Mobile games are taking the global gaming market by storm. According to a report by App Annie and IDC, spending on mobile gaming in 2017 was 2.3 times higher than spending on PC and Mac gaming combined, and more than three-and-a-half times higher than spending on console games. The report further revealed that almost 80 percent of total worldwide spending on the Apple and Google Play stores was on games.
It’s evident that mobile gaming is on the rise, especially when looking at the huge profits some of the mobile tech giants are making. Chinese developer Tencent reported a year-on-year profit boost of 74 percent in 2017, which was largely supported by the continued popularity of its mobile games.
When it comes to the future of gaming, it’s clear: mobile games aren’t a passing fad. Let’s have a look at some of the biggest gaming trends that are driving the mobile gaming revolution.
Table of Contents
More casino gamers opt for mobile
Casino gaming is one of the fastest growing mobile game genres. According to research done by SuperData in 2017, 85 percent of social casino users play on smartphones, while the percentage of users playing strictly on PCs has fallen from 15 percent to 6 percent over the past year.
According to the research, one of the key differences between PC and mobile casino game players is the time it takes for them to get bored and move on to a new game. Where it takes the average PC gamer about nine months before switching, mobile players will typically jump to new casino apps on average every seven-and-a-half months. This means that mobile developers have to release new casino games more often in order to give players regular new content, which is resulting in a rapidly growing mobile casino gaming portfolio with a wide range of options attracting new players to the genre.
Innovative new technologies
Technological advancements have been contributing greatly to the rapid rise of mobile gaming and are putting this platform at the center of the $100+ billion gaming industry revenue.
When it comes to innovation, casino games are in front and center. From blackjack with live dealers to VR gaming lounges and slot machine games offering immersive story lines, there are plenty of new tech developments for players looking for lifelike, entertaining gaming experiences. No wonder this genre has gained instant fame – people who had never considered themselves gamblers now have some of the latest mobile casino apps on their smartphones. Mobile casino gaming has truly become the new face of home-based entertainment, fueled by Google’s inclusion of gambling apps in its Play Store since August 2017.
Another one of the gaming trends turning the mobile gaming market upside down is HTML5 mobile gaming, or instant games, which are available through leading messaging apps. Without needing to visit an app store, download an app or sign up, players can access a range of big-title games instantly, and invite their friends to play with them. The lack of requirement for downloading an app, the platform’s interactivity and its ease of access are all playing a major role in the increasing number of people adopting mobile gaming.
Women are gaming in unprecedented numbers
The smartphone’s ubiquity, together with the ease with which users can access a universe of games, is ushering in a new era for gaming – an era in which females are taking center stage. According to a 2017 Google Play and NewZoo survey, 65 percent of U.S. women aged between 10 and 65 play mobile games, which accounts for nearly half – 49% – of all mobile gamers. In addition, 64 percent of females prefer mobile over other gaming platforms compared to only 38 percent of men.
Research also showed that female mobile players tend to play more frequently, making them more likely than their male gamer counterparts to become habitual players. The acquisition of this new, promising, previously untapped segment of the gaming market has certainly been one of the major contributing factors in the rise of mobile gaming.
However, although females account for such a significant part of the mobile gaming market, mobile games still seem to put men front and center. The Google Play Top Grossing Games report from November 2017 suggested that more male-identified characters are featured in Google Play store icons than female-identified ones, even though female players account for nearly half the market.
If mobile game developers can change the game by offering better gender inclusivity, who knows what the future of gaming will look like and to what degree the mobile gaming industry revenue will continue to grow?
This industry update was brought to you by Rivers Casino, a top-rated, Play4Fun casino app available free on Android or iOS. With a wide range of new and classic Vegas slot machines and casino games, such as slots, Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette and Texas Holdem Poker, Casino Rivers offers an authentic and fun mobile gaming experience for the beginner and master player.
About Carson Derrow
