When games were first introduced on smartphones, people saw that they had a bright future ahead. Years have passed since then, and we have witnessed striking changes in this area. Even though PCs and laptops offer much more comfortable conditions, better capacities, and big screens, ardent players use their smart devices to play on the go.
The market keeps on growing steadily. Statista predicts that it will hit $286.50 billion in 2023. The rapid growth makes software providers constantly improve their applications and come up with new ones. Mobile application developers are among the most demanded and well-paid IT professionals. Thus, their average salary in the US is $107,539 as of May 2023.
Since the requirements of users are growing, it’s vitally important for specialists to constantly hone their skills. That’s why the most successful mobile gaming developers and designers never stop at what has been accomplished. They should show creativity, commitment, and desire to invent pioneering applications. They closely follow the latest mobile gaming trends to succeed and gain loyal audiences.
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The need to stay ahead: a dynamic perspective on mobile gaming trends
The past year hasn’t been easy for numerous studios. The branch that had been enjoying incredible growth over the past decade witnessed a decline due to multiple factors like the global recession, post-pandemic changes in consumer behavior, advertising costs, and challenges in user acquisition. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the industry has adopted some fascinating mobile gaming industry trends that are still relevant in 2023. The emergence of AAA and midcore games and the fusion of different genres by adding minigames were some of the highlights of 2022. However, some trends like the growth of blockchain mobile games were short-lived due to the massive plummet of cryptocurrency value.
Moving on further, there’s still a lot of room for diversification in the sector. With that said, we’ve got some stunning mobile gaming industry trends lined up for you this year.
Total immersion: the potential of Metaverse
The concept of Metaverse has provoked an immense agitation worldwide. Even though it’s still early days, it is one of the most striking mobile gaming industry trends.
It’s not hard to see why. Through Metaverse, gamers plunge into an interactive and immersive digital world that surpasses the limits of traditional gaming. Many companies have taken notice and are striving to craft customer-focused programs to keep players engaged and prolong the time they spend in their alternative universe.
Consequently, the best casinos and IT companies will be in a fierce competition to become the leader of the area. This will open an exciting era of innovation and creativity.
Fortune Business Insights expects that the Metaverse market will see a substantial growth by the year 2029, with an expected value of $1,527 billion. So, mobile game developers and businesses operating in the sector should master state-of-the-art tools and technologies to gain recognition.
Immersive gaming: AR and XR capacities
AR has been around for some time, yet it is still fresh in gaming. In the past, the only popular AR games were Ingress and Pokémon Go. Besides that, most AR games were just something to pass the time.
Google’s ARCore and a rise in interest in the technology gives us hope for the future of AR gaming, regardless of its slow progress. This area has yet to be fully explored, and we are eagerly awaiting the introduction of more exciting AR experiences. Currently, you should pay attention to such popular AR-based games as Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs, Jurassic World Alive, Pokémon GO, and others.
Another exciting advancement in the immersive area is Extended Reality. XR is one of the revolutionary achievements in the software world. Its advent in mobile gaming marked an entirely new epoch of excitement and engagement. This term encompasses mixed, virtual, and augmented realities – all combined to create an immersive experience for gamers.
XR is transforming the way we play, offering a more realistic and interactive experience for those on the go. With advancements like portable wearable headsets, intuitive interactions, convertible screens, and motion tracking, players will feel like they’ve been transported to a whole new world.
Imagine stepping into your favorite game and being able to interact with characters and objects in a way that feels like real life. This is the future of gaming, and it’s just around the corner. With XR, it will be even more interactive, offering an entirely new level of excitement and realism.
Blockchain: ensuring transparency, security, and ownership
Mobile gaming is about to be completely transformed by the introduction of blockchain technology. This groundbreaking advancement could make games a profitable enterprise instead of just a fun hobby. By leveraging the capabilities of blockchain, gamers can now exercise greater control and monetization over their virtual assets, while enjoying enhanced safety and dependability.
The introduction of NFTs is a promising aspect of blockchain in gaming. They can represent unique in-game items, such as weapons or skins, and can be traded on blockchain-powered marketplaces. This provides gamers with a new way to benefit from their accomplishments, allowing them to gain real-world value.
Blockchain is offering yet another thrilling concept to the industry called proof-of-earning. Players who do well in games can receive cryptocurrency or other digital assets as a reward, creating a new landscape where people can make a living from playing the games they love.
The entire sector is on the cusp of a major shift in direction due to blockchain technology. We can anticipate a blast of creative blockchain-controlled amusements soon, since the chances are unending.
Cloud gaming revolution: unleashing the power of streaming
Cloud service providers are causing a big change to the gaming industry. They offer users the possibility to stream games and enjoy a seamless and extremely pleasant experience. The entire industry is being changed by this technology in 2023.
With top-notch services and high capacities, games can be streamed directly from the server, providing an experience similar to that of a locally installed application. However, this technology may face some limitations due to the lack of adequate internet capacities. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are spearheading the shift towards cloud streaming services, and with the advancement of 5G internet and fiber broadband, the constraints will gradually diminish.
This technology is drawing the attention of streaming giants like Netflix, who are promising to enter the gaming industry with their services. The potential of cloud streaming to change the industry is enormous, as it eliminates the need for game development cycles to be tied to hardware cycles. Gamers will gain access to a vast library of exciting applications. And they don’t even need to perform costly hardware upgrades for that.
Revolutionizing the sector with AI and Big Data
Nowadays, AI and Big Data are radically changing the entire sector. This powerful combination can unlock new dimensions of interactivity and creativity that were previously unimaginable. AI is giving mobile game developers the ability to craft more engaging environments, model human behavior, and design graphics that are as lifelike as possible.
Big Data analytics provides profound insights into player behavior and preferences, enabling IT professionals to personalize user experience to an unthinkable degree. By analyzing massive amounts of data on player activity, mobile gaming developers can tailor games to individual users. This makes a huge difference in terms of engagement and satisfaction.
By utilizing these technologies in tandem, more intelligent, interactive, and stimulating games can be created that will keep gamers coming back. Advanced ML algorithms can be used to create increasingly captivating and engaging games, while AI-powered engines can generate dynamic content that adapts to each player’s actions and preferences.
For mobile gaming companies, all this opens up endless possibilities for growth and perfection. For common users, this makes games even more exciting.
Leveraging the power of generative AI
Generative AI and generative art have radically transformed game development. This advanced technology allows for the creation of lifelike universes and characters that act like humans. Implementing Big Data and advanced algorithms, experts can examine player behavior and market requirements to design more engaging and tailored experiences. Generative AI in games experienced a considerable growth, with more than $2 billion invested, a rise of 425% compared to 2020.
Nvidia, a renowned tech firm, has announced the release of Magic3D, an AI program that can generate 3D models from textual descriptions. This enables game developers to create more intricate and comprehensive worlds, allowing players to have a more realistic and engaging experience. As people want smarter and more interactive games, the use of generative AI will keep growing, making visually stunning games with complex characters and plots.
The upsurge in midcore and AAA games
Despite a slight decline last year, major game publishers continue to make efforts to move their applications into the mobile market. This mobile gaming market trend is evident in some of the biggest midcore releases of 2022, such as Diablo Immortal or Marvel Snap. It’s obvious that publishers are taking mobile gaming more seriously as the demand for these types of titles continues to increase.
This market is expected to grow even bigger. Notable games such as Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis are projected to arrive in the market in 2023, with the capability of crossplay for PC and console users.
It’s even more thrilling that they are entirely new games rather than just copies of already existing titles.
Changing monetization strategies in games
Gacha is a popular monetization strategy that has been around for a while now. Despite its prevalence, the controversial practice has recently come under fire from regulators in various countries. The Norwegian Consumer Council, backed by 18 consumer protection agencies, recently released a report advocating for better laws concerning loot boxes and gachas. This has led to some agencies abandoning the practice altogether.
The EU has imposed regulations on loot boxes and other monetization methods, and Australia has proposed a bill which would necessitate an 18+ age rating for games with loot boxes. Even the UK is expected to revisit the issue soon.
Some of the biggest games, like Mario Kart Tour, have already ditched gachas, but other games are still incorporating the practice. Playrix’s games, for example, continue to incorporate gacha monetization, and new types of gachas are emerging in the market. They are integrated with gameplay elements, such as winning matches, and are used by games like Hearthstone.
Despite the pushback against gachas, it’s clear that they are still a viable monetization strategy for many game developers. The industry is in constant motion, adapting to changing consumer demands and regulatory pressures. Soon, we will see how this mobile gaming market trend will continue to play out in the years to come.
Conclusion
As mobile app gaming continues to grow at a rapid pace, winning the competition requires following the latest trends and innovative strategies. By incorporating AR, utilizing generative AI and Big Data, developers have a plethora of resources to craft more exciting and tailored experiences for their players.
Creative monetization strategies will keep users engaged and entertained. In addition, embracing the midcore mobile game development trend and adapting AAA titles for mobile can help publishers reach new audiences and attract more hardcore gamers.
Ultimately, for mobile gaming companies, the key to success in the industry is to stay flexible and adapt to the ever-changing landscape. By embracing new technologies, creative marketing strategies, and engaging gameplay mechanics, game developers can stand out in a crowded market and deliver truly innovative experiences that keep users interested and happy with exciting applications.