Mobile Gaming Predictions 2015
There is little debate that mobile gaming has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last seven years. Since the iPhone's launch in 2007, this industry has made ever deeper inroads into more traditional gaming markets, including desktop and console. In fact, there is reason to believe that mobile gaming may surpass console gaming in popularity in the very near future.
This increase in adoption is due in part, of course, to the proliferation of mobile devices. However, it is also the result of mobile devices becoming more capable with each passing year. Companies like Qualcomm, which is the creator of Snapdragon's mobile technology, are pushing the boundaries of what's possible on a mobile device, and the gap between mobile and console is getting smaller every day.
So if there's little doubt that mobile gaming is here to stay, what does the immediate future hold? Here are some trends to look out for.
Better Production Value
The term “mobile gaming” tends to be synonymous with relatively simple side- and vertical-scrollers. Think of popular mobile titles, and games like “Angry Birds” and “Cut the Rope” likely come to mind. This is destined to change. Games like “Call of Duty: Strike Team” have demonstrated quite clearly that the future of mobile is high-quality, fully-immersive titles. Production values will only get better as time marches on (and technology finally catches up with designers' ambitions). Expect to see more console titles make the jump over to mobile in 2015.
More In-game Transactions
In-game transactions play a vital role in the overall revenue strategy for mobile gaming. This is especially true for games that are offered for free. This trend is not likely to change anytime soon. The advantage of an in-game transaction over in-game advertising (which is also set to play a continuing role moving forward) is that the offer taps into an existing desire on the part of the user. By soliciting the player to pay for an upgrade in-game, you are monetizing the experience; by contrast, soliciting a player to pay for a product by way of an advertisement is monetizing the user (and giving away most of the transaction to the advertiser). It should be evident which business model game developers, and consumers, prefer.
More In-game Advertising
We just discussed the idea that in-game transactions will play a larger role in 2015 than ever before. That being said, don't expect in-game advertising to go anywhere. On the contrary, in-game advertising is looking to become more pervasive than ever. Just as Google has monetized YouTube by showing advertisements not only before and after videos, but during videos as well, game companies are looking to monetize the amount of time users spend playing their games. Smartphones and tablets get used on average up to 200 minutes per day, with only a quarter of that time dedicated to communication. That's a lot of screen time, and advertisers are incredibly interested in taking advantage of it.
Android Devices Will Shape the Gaming Environment
Between the popularity of the iPhone and iTunes, Apple has maintained a dominant presence in the mobile gaming market. In fact, gaming revenue for 2014 was approximately $4 billion. However, Android devices have long since surpassed Apple's iPhone in total volume, and Google's Play store is becoming a heavy player in online sales. If Android's share of the market can be maintained or improved upon, we are likely to see a shift in focus to Android-specific games. With Snapdragon's mobile technology making its way into devices from Samsung, HTC, Sony, and Blackberry, among others, the Android platform is becoming incredibly powerful, and this is likely to be noticed by the casual and dedicated gaming communities alike.
If You're a Mobile Gamer, the Future is Bright
Though some analysts have been predicting the death of console gaming for years (none of which has really come to fruition, unless you're Nintendo), everyone seems to universally agree that mobile gaming is here to stay. With mobile platforms becoming near ubiquitous, and the devices themselves becoming more powerful and more capable with each successive generation, there is only one way for the mobile gaming industry to go, and that is up. If you're a mobile gamer yourself, expect to have more high-quality options than you can shake a stick at, and soon!
Source: Playbrains
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