Talking Tom Crosses 26 Billion Downloads Worldwide

The Talking Tom game downloads have officially surpassed 26 billion. The figure, revealed by the Slovenia-based video games company, Outfit7, cements the flagship franchise as one of the most downloaded mobile IPs. The data includes reinstalls as well.

The evolution of Talking Tom from a viral talking-pet app to a cross-media franchise positions it among the rarest success stories in mobile gaming. After its launch in 2010, the Talking Tom franchise has spanned across 20+ titles, YouTube shows, and merchandising lines, as of this writing.

Developer Outfit7 has transformed its previously straightforward talking-cat game into a multifaceted IP machine since it was acquired by United Luck Consortium, and then sold to China's Zhejiang Jinke Entertainment Culture Co., Ltd., in 2017, for more than $1 billion. To ensure the longevity of the mobile app franchise, the studio now leverages IP branding and transmedia narratives.

How Mobile Mascot Talking Tom Stays Viral

The Talking Tom success lies in adaptability and the developer’s analytics-driven retention tactics. Originally developed as an imitating app, the Talking Tom franchise became viral due to the early smartphone boom across the Asian market and other global markets in the 2010s.

In order to retain engagement, Outfit7 expanded the franchise into spin-offs and sequels like My Talking Angela, Talking Tom Gold Run, and My Talking Tom 2, while adding new features such as virtual pet simulations and infinite runners. In 2014, the company released an animated series, Talking Tom & Friends, on YouTube, which won the Cablefax Program Awards for ‘Best Animated Series’ in 2016.

The company’s pivot toward entertainment reflects a maturing mobile-gaming economy. Outfit7's marketing strategy leveraged social media and kid-friendly video channels; the YouTube channel Talking Tom & Friends has over 16 million subscribers and billions of views. 

The success of Talking Tom demonstrates how storytelling and IP expansion can coexist. However, the brand's power goes beyond virality. Talking Tom has been topping the chart of most downloaded games worldwide for 10 consecutive years (2013-2022), according to a 2022 data.ai study published by Outfit7.

Whereas most mobile titles rely on one-time peaks, Talking Toms’ milestones are driven by integrated advertising, smart seasonal events, and regular content refreshes; elements that sustain lifelong engagement.