Mobile Gaming Predicted to Make $79 billion This Year

Statista reports that in 2021, mobile gaming is expected to reach $79 billion in revenue — the largest chunk of the global gaming industry. This prediction comes after mobile gaming made approximately $77.2 billion in revenues last year, with console gaming trailing behind with $45.2 billion.

Today, we take a look at what drives the mobile gaming industry forward.

Smartphone Accessibility

More than three billion people around the world now own a smartphone. It then comes as no surprise that as people become more on the go, they become more dependent on their mobile phones. They also tend to invest less in other devices, such as desktop computers or gaming consoles.

With people having access to an entire world of games right in their pockets, the portability of smartphones makes them appealing even to novice gamer. Instead of setting up an expensive gaming centre, they can just whip out their phones and play anytime and anywhere they want.

With the continuous development of technology in smartphones, the mobile gaming experience is becoming comparable to that of console or PC gaming. Mobile games are not only becoming more immersive and improved over time, but they are also becoming cheaper, if not free, alternatives to gaming. However, since the mobile gaming industry continues to grow, the number of people willing to pay for games also increases, encouraging developers to innovate more.

The Range of Gaming Experiences

The range of games available for playing on mobile phones is more diverse than ever. Because of this sustained demand for more games, gaming companies themselves are making the leap from console to mobile. Crowd-favourites Minecraft, PUBG, and Call of Duty have introduced a multiplayer cross-platform setting that would allow mobile gamers to play with those who use consoles or PC. There are also some titles, like GTA: San Andreas, that allow the use of a controller for mobile games, giving the user a console experience with a mobile device.

In addition, gaming developers are offering plenty of unique experiences all from one app, as can be seen on the games on the Foxy Bingo app. By working with leading brands like Playtech, Blueprint, and Yggdrasil, the platform offers a wide range of games to enjoy — from classic titles like Rainbow Riches and Fishin’ Frenzy to special Megaways slots that offer more reels and more opportunities to win. This encourages more people to try playing without getting bored.

The Lockdown Effect

In June 2020, a report by Nielsen Games Video Game Tracking revealed that the number of gamers increased by almost 50% because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since more people stayed at home and most establishments closed down, they looked to gaming as their means of entertainment. As a result, the industry got more converts.

The giants of the video game industry, like Microsoft and Nintendo, observed an increase in the number of their subscribers while streaming platform Twitch also saw a remarkable increase in the number of hours people used the app. The average number of in-app purchases also soared across all gaming genres during the pandemic.

However, with the world slowly reopening and the issues surrounding smartphone supply still unresolved, the gaming industry’s revenue and continuous growth is far from sure. Nevertheless, it still holds a lot of potentials, with experts even saying that it will overtake the film and music industries in the coming years. If gamers sustain or even elevate their enthusiasm, like that shown during the ASUS King of Mobile 2018 event, this market growth is here to stay.