If you’re a reader of a certain vintage, you might harbour fond memories of one of the first video games available on a mobile phone: the humble Snake. First launched in 1997 on the Nokia 6110, Snake took the gaming population by storm and in the intervening decades, the practice of mobile gaming is changing and has only become more and more widespread.
Indeed, a recent study revealed that as much 43% of the time online spent by smartphone users is devoted to playing games. So what developments revolutionized the mobile gaming industry, and what can we expect to experience in the near future? Read on to find out.
It’s worth billions
There was a time not long ago when parents would berate their children for spending too long on their games consoles. And the same situation is probably still commonplace across the globe. However, one could make a very real argument for sticking at it. Pros at games like League of Legends and Counter Strike can reap significant financial benefits.
It’s not just competition winners who can earn a pretty penny, either. Twitch streamers, gaming coaches and even humble bettors like you and me can earn a segment of the lucrative piece of the pie by betting on LoL eSports, with events and competitions taking place on a regular basis. What’s not to like?
It’s a global phenomenon
At the last count, the global gaming market was worth in excess of $76 billion. The vast Chinese market accounted for almost a third ($21.06) billion of that figure. But while the Chinese may have embraced mobile gaming wholeheartedly from the outset, it’s spreading like wildfire across the globe.
For example, Africa recently hosted its inaugural GamrX in April of this year. The first of its kind to bring together gamers from all over the continent. The event featured a cumulative prize pool of some $15,000 and declared an unqualified success by all who participated. As Africa lags behind the rest of the world in eSports, it’s a sign that things are on the up.
Breaking new markets
Speaking of Africa, the 1.3 billion people who call it home represent a huge market for mobile gaming. Internet access has, historically, been an impediment to Africa’s youthful population, but enterprising initiatives to lay undersea cables connecting the continent could overcome that issue in the near future.
The African population is expected to almost double by 2050. A populace that represents some 16% of the world’s internet users by that date. It’s thus only logical that mobile gaming will take off among the locals. A factor especially true given that many countries on the continent boast a youthful population, supremely confident in handling mobile technology.
For more information on how these exciting developments might affect the future of the mobile gaming sector going forwards, watch this space!
