Mobile Gaming Trends 2018
2017 was all about augmented reality. We saw Apple coming up with ARKit and Google following suit with ARCore. Pokemon Go, though released the previous year, dominated much of 2017 too.
2017 was also the year of re-defining smartphones, some of which were at par with laptops in terms of their speed and performance. As mobile displays keep getting bigger and companies continue to invest heavily in machine learning, we can certainly expect some interesting trends in the mobile gaming industry in 2018.
Blockchain and Tokenization
With blockchain creating a storm in every sector, it was only a matter of time before this disruptive technology forayed into the gaming space. According to an article on Venture Beat, the industry is still in its initial stages of implementing the concept; by creating tokens that not only appreciate in value, but also facilitate in-game purchases across various platforms.
Founder and CEO of mobile game aggregator SGame Pro™, Gip Cutrino, points out that tokenization could change the face of the existing in-game economy. According to him, “Players play games and publishers take 100% of the generated revenue. Tokens like SGM will allow players to get rewarded too, through its Proof-of-Play concept. So, now players can earn not just through multiplayer challenges but for the time they spend on their favourite games. It will be a win-win situation for all parties.”
Greater Impetus to Casual Gaming
While mobile gaming is going all out to promote the hardcore multiplayer format, the casual gaming audience is calling for attention too. Developers have been forced to take into account the fact that people play more games on their mobiles than ever before, using the time they commute to school or work, according to FuturePlay. Companies are starting out with casual games, which they are building on over time, to suit the more serious players.
Rise in Cross-Platform Games
Large game developers now realize that mobile gaming accounts for a significant portion of the revenue for the gaming industry. Hence, we are likely to see popular PC/Console games being translated into the mobile format. According to APPLOVIN, having a console-quality experience on mobiles is no longer a distant dream. Smartphones are so powerful today, in terms of graphics and processing speed, that game developers will be able to create powerful cross-platform experiences, beyond PCs and consoles.
Integration of Live Activities and Features
Games are no longer restricted to just players and developers. There are a range of live activities and events now on social media platforms that developers are including in their games to increase the attention span of gamers and create more interesting experiences. According to an article on DZone, online data reports suggest that 60% of the top game developers offer incentives to players for participating in live events.
Increase in the Mainstream Adoption of VR
According to Grand View Research, the size of the virtual reality gaming market will reach $45.09 billion by 2025. Developments like new headsets and improvements in the existing hardware will continue to be in the foreground. At the CES 2018, held in Las Vegas, the Samsung Gear VR made big headlines. In the coming years, we expect to see more of such technology, which will provide an explosive gaming experience.
The mobile gaming industry is fragmented right now. We need a favourable ecosystem, in which players, publishers, developers and influencers, are all able to thrive.
SGame Pro™ aims to create just such an environment for all participants, so that each party can benefit from gaming.
To know more about the system, visit SGamePro™ and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!