Tag: mobile gaming news

Mobile games market poised for major growth

| February 22, 2013

Mobile Games GrowthMobile games market to reach new heights in near future

Juniper Research, a leading market research firm, has released a new study concerning the future of the mobile games market. The study, “Mobile and Tablet Games — Discovery, In-App Purchases and Advertising 2013-2017,” suggests that the mobile games market is poised to see major success and growth in the near future, especially as more consumers get their hands on mobile devices like smart phones and tablets. As mobile device proliferation becomes more widespread, mobile games are expected to begin having a major impact on the global game industry.

Market to exceed $3 billion by 2017

According to the study, global sales of mobile games are expected to reach $3 billion over the next four years. The rapid adoption of tablet devices is cited as one of the key drivers behind this aggressive growth. In-game purchases are also becoming more common among consumers, especially where virtual currencies are involved. Many mobile games offer virtual currency, which can be purchased with actual currency. Virtual currency can be used to purchase a wide assortment of goods in games and this type of currency has become very popular among avid gamers.

North America and Asia will power growth

The study shows that the North American and Asian markets will see the most growth in the mobile games market. These two regions will account for 86% of in-game transactions by 2016. China, in particular, will see a major surge in mobile games as the country’s game developers become more ambitious. Juniper Research notes that the Chinese market reached $1 billion in 2012 and this momentum has yet to show signs of dissipating.

Smart phones to beat out tablets

Despite the growing popularity of tablet devices, smart phones will continue to be the most popular platform on which to make in-game purchases. Consumers continue to show favor for smart phones because of their versatile nature and the fact that can be used for much more than mobile games. Tablets boast of some versatility as well, but do not offer the same features that consumers have come to appreciate with smart phones.

Mobile games on the rise worldwide

| February 18, 2013

mobile games around the worldReport provides insight on the growth of mobile games around the world

Newzoo, a market research firm, has released a new report concerning the growth of mobile games throughout the world. Mobile gaming has become a very popular pastime for many consumers as well as a very influential force within the game industry. Consumers have shown their favor for mobile games because of their accessibility and ease of use, while game developers have taken a strong interest in mobile platforms because financial opportunities and the prospect of reaching a massive audience.

Mobile games market growth 33% in 2012

According to the report from Newzoo, there are now more than 500 million mobile gamers throughout the world. Together, these consumers have spent a total of $9 billion throughout 2012, growing the mobile games market by 33% over what it had been in 2011. Newzoo predicts that the market will continue to grow in the coming years due to the growing number of people purchasing smart phones and tablets.

Free-to-play games are most popular among consumers

The report notes that free games are, by far, the most popular among consumers. While free-to-play games have strong support, these mobile games do have monetization systems in place that can generate profit for their developers. Most free-to-play games offer special services or features that players have to pay for in order to access. In most cases, these features are not necessary to enjoy the game, but consumers tend to purchase these features anyway. These paid features, as well as in-game advertisements, provide developers with considerable profit despite the fact that their games are free-to-play.

Mobile payments revolve around gaming

Newzoo notes that the United Kingdom boasts of the highest number of consumers willing to pay money on mobile games, whether they are free-to-play or not. The U.S. has seen the most growth in the number of mobile gamers there are and U.S. gamers tend to spend more time on their mobile devices, according to the report. The report also notes that approximately 66% of all money spent through a mobile device goes toward gaming.