Global downloads of mobile apps with virtual worlds and avatars 2020-2021

With the of popularization of metaverse environments, social video apps that allow users to create and interact with avatars are experiencing a growth in popularity. During the fourth quarter of 2021, mobile app Zepeto generated 13.13 million downloads from users worldwide, up by 32.5 percent from the 9.9 million downloads the app saw in the fourth quarter of 2020. Zepeto is a 3D avatar social app launched in 2018 by the South Korean Naver Group. Users can create their avatars starting from a picture of themselves, as well as styling their virtual environment. Users can style their avatars with virtual clothes and accessories paid for with in-app tokens or in-app purchases, as well as play games online, take selfies, live stream content via Zepeto Live, and interact with other users through their avatars.

Litmatch app downloads skyrocketed between the third and the fourth quarter of 2021, after experiencing a progressive growth from the beginning of 2020. Litmatch launched in 2019 and was developed by the Chinese Construction Technology PTE as a live streaming mobile-first platform. The Japanese-developed REALITY saw a gradual growth in downloads between the beginning of 2020 and 2021, before experiencing an increase of approximately 300 percent between the second and the third quarter of 2021 and reaching 3.16 million global downloads. REALITY allows users to create avatars and interact with other users in a virtual 3D world.