Recent studies on gaming habits highlight the steady growth of the mobile sector. In 2020, gaming of all stripes benefitted from an upsurge in interest in usage. From Twitch streamers to casual mobile games to the next generation of eSports leagues, just about everyone was invested in the zeitgeist.
But mobile might have the potential to become gaming’s latest focal point. Not only are mobile games more accessible for all types of players, but they’re also a lot more convenient to play. Even casinos have started to tilt toward mobile play, with sites like https://www.oddschecker.com/us/casino/mobile-casinos offering the latest deals.
Roulette and blackjack players have the option of sticking their laptops or downloading a mobile casino to their smartphones. Unsurprisingly, the latter has become increasingly popular since 2020. But will the future of gaming really be mobile-based? Though it’s too soon to tell, there are a variety of factors influencing this possibility.
Handheld Gaming
Mobile gaming is extremely convenient. Players simply need access to Wi-Fi and an app store to start shopping around. But that doesn’t mean that PC and console games are going by the wayside. Nintendo Switch opened the doors to handheld consoles back in 2017.
Since then, the Steam Deck has become a massive hit for fans of PC games who want a more portable option. Nintendo is slated to release its Nintendo Switch 2 sometime next year. In other words, so long as these types of handheld consoles remain popular, mobile gaming might not usurp the industry.
Casual Play
But if there’s one huge reason mobile gaming will remain front and center, it’s the proliferation of mobile games. Casual games didn’t just put mobile gaming on the map—they helped turn hundreds of millions of regular people into part-time gamers.
From cute simulations to match-threes, casual games continue to diversify. From the release of older hits like Bejeweled and Flappy Birds, mobile games have evolved into complex but simple projects—from Monument Valley to Slay the Spire. And casual gamers haven’t stopped playing.
The casual play sector of mobile gaming is likely to be part of its ongoing relevance. This is especially true considering the number of casual gamers now outnumbers the volume of competitive and hardcore gamers.
Potential for AR
In terms of future innovation, mobile gaming has great potential—especially within the realm of augmented reality. At the same time Nintendo was launching its groundbreaking Nintendo Switch console, it also released Pokémon GO. This game introduced millions around the world to functional AR gaming.
Since its release, there haven’t been too many hard-hitting releases in this genre. However, it’s likely that mobile would be the subject of future AR developments before handhelds, PCs, or consoles. And given VR remains too pricey for many gamers (and too buggy still), mobile AR games will be more attractive.
However, it’s worth pointing out that headsets might still be part of the equation. In the future, could headsets pair with mobile devices to create AR or MR games? Once more, it’s too soon to tell—but specialized gaming phones have a lot of potential in this area.
Ways to Earn
Mobile gaming isn’t only attractive for gamers—it’s also been a hit for developers. Mobile games are much easier to develop and launch compared to console and PC counterparts. Similarly, mobile games offer more dynamic ways for studios to make money off their releases. Though many gamers lament microtransactions, they’ve paved the way for smaller mobile studios.
Though microtransactions could soon go out of style, they highlight the fact that this industry remains in its infancy. New trends are likely to arise—and they could be hugely profitable for gaming studios and developers.
