Mobile gaming now is more than playing the famous Snake game on your phone. This industry touched new heights with the ubiquity of technology and the ease of gameplay. Several studies indicate that mobile games dominated the entertainment industry last year. The exponential growth of smartphones is one of the primary reasons behind the dramatic boom of mobile games.
Let’s delve into the current adaptability of mobile gaming and its emergence in the future.
Mobile Gaming Trends
The mobile game industry witnessed burgeoning growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Confined within four walls, people got no better entertainment source than online mobile gaming. This trend catapulted more revenue for the iGaming companies than TV and movie content. Reports show that PUBG mobile games garnered around 400 million players in 2019.
Fast forward to this date, the current mobile gaming sector offers various options, including free-to-play, AR, and location-based games. In 2022, the mobile gaming market generated around USD 41.7 billion in the US alone. The popular genres among mobile gamers are Multiplayer Battle Arenas, Battle Royale, Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, Puzzles, and Trading Card Games.
Augmented Reality (AR) technology in mobile devices shaped the immersive gaming experiences for players. Developers tapped into AR as a storytelling source to give a new life to dull gameplay.
With the price drop in VR headsets, this trend will only grow in the years ahead. Several iGaming brands are also optimistic about AR-based gaming. By overlaying sounds and digital objects in the real-world environment, AR can make games more attractive.
Further, cloud streaming is another reason for the rise of this market. Cloud platforms provide remote access to stream games from your phone, such as Netflix games. So gamers don’t need to buy costly gaming hardware or download games. Today, tech giants Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are key players in Gaming as a Service (Gaas) or cloud gaming.
Besides, various telecom firms collaborated with cloud gaming service providers to create game-specific data package subscriptions.
Online Gambling and Casinos in Mobile Gaming
Source: iconicmnl.com
From brick-and-mortar to virtual and now mobile gambling, casino gaming trends evolved constantly with time. Mobile casinos allow gamblers to place bets on their favorite games on the go. Like the desktop version, these games run smoothly on iOS and Android devices. Moreover, you can instantly deposit and cash out money by linking real money USA online casinos with your e-wallet.
This industry is also growing at an unprecedented rate due to improved graphics, gameplay, and features of the games. Roulette, Poker, Baccarat, Arcades, Fish Table, and Bingo are popular choices among mobile gamblers.
Further, the advent of 5G will make mobile gambling a smoother experience for casino lovers. The competitive casino market will supposedly see 18% CAGR growth for the next 7-year period, which includes mobile gambling, based on a report by Globe Newswire.
Latest Developments in Mobile Gaming Technology
1. Impact of 5G networks on mobile gaming
There’s a surge in mobile gaming with the launch of 5G mobile networks. It decreased the high latency issue dependency on buying games. This global 5G adoption will also work as fuel to boost the growth of AR gaming.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
AI and ML influenced every industry, including the gaming sector. Today, developers can build real-like game universes with complex characters using AI technology. Access to unlimited mobile game ideas and designs is also a prompt away. It’ll leave more time for prototyping for game-developing studios.
On the other hand, ML models collect, process, and transmit valuable gaming data, such as market trends and player actions during the game. This large dataset allows developers to create more intelligent and intuitive games.
3. Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology in mobile gaming creates a sense of ownership. Players gain more interest in these blockchain or play-to-earn games by earning rewards during gameplay.
4. The rise of mobile eSports
Watching gamers playing and competing in online multiplayer game tournaments has been a new normal recently. Youngsters aged 18 to 25 prefer watching eSports on streaming platforms over traditional sports.
As per a study by Newzoo, eSports was one of the biggest markets in 2022, with a record of almost half a billion viewers. This eSports game market will only boom in the coming years.
The Future of Mobile Gaming
Source: stardewvalleyinfo.com
You can expect the following future trends in the online mobile gaming industry:
- The omnipresence of more AR and VR-based games with the advent of portable wearable headsets, convertible screens, and motion tracking
- 5G networks will improvise mobile game streaming
- Rise of Metaverse and virtual economies
- More eSports tournaments
- Mobile game monetization
Final Thoughts
Mobile games are constantly evolving with technological advancement. AR, VR, blockchain, and data analytics will enhance the gaming experience more in the future. They’re the driving force behind the rapid growth of the iGaming market globally.
With 5G here and smartphones getting cheaper, this industry will only entice more gaming enthusiasts globally.
