Market Trends of Mobile Gaming Industry
Increasing Smartphone Penetration is Expected to Drive the Market
- Increasing smartphone adoption is reshaping the landscape of the mobile gaming sector. With enhanced hardware and advanced graphics features, smartphones deliver a rich gaming experience, attracting a diverse audience from avid gamers to casual players.
- App stores like Google Play and Apple's App Store have made it easier for developers to monetize and distribute their mobile games. These platforms, connected to millions of smartphones, offer developers a broad user base and enable revenue streams from in-app purchases and ads.
- Smartphones facilitate social connectivity, enabling users to partake in multiplayer gaming with friends and a global player base. This social dimension enriches the gaming experience and spurs user engagement, thereby fuelling market expansion.
- Smartphone technology is evolving at a quick pace, enhancing processing power and graphics and integrating virtual reality (VR). This evolution empowers developers to craft increasingly immersive and advanced mobile games, expanding their appeal and driving market expansion.
- As global smartphone ownership rises, the demand for mobile games is set to surge, opening up fresh avenues for game developers, publishers, and industry stakeholders. According to the International Telecommunication Union, as of 2023, there were almost 8.9 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide, up from around 8.6 billion the previous year.
- With the rollout of high-speed 5G networks and the introduction of unlimited data plans, the global success of cloud gaming has increased significantly. Given the rising preference for smartphone gaming among most players, the expansion and enhancement of 5G infrastructure, alongside increased services and investments, become paramount.
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North America is Expected to Hold Significant Market Share
- North America is a pivotal player in the global mobile gaming arena, boasting one of the world's largest and most profitable markets. With a substantial smartphone user base spanning various age brackets, mobile gaming has surged in popularity. This surge is underpinned by North America's high smartphone adoption rates, robust economic landscape, and strong gaming culture.
- The North American mobile gaming market is poised for growth, propelled by the increasing adoption of 5G technology. With higher data speeds, ultra-low latency, and enhanced availability, 5G is set to revolutionize the mobile gaming experience. According to Ericsson, 5G subscriptions are forecasted to increase drastically in North America from 2019 to 2027, from over 232 million to around 353 million subscriptions. With the highest adoption rate of smart devices, this region presents a significant opportunity for market growth, particularly given smartphones' pivotal role in their development. This trend is expected to continue during the forecast period.
- In North America, the mobile gaming sector is highly competitive, as established giants such as Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, and Zynga battle alongside a vibrant indie developer community for dominance. This landscape showcases the stronghold of major players and highlights the region's knack for numerous innovative and successful titles emerging from the region.
- The region also possesses a rich array of gaming platforms. Although smartphones reign supreme in mobile gaming, tablets and handheld devices also play a significant role. There is a rising adoption of cloud gaming services in the region, enabling users to play and stream games seamlessly on their mobile devices.
- The North American mobile gaming market features various game genres, from casual and strategy games to role-playing games (RPGs) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. Notably, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) games have emerged, elevating the gaming experience. Market players are intensifying efforts to expand their consumer base across various industry verticals, bolstering their global presence and service portfolios.
- In May 2024, Netmarble, a developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, unveiled the global release of Solo Leveling: ARISE across Android, iOS, and PC platforms. In this immersive journey, players delve into a powerful story fueled by beautiful graphics with a dynamic combat system. Players may also craft unique combat styles by tailoring their skills, obtaining more potent weapons, and delving into further customization options.
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