Mobile gaming has recently become more popular among gamers. Although laptops and desktops provide users with a larger screen and a more engaging experience, the portability of mobile games is what’s keeping gamers hooked to the platform. As more people jump on the bandwagon, people can’t help but ask:

What is the future of mobile gaming? 

Keep reading to learn more about how mobile games will shape gaming moving forward. 

More Free-to-Start Games

As the name suggests, free-to-start games cost nothing to download and play. Yet, there is an option for you to upgrade to a paid or “premium” version of the game. Paid versions typically have more features and levels, which encourages gamers to pay for upgrades. 

The majority of the gaming population are casual gamers. In other words, they don’t dedicate as much time and effort to gaming as professional gamers do. Instead, they game only to pass the time or to entertain themselves. 

Casual gamers are much more hesitant about spending money on games, especially if it’s not something they see themselves playing for long. As a result, game manufacturers are coming up with more free-to-start programs to increase downloads and game loyalty. 

Rise of Mobile eSports

Many people now make a living off of online gaming. From cash game apps to gaming competitions — it’s now so much more possible to make a living off your gaming hobby. While the trend started with mostly PC games, the industry has been slowly evolving over the years. Now, mobile gaming has become one of the most recent eSports. The most popular games today being “Arena of Valor,” “Call of Duty,” and “Summoners War.”

More 5G-Fueled Gaming Sessions

As cloud gaming becomes more commonplace, the need for fast and reliable internet speeds has never been greater. Luckily, technology has brought us the best solution to this issue. 

The latest 5G connection is believed to be 10 times more powerful than 4G. Obviously, this will introduce new levels of speed to mobile gaming. This means you experience less congestion, quicker downloads, and much more accurate in-game. The decreased latency created by 5G connections will also address the problem of quick battery draining. 

You’ll also be able to test out more games before installing them with 5G. While samples are currently available on the Play Store, they are only limited to a few titles. 5G will assist in extending game demos to more titles, increasing discoverability, and allowing you to locate the games you enjoy quicker.

Big Franchises Downscale to Smaller Screens

Mobile devices get more and more powerful with each passing year. Tools that we could only have imagined being featured on phones are now mainstream. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that big game franchises are now being endorsed as portable mobile games. 

Games that were once solely available for personal computers or gaming consoles will now be available for mobiles. One good example is Call of Duty: Mobile, which was released in 2019 as a free download from Google Play. 

Downscaling games that were meant to be played on big screens can lead to several changes in their interface. The great thing about Call of Duty: Mobile is that it retained its original layout, effectively providing users with the same high-quality gaming experience as desktop games. 

Develop Better Graphics and Controls

As more well-known names enter the industry of mobile gaming, mobile developers will take note and invest heavily in further upgrading their devices. To provide their consumers with a first-rate experience, they will simply have to offer better visuals and overall speed. Furthermore, because certain games will be played offline, smartphones will need to have greater storage and also longer-lasting batteries to let gamers play limitlessly. 

On-screen controls can obstruct your view of the game, which could mean poor performance in-game. Developers and designers will work together to create better solutions for mobile game controllers. 

Integrate Mobile VR/AR

Aside from improving and facilitating the integration of augmented reality and virtual reality into mobile games, 5G will enable the integration of VR and AR into mobile games, too. There are VR/AR applications available on Google Playstore, but they do not accurately depict what the technology is capable of. This is due to the fact that 4G lacks the power necessary to adequately utilize VR and AR.

To usher in the next generation of AR/VR mobile games, we must make 5G more available and economical for everybody. After all, whether a mobile game becomes successful is heavily dependent on the number of downloads it receives.

Final Thoughts

The mobile gaming industry has grown to newer heights since it first appeared. Now, millions of people participate in the trend. Whether your goal is to leverage mobile gaming to make income for yourself or simply play for your own satisfaction, there surely will be a game for you out there.