Tag: game industry news

Mobile games may eclipse consoles in the future

| May 3, 2013

Mobile Games to Eclipse Consoles

Game industry continues to shift to accommodate mobile games

It is no secret that mobile games have become much more than a simple novelty or passing fad. With the number of consumers with mobile devices growing, these games have become an integral part to the entertainment that many people experience all over the world. Mobile games now represent one of the most lucrative sectors of the game industry, and the allure of these games have caused even decades old development companies, many of whom have long been devoted to consoles, to embrace the mobile space eagerly. The growth of mobile games has yet to show any serious signs of slowing down, which may make mobile the most popular gaming platform in the near future.

Report predicts the future of mobile gaming

Juniper Research, a leading market research firm, has released a new report concerning the emerging trends being seeing in mobile games. According to the firm, consumers will spend more than $3 billion on mobile games in 2016 worldwide. The firm notes that $301 million was spent on these games in 2012, showing that mobile games are growing at a very rapid pace. Juniper Research suggests that the mobile platform will grow ten times larger in terms of sales by the end of 2016.

Tablets expected to be device of choice for gamers

The report notes that the Far East, China, and North American markets will account for 86% of all mobile games spending in 2016. Tablets will be the preferred platform that consumers use to play games as they are beginning to be built with hardware dedicated to gaming. More games are also being designed with tablets in mind, especially those of the free-to-play model, which have already proven significantly popular among consumers.

Firm anticipates mobile to dominate gaming

Juniper Research claims that mobile will be the primary form of gaming in the future. The firm anticipates that consumers will begin moving away from traditional consoles in droves due to the entertainment that can be had through mobile games. There is, however, a new generation of consoles expected to be launched this year, which may be able to ensnare the interests of gamers once again.

Mobile gaming thrives in China amidst ban on consoles

| January 30, 2013

Mobile Gaming ChinaConsole ban may soon be lifted due to performance of mobile gaming

For over a decade, China has been a very poor market for the game industry. Ten years ago, the Central Government issues a ban on the manufacture, sale, and import of game consoles. While this has not stopped gaming from being an influential force in China, the market has been relatively stagnate since the ban was introduced. This ban may soon be abolished, however, due in no small part to the influence China has had on the mobile gaming space.

Mobile gaming unabashed by console ban

While consoles have been banned in China for several years, mobile gaming is not restricted to traditional systems. Instead, mobile games are entirely based on devices like smart phones and tablets. Because these devices cannot be considered gaming consoles, they are not susceptible to the ban instituted by the Central Government. The clout that the country holds in the mobile gaming market has become massive, accounting for some $6.38 billion during the fourth quarter of 2012. Apple held the majority of the Chinese market in thrall during this period.

China may become a very promising market for game industry

If China decides to rescind its ban on consoles, the game industry may be in for a major shift. Game developers and publishers have been itching for an opportunity to enter into the market, which is considered an untapped field of massive promise. The world’s largest console makers, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, are eager to enter into the market for t he same reasons. While lifting the ban could be good news for the game industry, it may also open the way for a new force to emerge therein.

Lifting the ban could allow Chinese companies to reshape the industry

If the Central Government does lift the ban, Chinese companies will be able to develop and produce their own consoles. Given the fact that two of China’s largest smart phone developers have produced devices that rivaled the iPhone and Android devices in the fourth quarter of 2012, such companies may be able to introduce a console that could dethrone the industry’s traditional heavyweights. A more accommodating atmosphere for gaming could also attribute a major amount of momentum to the country’s mobile gaming market.