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The mobile gaming market has significantly grown in value to overtake the PC game market. In 2020 global mobile game revenue is expected to reach $165.9 billion, which confirms Newzoo’s 2018 prediction that the industry would be worth more than $174.0 billion in 2021 and will account for more than 60% of the global gaming market.
In 2019, mobile gaming trends included the console-quality games, augmented reality, and the rise of a hyper-casual new genre. Well, let’s take a look at the 2020 mobile gaming trends.
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Augmented Reality (AR) Games
Both Apple and Google have brought in funds in millions to boost augmented reality technology (AR). This will bring new opportunities. You may ask, what is AR?
Well, in layman’s language, it is an adjusted reality. In essence, in AR games, gamers cannot tell the separate realism and its virtual adjustment.
Because of the immersive and interactive nature of AR mobile games, tech giants are working round the clock to create new opportunities for game developers and marketers as their investment. As we speak, AR games are the most popular in the AR apps categories in app store and play store.
Other than Pokémon Go and Ingress, we now have new additions such as Minecraft Earth, and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. We look forward to more games and advancement going forward. -
Virtual Reality Mobile Games
In the beginning, VR focused primarily on PC and console games. Many gaming sites, even some casinos, such as Comeon casino India, considering adopting it, have been unable to due to the expensive nature of its gears. But now it is slowly turning to mobile to complement its growth.
Currently, newer smartphones are compatible with AR and VR technology. All you need are budget-friendly mobile VR headsets like Google Cardboard and Gear VR.
Some popular VR mobile games include Hidden Temple VR Adventure, Vanguard V, Proton Pulse, Zombie Shooter VR, and many more.
Mobile VR is not incredible as a PC, but immersive but they are not that bad. Game developers and tech giants are putting in money to see the growth of this technology as well. -
Battle Royale Comes to Mobile
Shooting games from the famous game franchises are divesting into the mobile market as well. Already enjoying over 125 million players, the mobile platform would be an excellent platform to see the continued growth of the games.
Battle Royale currently stands as the top genre in mobile gaming, and we stand to see more games join the fray.
Call of Duty and Elder Scrolls franchises joined the mobile gaming market last year, and the results are promising. Of course, we expect games to follow suit as we progress further into 2020, and even see some new games. -
Cross-Platform Gamers
It is now possible to play the same game on different devices. You can start on a console over the weekend while at home. Afterward, you can log in using your mobile phone at a train station and continue from where you left.
So, a mobile gamer can continue their game that they had started playing on a console or PC and resume from where they left, thanks to cloud-based games data storage.
The cross-platform play is particularly popular among game titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Minecraft, and PUBG. -
New Monetization Models
In-game ads still top monetization methods. But games are also banking on in-game purchases. Yes, buying stuff, you need to proceed with the game successfully. Most games use game currency, which you have to buy using whatever local currency you use.
Also, integrated ad videos in-between game scenes are becoming common. In some cases, watching the video becomes the key to unlocking the next stage.
Game developers need money as compensation for their work. So, they monetize their games. But as the mobile game market changes, so do the ways of monetization. This change is bound to continue.
Conclusion
It all started with Tetris, the Nokia Snake game, and today when you look back, it is difficult to relate. That’s what the evolution of mobile gaming has been for the last nineteen years. While Tetris made it to 350 million devices worldwide, today, games are downloaded from online app stores, either often free or at a fee.
