The mobile platform now has a lot of games to offer that is targeted towards serious gamers. Since it is readily available compared to other consoles, it is the best platform for children’s games like Angry Birds. Nowadays, one looks at the app store and you can see games with competitive mechanics or story-driven narratives. Despite its amazing potential, it is still viewed as ‘inferior’ by a certain group of people. But today, we can indeed call the mobile device as a respectable gaming platform. Let’s go through the journey of the mobile gaming industry in detail.
The reason why mobile gaming was not being taken seriously
The problem lies with the kind of games that they know from the platform. Mobile gaming began with puzzles like Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, then similar simple games for adults like in Casino days. When genres such as shooting games and MOBAs finally went to the tablet, they didn’t have great control schemes or snappy movements found in modern games.
Most features are simplified or removed because the mobile can’t perform in a similar way as with a controller or mouse and keyboard. Gamepads for mobile devices were made but they still lack many things. Owners of Xbox, PC, and PlayStation are always bickering amongst each other about who has the better gaming platform. They may be hostile towards each other about their statuses but there is one thing they agree on: members of any of the three communities are given the title of ‘gamer’. This title is also shared with players of handheld consoles such as the Nintendo 3DS and Switch.
If you ask any gamer what a person has to do to be honored with such a title, they would say something friendly like “you just have to play any games”. However, the same people would say that those who play on mobile cannot have this title because they do not recognize mobile games as ‘real games’. If you want to know more why this hate, you can check our in-depth analysis here.
The current state of mobile gaming
Average mobile devices are now more powerful than the Nintendo 3DS and numerous game developers recognize that! Companies such as Capcom and Square Enix are known for their games that are exclusive to the PlayStation or any of the handheld Nintendo consoles.
However, you may now buy their biggest titles on the Google Playstore for Android and App Store for iOS. For example, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories was an RPG with an extensive story. The game did not appeal to players when it was released on the Nintendo 3DS but it was redeemed later on the Android.
When people talk about Esports, the first thing that comes to mind is games on the PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The most popular titles for the computer are MOBAs and RTS like League of Legends, DOTA 2, and StarCraft. Then there are shooters such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, and Battlefield. The mobile platform is also present in Esports with its own MOBA.
The most popular of which is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Arena of Valor. Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, admired the potential of mobile devices and that is why they are developing a new version of their flagship game. It is called League of Legends: Wild Rift. They know that it is not possible to completely port the game so they decided to overhaul everything from controls, programming, and character models.
Other than action games, Riot Games has also introduced a card game that can play between PC and mobile devices. It is titled Legends of Runeterra. They are not the first to make a card game for the platform. Blizzard Entertainment has been on the platform since 2014 with its game Hearthstone. Countless other amazing card games were also made such as Eternals, Shadowverse, Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links, and Gwent.
The future of mobile gaming
It is presumptuous to say that mobile gaming will be ‘equal’ to consoles and PC. Then again, mobile gamers never even want to compete. The mobile platform is still meant for a completely different audience. It has the charms that make it appealing. First of all, it is portable and affordable. Secondly, a phone is a necessity so almost everybody is carrying one!
The quality of graphics is not what makes a game great. It is the design of the game and the kind of community surrounding it. A gamer is someone who plays any game with passion on their own or with peers. If a developer wants to make a respectable game, then their job is to maintain a respectable community.
Mihoyo, Riot Games, Moonton, Cygames, and so much more developers have successfully maintained a healthy community surrounding their mobile games. Large companies like EA and Konami have also admitted that they see the potential of mobile games in the future.
The games mentioned above are only the ones with the most competitive marketing. You can stay tuned to YouTube videos or blog posts of new games for Android and iOS. The market place is full of hidden gems waiting to be recognized.
What’s your opinion on the mobile device now being recognized as a respectable gaming platform?. Drop your opinions in the comments section below!
For more Mobile Gaming news and updates, join our WhatsApp group, Telegram Group, or Discord server. Also, follow us on Google News, Instagram, and Twitter for quick updates
