Topic: “Why Mobile Gaming is the Future” Mobile games are often referred to by many as not “real games,” and the reasons for this are not exactly news to anyone. Poor graphics, bad stories, terrible touch controls…you know the story. However, despite all the hate it gets, many industry experts believe mobile gaming is on track to see that massive growth in the coming years.
But how? What is different this time? Let’s look closely at five reasons mobile gaming has a surprisingly bright future.
1. There are more potential mobile game players than console players
Assuming a mobile game becomes widespread, it could be more profitable than an equivalent console game. Why? Since almost everyone in the world owns the smartphone, game consoles like PlayStation or the Xbox must be purchased exclusively to enjoy that hobby, and therefore more expensive from the start.
The more people play your game on mobile, the more revenue you can earn from spending players and viewing in-game ads. However, this is a high-risk investment with a high return. For every mobile game that succeeds, hundreds don’t.
2. Micro transactions enable recurring income
People at first sight often overlook paid mobile games; it’s one of the biggest reasons mobile games are bad. As you can see, more than 90% of all apps are free, so naturally, people would expect the mobile games to be free as well. But many of the developers are immediately put off by not getting the upfront fee for their game.
Developers who want to create the mobile game are forced to stick to the freemium model — monetizing their game by getting players to purchase in-game items, such as clothing or weapons, via micro transactions. And while micro transactions have a bad rep in the gaming community, it helps developers earn recurring income, allowing for much-needed stability.
Since console games traditionally come with one-time upfront fees, the primary way for a developer to earn the more from their game is to find new players. However, as you know, finding new users is more complex, time-consuming, and costly than retaining existing users. Knowing this, mobile games are the better long-term investment for developers.
3. Smartphones are getting stronger
A modern smartphone is compelling. However, every year smartphone manufacturers outdo themselves with the launch of their new flagship-class flagships that carry a faster processor. The iPhone 13 and Android phones are even more powerful than the PlayStation 4!
As this progress continues, the developers will be able to create games with the better graphics and more fluid controls. And it only takes the couple of years before the exclusive power of flagship phones can also be found in cheaper phones. This will allow for an increasingly broader user base, increasing revenue.
Not to mention the rise of the gaming phones. Although you don’t need the gaming phone to play a high-end mobile game, some features feature phones don’t offer. Things like the headphone jack, a built-in cooling system, shoulder triggers, and a dedicated game mode are essential to some gamers, especially those who play competitively.
4. 5G advances for mobile gaming
5G is not the global standard for the mobile networks yet. And while its adoption isn’t going as fast as the tech giants had hoped, 5G has a lot to offer, especially in the mobile gaming industry. From faster download speeds, lower latency, and shorter load times to cloud gaming, 5G will help mobile games compete with console games.
5. AR and VR integration in mobile games
Besides the multiplayer experience, 5G will also improve and facilitate the integration of augmented and virtual reality into mobile games. VR apps are very available on the Play Store at the moment, but they are not the good representation of what the technology is capable of. This is because the power required to exploit virtual and augmented reality is something the fourth generation lacks.
To enter the next era of the AR and VR gaming for mobile devices, we must make 5G is more accessible and affordable for everyone. After all, whether the mobile game will become profitable depends mainly on the number of the downloads it has.
Next, we need to make the VR headsets cheaper and lighter. The price of the VR headset already turns off many, and its bulky hardware is not ideal for long gaming sessions, which can lead to headaches and dizziness for the player. Once developers solve these issues, more people will be willing to try and adopt the technology.
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