Today’s global gaming industry is estimated to be worth $152 billion, with 45% of that coming from mobile gaming. Over the past few years, we’ve seen 10.2% year on year growth of the mobile gaming industry as a flurry of acquisitions and investments have been made in the market. Many businesses are now adapting to this market trend by incorporating a digital first, mobile friendly strategy into their business plans.
From satellite tv apps to watch your favorite shows on your phone, to mobile betting platforms and even film and gaming streaming available on the go, consumers are now actively choosing to interact with mobile platforms over desktop.
Mobile gaming isn’t a new technology, so what’s causing this sudden pique in interest amongst businesses and investors? And what technologies are we seeing that have made mobile gaming so popular?
What trends are we seeing in mobile gaming?
According to statistics, the highest revenue for mobile games in the US across 2020 was generated by Puzzle games at 22%, closely followed by online casino games at 17%, RPG at 14% and strategy mobile games, also at 14%.
If we break it down even further to look at what mobile game titles were most popular, data from Statista shows that Google Play Games are the most popular at 10%, with Pokémon Go, Candy Crush Saga and GameSpot following shortly behind.
One explanation for the rise in popularity of these types of games is that as more and more people across the globe have had to find methods of home entertainment, mobile games provide a great way to pass the time. In fact, spending on mobile games in app stores was up by 9% in the latter part of 2020 and Nintendo Switch sales more than doubled in March 2020.
Of these mobile gamers, 64.3 million are aged between 25 and 44 in the United States and Canada, while the next largest group of gamers is those aged 45 and older. Of the younger category, players were found to have played mobile games for an average of 6 hours a day. The ease of access to mobile games means that users are now able to play games almost anywhere and at any time, whether that’s on the morning commute to work while waiting in line at the grocery store or even on a beach.
How has mobile gaming growth been possible?
Low barrier to entry
One of the reasons that mobile gaming has taken off so significantly is the low barrier to entry. Other gaming devices such as Xbox, Nintendo Switch or even PC games can be costly to purchase, in addition to the long list of software and hardware you need to be able to run the game in the first place. From graphic cards to expensive headsets, gaming chairs, monitors, controllers and much more, the cost of digital gaming soon adds up.
With mobile gaming, all you need is a smart phone with a decent amount of storage and a good graphics processor, a wifi connection and access to the app store. That’s it. The significantly lower cost of entry has made mobile gaming a much more appealing option. In addition, many apps now operate on a freemium model with the additional options to purchase in-game. This model has meant that the industry has been able to grow at a much faster rate than traditional gaming.
On-the-go access
Ever been stuck at work when the latest Call of Duty game is released? It sucks right. Anyone who’s ever had to book PTO from work so that they can collect their new game will understand the pain. Yet with mobile games, that isn’t a problem. With latest gaming releases automatically appearing in the app store or on streaming platforms, it’s incredibly easy for users to access the latest games and releases.
A rise in more traditional games
Alongside the growth of mobile gaming, we are seeing a comeback of more traditional games, from the likes of Chess to traditional casino games like blackjack, poker and online slots.
Today, mobile casino games are being enjoyed by a much broader range of people across the globe. While age restrictions are still in place, more people than ever are able to access these games.
Amongst mobile casino games, we have also seen the creation of social casinos. Social casinos are a new concept that merges online casino games with the usability of social media platforms, allowing players to benefit from the same social atmosphere they experience inside a real casino. The social element encompasses leadership boards, performance comparison tables and challenges and milestones for players, making the experience much more beneficial.
Overall, it’s clear that mobile gaming is one of the most popular ways to access gaming in today’s industry. The two main reasons for this rise in mobile gaming seem to be the low barrier to entry and players don’t need to go bankrupt in order to obtain any hardware to play the games. Secondly, these games can be accessed at any place and any time.
As technology continues to improve, there’s no telling where the mobile gaming industry will take shape, but we’re excited to see what further developments are in store.