Trending Entertainment Apps: What’s Next in 2025?

INTRO

The entertainment app market is set for a transformation in 2025, driven by AI, 5G, and immersive tech like VR/AR. Meanwhile, blockchain and NFTs will redefine digital ownership and monetization, while social features and gamification will drive deeper audience engagement. To stay competitive, developers must leverage these trends to create richer user experiences, boost retention, and open new revenue streams.

Trends Shaping the Future of Entertainment Apps in 2025

Entertainment App Market Insights: A Prime Area for Investment

Key findings from the 2025 State of Mobile report indicate that the entertainment app market remains one of the fastest-growing sectors:

• In-app purchase (IAP) revenue for mobile apps hit $150 billion (+13% YoY) in 2024, with non-gaming apps driving most of the growth.
• Europe’s market growth surpassed that of the United States, with a remarkable 24% YoY increase in IAP revenue — nearly double the global growth rate of 13% — making it an attractive region for targeted app development. This surge was particularly strong in key markets like the UK, Germany, France, and Italy.
• Global app engagement reached 4.2 trillion hours in 2024, with mobile users averaging 3.5 hours per day. This highlights the growing demand for captivating, engaging content with streaming and social media apps remaining popular.

These statistics highlight that new entertainment apps — especially those incorporating AI, streaming, and interactive features — are a high-return investment opportunity. Targeting regional markets like Europe, with an understanding of local preferences, will be key to driving app growth.

What Do Users Expect from Entertainment Apps in 2025?

Cross-platform access will be crucial, allowing uninterrupted experiences across devices. Free, ad-supported services will be in demand as users seek affordable alternatives to rising subscription costs.

Privacy will be top priorities, with users wanting more control over their data. Apps will focus on experience, control, and connection rather than just content delivery. 

How Content Delivery Models Have Evolved Over the Last 5 Years?

As entertainment apps continue to evolve, IT managers should focus on scalable architectures, AI integration, and blockchain technologies.

Cloud-based streaming has made premium content more accessible on smartphones and PCs. For example, the startup Dapper Labs, creators of NBA Top Shot, demonstrated how NFTs can turn digital content collection into a profitable business.

We can expect deeper integration of these technologies in the coming years, with play-to-earn models.

1.

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Entertainment Apps 2025

Virtual Reality (VR) apps transport users in fully digital environments for multiplayer experiences, while Augmented Reality (AR) apps enrich the real world, transforming live events and social connections. From VR concerts to AR-powered escape rooms, entertainment apps are becoming more interactive than ever.

Trends in VR and AR for  Entertainment Apps

• AR-Powered Learning Experiences – Interactive AR textbooks, virtual lab simulations, and real-time language translation improve education accessibility and foster participation. Platforms like CleverBooks (STEM-focused AR for schools) and Octagon Studio (interactive AR flashcards) use AR to enhance STEM education and interactive storytelling, making complex subjects more engaging.
• Neural Networks in Drawing Apps – AI-powered tools streamline automated sketch enhancement, style transfer, and real-time drawing assistance, making digital art creation more intuitive. Small startups like (AI-based sketch coloring) and StarryAI (AI art creation & NFT) demonstrate how AI can handle tasks such as coloring sketches or generating unique artworks, letting users focus on their creative process.
• VR and AR in Education & Culture – AR-powered museum tours, immersive VR training simulations, and historical reconstructions expand business opportunities beyond entertainment. Startups like TimeLooper offer virtual tours of historical landmarks and recreate significant events, providing an interactive and educational experience. 

The Future of VR and AR in Entertainment Apps

Advancements in motion tracking, AI integration, and cloud-based content delivery will continue to push the boundaries of VR/AR apps. As these technologies become more accessible, entertainment businesses must adapt to meet evolving consumer expectations for immersive and interactive digital experiences.

Innovations such as light-field displays, haptic suits, and brain-computer interfaces could transform business models, opening up new ways to improve storytelling. Companies like Light Field Lab are developing holographic displays that enable realistic 3D imagery without the need for VR headsets. Teslasuit provides full-body haptic feedback for VR games, offering a more realistic sensory experience, while Neurable’s brain-computer interface allows players to control virtual environments with their thoughts.

These advancements open up new monetization opportunities through premium content, subscriptions, and AR/VR advertising.

2.

Personalization: Driving Engagement and Retention for New Entertainment Apps

By leveraging user data, AI, and machine learning, entertainment platforms are delivering more relevant content for their audiences. It’s an essential part of creating memorable experiences for fostering long-term loyalty.

However, as personalization in entertainment apps evolves, several challenges arise. Data security becomes a concern, with risks of leaks and privacy violations, which can be mitigated through encryption, anonymization, and regular security audits. Adapting to 5G networks presents its own set of challenges, such as uneven coverage and signal delays, but these can be managed with progressive content loading and adaptive streaming. VR limitations like hardware issues and battery problems can be overcome through optimization and cloud services for heavy processing. Additionally, ethical considerations such as algorithmic discrimination require transparency and user feedback to ensure trust. 

The key to success is balancing innovation with reliability. It is recommended to start with basic personalization and gradually add more complex features while monitoring user feedback and technical performance.

Trends in Personalization for Entertainment Apps

• Behavior-Based Content Recommendations — streaming platform Peacock uses data from users’ viewing history and preferences to provide personalized suggestions.
• AI-Generated Content — a prime example is Endel, an AI-driven app that generates personalized soundscapes based on user preferences and context.

• Emotional Analysis for Content Selection — Moodify (a mental health-focused app) adjusts its features (like guided meditation or music) based on real-time emotional analysis using voice recognition.

The Future of Personalization in Entertainment Apps

As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to evolve, entertainment apps are transforming the way content is delivered and consumed. In the near future, personalized experiences will go beyond simple recommendations, creating hyper-targeted, emotionally intelligent environments tailored to each individual user.

Potential future developments:

• AI will process large volumes of user data to deliver content that goes beyond just interests, adapting to individual preferences and cognitive styles.
• As entertainment apps become more intuitive, their ability to detect and respond to users’ emotions will improve, offering content that suits the user’s current mood. 
• With the rise of personalization, safeguarding privacy and ensuring data transparency will become paramount, giving users full control over their information.

As this trend progresses, entertainment apps will offer more intelligent, emotionally aware, and ethically conscious experiences, fostering a deeper connection with users.

3.

5G Technology and Its Impact on Entertainment Apps

With higher speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity, 5G will address the limitations that current technologies face. From streaming in higher resolutions to enabling real-time interaction at live events, 5G is paving the way for future entertainment apps, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections.

Trends in 5G for Entertainment Apps

• Low-Latency Streaming for Interactive Experiences — With 5G, platforms like Rooom (virtual exhibitions with AR/VR) deliver uninterrupted, real-time streaming for virtual events, enabling immersive 3D interactions.
• Enhanced Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences — With the power of 5G, startups like VUZ (real-time VR events) and The Wild (collaborative VR design) are using real-time VR and AR to create immersive experiences that were previously impossible.
• Dynamic Content Personalization through AI — With 5G’s faster speeds and improved data processing capabilities, streaming services and apps can provide even more personalized recommendations. Startups like Cinelytic (AI-driven film success prediction) leverage AI to analyze data and predict movie success, while 5G enables faster data processing for real-time personalized content recommendations.

The Future of 5G in Entertainment Apps

5G technology will redefine user experiences by enabling higher-quality streaming and enhancing virtual and augmented reality. It will also support trending entertainment apps and interactive live events.

While 5G is already having an impact, some of its potential remains untapped:

• Amazon Luna and GeForce NOW could deliver AAA experiences — high-quality, blockbuster-level gaming —  directly to users’ smartphones, tablets, and TVs, pushing the boundaries of cross-platform entertainment with minimal latency.
• AR apps like WallaMe could provide location-based experiences where users collaborate in real-time to create and share content in physical spaces, turning the world into an interactive canvas.
• VR apps such as TheWaveVR might create live, concert-like virtual environments where users can participate in the performance and each other instantly, with far fewer connectivity issues than before.
• Platforms like VeeR VR could offer live-streamed, fully interactive 360-degree experiences from concerts or sporting events, where viewers can control their viewpoint and access multiple camera angles in real-time.

By 2030, 5G will transform entertainment by enabling faster and more reliable content delivery, reducing delays for live streaming, and enhancing the quality of video, including 4K and 8K. Furthermore, 5G will facilitate instantaneous collaboration and interaction in live events and virtual worlds.

4.

Voice Integration and Smart Assistants in Entertainment Apps

Voice technology is reshaping entertainment apps by enabling hands-free control, content discovery, and AI-driven engagement. Smart assistants and voice search functions streamline user experiences, making it easier to find and interact with media.

Trends in Voice Technology for Entertainment Apps

• Voice Search for Content – Apps like SoundHound, a music discovery tool that uses voice commands to identify songs and control playback, and Hound, a voice assistant that allows users to engage in conversational voice search, are improving the way users interact with content and services.
• Voice-Driven Content – Audiobooks, podcasts, and AI-generated voice experiences are expanding entertainment options, making them more accessible in various contexts. Startups like Podyssey (AI-generated podcast recommendations) use AI to personalize podcast suggestions and allow users to control playback via voice commands.
• Fitness Apps with Voice Integration – Apps like Aaptiv (voice-guided audio workouts) use voice commands to deliver audio-guided fitness routines, enabling users to work out hands-free and focus on their exercises. This integration enhances the user experience by providing personalized fitness instructions through voice. 

The Future of Voice Technology in Entertainment Apps

The next frontier of voice integration holds immense potential for increasing business value:

• AI could interpret tone and preferences to refine recommendations.
• Apps could enable two-way dialogue with virtual characters or customer support.
• Combining voice with gestures and facial recognition could create more adaptive interfaces.

By 2030, voice-first interactions will be a core component of entertainment apps, reducing reliance on screens and manual inputs.

Case Studies: How Touchlane Implements Advanced Technologies in Entertainment Apps

The Touchlane Approach to Mobile Apps

At Touchlane, we focus on implementing advanced technologies to improve user experience and app performance for long-term market success.

1.

Color Therapy: Scalable Architecture and Advanced Graphics Engine

Color Therapy is a complete relaxation platform. When developing the app, Touchlane introduced:

• Custom Graphics Engine – Built from scratch using CoreGraphics, SpriteKit, and GLSL to support freehand drawing, high-resolution canvases, and smooth rendering, addressing the growing demand for high-performance digital art tools.
• Cloud-Based Scalability – A backend on Azure designed to support millions of users, reflecting the trend of cloud-driven entertainment apps with seamless global access.
• Optimized Monetization with In-App Ads – Integrated AppLovin MAX to balance revenue generation and user experience, mirroring the shift toward adaptive monetization models in entertainment apps.

This approach helped Color Therapy reach 8 million active users and rank among the top 10 in its App Store category.

2.

Vicinity: Location-Based Social Discovery & Smart Navigation

Vicinity connects users to local communities and events through intelligent, location-based recommendations. In line with the evolving trends of future entertainment apps, our team implemented:

• Geolocation & Google Maps SDK – Smart filtering of places based on user location.
• Optimized API Calls – Reduced Google Maps API usage to improve cost efficiency.

These features reflect key trends in modern app development, focusing on personalized experiences, efficient performance, and accessibility.

Conclusion

In 2025, the entertainment app industry is expected to undergo transformation due to technological advancements like 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This will lead to more personalized and interactive apps. Advancements in motion tracking, AI integration, and cloud-based content delivery will continue to push the boundaries of VR/AR apps, as cloud computing plays a crucial role in this transformation.

Trends in streaming for new entertainment apps in 2025 include AI-powered recommendations, short-form videos, and seamless integration of  live sports content. By 2030, 5G will enable faster and more reliable data transmission, reducing delays for live streaming.

At Touchlane, we specialize in creating cutting-edge apps that align with the latest trends. Let’s discuss how we can future-proof your entertainment app and maximize its market potential.