The past decade has seen a boom in the popularity of mobile games. Games like Candy Crush and Subway Surfers glued thousands of players to their phones. Popular console and PC games also released mobile versions, like Minecraft and Fallout Shelter, further enhancing the mobile gaming experience.
According to business2community, even online casinos from various nations, like the Philippines, Australia, and the US, jumped on the trend, releasing mobile versions of their platforms or most popular games. Some of the most popular casinos from across the world created smartphone applications that allow gambling enthusiasts to play on the go.
But, is it possible that games on mobiles and tablets can replace traditional video games on consoles and PC? We’re going to dive into the rise of mobile gaming and what the future of both mobile games and video games looks like.
Taking a closer look at Mobile Gaming
First, we will define exactly what mobile gaming is. It is any kind of video game played on portable devices, including mobile phones and tablets. The main difference between mobile gaming and what is considered traditional video gaming is that mobile gaming is more casual, more affordable, and often requires a smaller time investment.
Mobile games are often free to download and play, offering in-app purchases. These games are available in a wide range of genres, including strategy, puzzles, educational, open-world, racing, and action.
Factors contributing to the Rise of Mobile Games
Several factors helped mobile games become so popular:
1. More Smartphones
The most obvious factor is that smartphones have become more affordable over the years, and therefore more people have access to downloadable mobile games. Almost 90% of all mobile phones are smartphones, and this statistic is projected to increase even more. This means that almost 90% of phone users can play mobile games.
2. Cheaper to develop
Developing mobile games is much more affordable than console games, which require costly hardware, software, and marketing. The cheaper costs of development mean indie developers and small studios can produce incredible games at a fraction of the cost typically associated with console and PC titles.
3. High-quality game options
We’ve become far removed from the early 2000s games of Angry Birds! And Temple Run. Today, mobile game graphics compete with those of console games, with the likes of Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact mimicking their console and PC counterparts. There’s also a wide variety of these high-quality games in app stores, often for free or at very little cost, which has helped increase the popularity of mobile gaming.
4. Highly accessible
Mobile games can be accessed on the go thanks to the portability of phones and tablets. Video games usually require expensive hardware, and you’ll be hard-pressed to play your favorite games while traveling.
Will Mobile Games Replace PC and Console Games
The question remains, with this increase in popularity and the multitude of benefits, will mobile phones ever replace video games? The answer is: it is difficult to say. However, it is clear that mobile games have established their place in the gaming industry, and are here to stay. As mobile games become more technologically advanced, their popularity is expected to increase.
That said, it is unlikely that video games will ever become obsolete. That’s become PC and console games offer benefits that are less common with mobile games:
- Better graphics: Although mobile games have made significant improvements in graphics quality over the past few years, video games will always be able to offer better graphics because of the hardware used. PC and console hardware have higher processing power than smartphones, offering more immersive and complex games.
- Better quality control: Most video game developers release regulated and tested bug-free games. This provides peace of mind to gamers, as they know the years that went into manufacturing the final product will be top quality. Mobile games released on app stores are less regulated, more buggy, and may not have undergone the same levels of testing before release.
- Longer gameplay: Video games offer players hundreds of hours of immersive gameplay, allowing players to get completely lost in the fictional world of the game. Many of these games are also replayable, offering a new experience with each play. Mobile games have shorter storylines or are more repetitive, which is less rewarding for gamers.
- Infrequent hardware upgrades: Mobile gamers have to update their smartphones more frequently than console gamers have to update their hardware. Smartphone tech is constantly being upgraded to better graphics and processing powers, which can become costly for those looking for the latest technology. Consoles, on the other hand, are infrequently updated and players get to enjoy their hardware for much longer. For example, the PlayStation 4 was released in 2013 and 2014, while its successor, the PlayStation 5 was only released in 2020. In contrast, the iPhone 15 series was released in 2023, and the iPhone 16 series is expected at the end of 2024.
- Multiplayer games: Although mobile phone users can access multiplayer games online, consoles allow players to play offline against other players with a second controller
How Mobile Game devs can improve their offerings
Based on the above, it seems unlikely that mobile phones will ever completely replace video games as consoles offer unique benefits that are not yet possible on smartphones. However, mobile game developers can enhance the gaming experience even more by adopting some strategies that may convert video gamers into mobile gamers.
The first strategy is to know who will be playing the games. The developer should decide whether they want to attract console gamers or cater to a casual gamer who likes to play on their lunch break. There should also be an emphasis on quality, not quantity. Mobile games with too many extras, levels, and a complicated storyline can be off-putting. Games with a single, core storyline will be less overwhelming and will attract more players.
Lastly, mobile game developers must know how to properly market their games. Marketing mobile games is different from console games, as mobile gamers prefer a game with a faster story and more thrills in a shorter period. Essentially, they want a game that can offer a quicker distraction. Marketing materials, like gameplay videos and trailers, need to reflect this to attract more users.
Check our other coverage on mobile gaming here:
- How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry
- How important is it to have a storyline for a game
- Why AAA Studios hoping to make quick bucks on mobile might not succeed
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