Figure 1 More top games are now available to play on mobile devices – Source: Unsplash
Gaming continues to be big business. Gamers eagerly await the latest news of the highest profile titles, with release dates circled on every fan’s calendar. Console games are still the benchmark, with the biggest releases for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consistently breaking sales records. But there is another sector of the industry that is beginning to make some real waves.
There was a time when games on mobile devices were almost an afterthought. Gamers of a certain age might look back fondly on the retro stylings of titles like Snake, which was a free feature on some of the earliest popular Nokia phones, but the graphics, gameplay, and capabilities of mobile games harked back to the earliest days of the video games arcade. That was thought to be fine back then, as mobile phones were primarily used for the same function phones had been used for decades.
All that has changed now, however. Top games are available to play on mobile devices. But there has also been a huge increase in the number of highly-rated games being developed with a mobile-first strategy. Many of these titles now appear on the best California betting apps, alongside prestige titles like FIFA, CS:GO, and League of Legends. The huge increase in the popularity of esports and games – especially during and since the COVID pandemic – has meant that gaming has welcomed a much bigger fan base. The advances in mobile tech mean that it was surely inevitable that the two industries would work together.
In this article, we will look at how we have come to this point in mobile game history – and why gamers are increasingly turning to mobile.
Convenience for Gamers
One very obvious reason for the increase in mobile gaming – and mobile-first games – is that they are so convenient for users. Although gamers may enjoy nothing more than spending hours sitting in front of a screen playing a new console title, the convenience of playing on a mobile device cannot be beaten.
We can do so much using just our mobile phones these days, that adding gaming, of a high standard, to the list is an obvious move. Gaming has now become part of the mobile experience in the same way as ordering groceries and online purchases have become commonplace. Game developers have identified this shift and changed the way they offer their new titles. Mobile games are not regarded as an afterthought anymore, with some of the biggest titles not only released as mobile-first – but mobile-only.
Figure 2 Better quality games means that nothing is lost moving from consoles to mobile phones – Source: Unsplash
Better User Experience
Although there is a lot of love for older classic games, most people would not make the move to mobile gaming if the games were not of high quality. It is partly down to the developers’ decision to improve their mobile output, but the devices are also now more capable of running the latest games. Those days of simple games like Snake seem like a million years ago, as far more complex games are released with the mobile phone market very much to the fore.
Latency issues have been addressed, responsive layouts improve gaming, and more intuitive touch controls have all helped make mobile games just as absorbing as any of the top console titles. When users know that they will be able to play mobile games that are just as good as the ones on their consoles, the convenience aspect really makes it an easy decision for them to make to pick up the smaller device.
Integrated Experience
Many of the reasons why mobile gaming has become so popular come back to the convenience factor. Improved gameplay is obviously important, but we have become used to things being made easier for us – and that also includes our gaming experiences. The integration aspect of a mobile device is invaluable.
There was a time when we could only play a game on a console, but now there are a whole range of entertainment and retail experiences that can be carried out on the same device. The same can also be said for mobile devices. Being able to fulfil a number of other tasks, as well as gaming, on our phones makes everything so much more convenient. App developers of all types concentrate their efforts in ensuring that their users do not stray from their product. This is the same for game developers and designers, so being able to offer titles for a device that is used for the majority of a user’s tasks is instantly attractive.
Figure 3 People expect to use phones for all kinds of tasks – gaming has just been added to the list – Source: Pexels
Cost Effective
Although there can be risks in turning to mobile-first game development, such as an incredibly competitive marketplace, there is no doubt it can be a cost effective decision. Even complex games can come with lower developmental costs, and the adjustments needed for scaling to smaller screens can be well worth it.
Many of the most successful mobile titles also happen to be free-to-play, unlike some of the console favorites, meaning that a monetization model that relies on ads and in-play purchases can balance costs as well. The free-to-play model is also very attractive to gamers who can avoid paying high retail fees, at the outset at least. In fact, many gamers expect titles to be downloadable free of charge and that there will be the option to make in-game purchases later on. There has definitely been a shift in thinking in what is acceptable when it comes to games on all kinds of devices and consoles in that regard. Hybrid models using in-app ads are already very common when it comes to mobile games. This is far easier to integrate into games being played on mobile devices, and there is evidence that gamers receiving rewards for viewing ads are quite happy to have this part of the everyday experience.
Repeat Gaming Potential
The main goal of any game developer or designer is to produce a title that gamers come back to time and time again. With the market so competitive now, ensuring that your product is the go-to game is something that everyone is after. Making your product available on a mobile device helps with that aim too.
A better mobile experience helps with players returning and keeping that game retention. Although most users will develop their own perfect gaming environment for console play, there is still some though needed to settle down for a session. Games on mobile devices benefit from the way it is so easy to just pull out a phone and start playing. Whether it is commuting to and from work, or grabbing a few minutes on a lunch break, mobile gameplay is straightforward and instant.
Add that factor to all the ones we have already outlined, and it soon becomes clear that having a top-tier mobile game is incredibly important to the success of any game development company.
Figure 4 Consoles will continue to be important – but alongside mobile gaming – Source: Unsplash
The Future is Mobile
You only have to look at the levels of investment in mobile gaming to understand how the future of gaming could well be on these smaller devices. With the incredible technological advances we have seen over the last few years, the capabilities of these mobile-first games make them an attractive proposition to both developers and gamers alike.
Independent game designers, in particular, will be attracted to the cost-saving measures that mobile gaming offers. The big budget titles will always exist, but as long as indie mobile games are of a high quality, simple to play, and utilize the free-to-play model, there is huge scope in what is possible – even in such a competitive market.
In the years to come, there will be even more attention paid to the ability to produce more immersive and interactive experiences on mobile, with the rise of esports and mobile subscriptions already paving the way for more mobile gaming use. The rise in the use of cloud gaming, where high-fidelity games can be streamed directly to mobile phones, means that even the most complex titles are available in this way too.
Esports will, no doubt, continue to be a boom industry, with more money than ever before being invested into the sector. With that investment comes bigger and more high-profile tournaments and events that are perfect for streaming and modern media. Gamers will see that these events are played with mobile devices and the practice will become even more normalized.
PC and console gaming will continue to play their part in the success of the industry, offering experiences that can’t quite be replicated by using a mobile device. But there is no doubt that mobile will play a huge role in the future of gaming and could even become the default gaming choice for millions of users worldwide.