Google Play store overtakes iOS in Germany and Spain

The Google Play store overtook Apple’s App Store in Germany and Spain for monthly downloads during January, according to market researchers Newzoo and Distimo.

Newzoo said that Google Play has surpassed iOS earlier than anticipated, as Google Play has only 36 percent of combined European revenues and 33 percent of U.S. revenues — showing that game developers can indeed make money on Android.

Overall, the worldwide level of spending on mobile games in January held on to the mark reached during the holiday season. That’s impressive, as December saw a 20 percent bump. Overall January sales were $300 million more than was spent just a half year ago in June.

Clash of Clans maker Supercell and King, the developer/publisher of Candy Crush Saga, consistently topped the rankings among iOS game publishers. Supercell generated $892 million in revenues from Clash of Clans and Hay Day in 2013, and the company will release its third game, Boom Beach, in March. King’s Candy Crush Saga has also been joined in the top ranks by King’s Farm Heroes Saga and Papa Pear Saga.

Clash of Clans is still the top revenue generator on iOS, with Candy Crush Saga at No. 2. Hay Day, Puzzle & Dragons, and Game of War: Fire Age round out the top five. Farm Heroes Saga, released in December, debuted at No. 11 in the charts.

Among the new entries were three new Asian games: National Aircraft War, Car Racing Everyday, and Battle in Warring States. Asian titles now occupy seven of the top 20 games — the highest of any month to date.

King surpassed Supercell in the month as the top publisher thanks to Farm Heroes Saga. EA, which has more than 900 games on the mobile app stores, is No. 3. GungHo Online Entertainment and Kabam are No. 4 and No. 5.

China’s Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems jumped five places to No. 9 thanks to the success of Cool Running Everyday. Glu Games move up three spots to No. 17 while Square Enix rejoined the charts at No. 20.

As for Google Play, Clash of Clans regained the top spot after losing it during the holidays to Candy Crush Saga, which is now No. 2. Puzzle & Dragons is No. 3. Supercell’s Hay Day is at No. 5, after debuting last month on Google Play at No. 12. King is still the No. 1 publisher on Google Play, while Supercell climbed two spots to become No. 2. The biggest climber on  Google Play was SundayToz, which rose from No. 18 to No. 11.

Looking at the publishers, King are still at number one this month but rival Supercell has now climbed 2 places to take the second spot.