The global games industry is booming, and mobile games are the key engine fueling the industry’s growth. The mobile games market will generate US$ 98.74 billion globally this year. However, it does not stop there; with an expected compound annual growth rate of almost 6.5%, the market is expected to be worth over US$ 118.9 billion by 2027 with 1.9 billion users.
According to the data-crunching market insights platform Statista, user penetration is currently 22.1%, and this is projected to increase to over 23% by 2027. Simply put, that means that over a fifth of the world’s population is now playing and accessing mobile games. While China is forecast to generate the highest revenue overall, revenue per user in the US is predicted to be $57.64 per person. This is a far cry from the early days of video gaming when console games were a niche pastime for teenage boys (and a few girls, of course).
Mobile Gaming Potentially Replacing PC Gaming
Gaming is no longer child’s play but is a fully-fledged grown-up sector of the entertainment industry. It is not only a great place to play; the sector is a major global employer offering top-level work for artists, animators, programmers, developers, storytellers, producers, directors, and musicians. The industry employs over a quarter of a million people in the US alone. Mobile game revenue is booming, and this is thanks to smartphone penetration and robust consumer demand for interactive, immersive gaming experiences.
The rise of smartphone gaming
While high-quality gaming was once restricted to desktop and console devices, smartphones changed everything. Even before smartphones, cell phones were more than simply communication devices. The moment they had screens, the tech companies realized there was a chance to turn cell phones into mobile gaming consoles. While the Nokia 3310 might not have had the gaming power of a Nintendo Gameboy, it did have Snake, and everyone was wild for the Snake game. Even then, the developers understood that, unlike PCs and consoles, no one needed a dedicated set-up to indulge in some casual gaming on the go.
Streaming plays its part
Smartphones have brought powerful processors, ever-expanding storage capacity, and high-resolution displays to everyone’s hands and pockets. However, it is not just about hardware; the myriad apps and games available at Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store mean there is something for everyone. Cloud streaming means that players do not even need to take up storage space on their devices if they do not want to. Many people love a game’s app because it means they can continue with the gameplay even if they are not connected to the internet. After all, even the most powerful satellites have been known to lose power!
Free to roam, untethered
While PC gaming can boast superior processing power and better-rendered graphics, you cannot take your desktop on your commute to work. However, mobile gamers can play whatever they want and wherever they want.
Across the US, gamers are increasingly choosing to try their luck at social casinos. Unlike real money casinos, these are just for fun, and the winnings are purely virtual in nature. The nature of them being virtual means that online you can access a social casino during your lunch break without needing to be tethered to your workplace. Social casinos are legal across the US, even in states where real money ones are not, and they feature top slots and classic casino games from well-known software developers.
Gaming for everyone
Friends can get competitive on all kinds of games while on the move, or you can wake your brain up with some word games while on your journey to work. With mobile gaming, the opportunities are endless whether you are a hyper-casual gamer or a fan of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing games. Convenience is undeniable, and more serious gamers might play the mobile version while out and about and then switch back to their home set-up with all the peripherals when they get back to their own place.
Changing demographics
The wide variety of games available has seen a change in the demographic of people playing. For example, online bingo and social casino apps have seen a surge in older women playing, while the perennial favorite Subway Surfer has been particularly popular with younger girls. This means people who might never have played a desktop version of the gameplay happily on their small screens out and about and at home. For many, mobile gaming is not a substitute for PC or console gaming; it is the only way they have ever interacted.
Different ways to pay
Gaming used to be expensive, and the top-games were high-ticket items. However, mobile gaming had a different pricing model—the freemium concept revolutionized gaming. Rather than paying upfront, many titles are free to download and play. The companies generate revenue through in-app purchases, and players might pay to access additional content customizable items, restore lost streaks, or claim super-charged power-ups. The developers can offer content to a much wider audience on a ‘try before you buy’ basis.
The risk is removed for the consumer, meaning they can access a much wider selection of games than if they had to fork out the full cost upfront.
In addition, there are streaming services on offer, like Google Play Pass and Apple Arcade, where players pay a monthly fee and access a curated library of premium game titles. In most cases, these have few or no in-app purchases. The developer benefits from a predictable revenue stream, and players get access to an enormous library of top-quality games. Again, there is no need to pay upfront, and if a player does not enjoy a game, they can move on to another.
Moving with the times
The switch from PC to mobile means that the publishers are adapting their business models to make the most of the opportunities. While cell phone games might have started out as small indie titles, popular PC franchises are now available as mobile versions. The developers have adapted the games to be played via touch rather than a keyboard or controller.
Along with hardware, the biggest driver of the success of mobile gaming has probably been accessibility. Superfast 5G technology means faster download speeds and lower latency. Even the most complex and immersive mobile games can now be accessed without broadband, meaning players can stream console and PC titles directly to their phones. While it is doubtful that mobile gaming will ever replace desktop gaming for the most dedicated gamers, it has certainly eclipsed it in popularity amongst those who just like to dabble.
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With how many people I know owning ONLY mobile – I’d assume mobile gaming is really huge, probably more so than PC or console… Heck, I even know a few people who do most of their job on phone( one folk I know managing Amazon Seller central via phone only)