaming giants like Epic and Tencent. However, with the right updates and franchise-building, InnerSloth can potentially turn Among Us into a long-term evergreen franchise. Upcoming new roles, friends lists, account systems, and a possible sequel could all help expand the universe‘s staying power.
Conclusion
Among Us has morphed from an under-the-radar indie game into a viral pop culture phenomenon and massive financial success. Through expert leveraging of social trends, consistently fun gameplay, and cross-platform ubiquity, it has brought in over $86 million in revenue so far. While replicating such a meteoric rise is rare, Among Us offers valuable lessons for game developers and marketers on how to craft experiences that spark joy, connection, and community. The game‘s breakout success is a testament to the human need for interaction, teamwork, and maybe just a little bit of deception.