Square Enix to move away from traditional games toward mobile games
Japanese game publisher and developer Square Enix has been a powerful name in the game industry for several years. The company is responsible for some of the most beloved franchises in the industry, but has recently begun to struggle with its most recent titles and endeavors. This is largely due to the fact that gaming is changing, as are the gamers. As older gamers give way to a new generation, Square Enix is finding that more people are inclined to play games on their mobile devices. In an effort to retain its place in the game industry, Square Enix has begun to set its sights on mobile games.
A new generation spurs a new focus for the developer
The developer has announced that it will be transitioning away from the big-budget games that had made it famous in the past. While Square Enix will not be abandoning its efforts to make such games, much of the company’s focus will be attributed to mobile games. This new focus will not only affect the company’s publishing initiatives but also the development aspect.
Mobile games may help Square Enix connect with a new generation of gamers
The company has high hopes for mobile games, largely due to the popularity of these games with consumers. The success that mobile games represent is most evident among independent developers. Games like Angry Birds and Temple Run have become unexpected phenomena in the game industry and both of these games have proven to be strong revenue streams for their developers. Square Enix believes that mobile games can help it overcome the failures of its past and make it a more recognizable name with a new generation of gamers.
Company likely to face many challenges
Mobile games are popular, but there are many challenges that exist in moving away from traditional, big-budget projects. The first involves the relatively low attention span that consumers have when it comes to mobile games. Another challenge is represented by the fact that mobile games must often include micro-transactions in order to generate a profit, a practice that is somewhat controversial among gamers.
Mobile games are beginning to hold sway over the game industry as a whole
The game industry is currently experience a monumental shift as a new generation of consumers and technology enter into prominent markets around the world. For the past several decades, the game industry has been solely focused on console platforms, as well as PCs. The advent of mobile technology changed that focus, however, especially as advanced smartphones and tablets became extremely popular. Mobile games have quickly become one of the most lucrative aspects of the game industry, which has encouraged developers to swarm to the mobile space in order to take advantage of this popularity.
Developers beginning to swarm the mobile space
A few short years ago, mobile games were considered little more than novelty. They have, however, become one of the most successful fields in the game industry. Consumers around the world have shown that they are exceedingly interested in mobile games of all types, sinking hours upon hours of their times into games like Angry Birds and Temple Run. As these games find more and more traction among consumers, a growing number of developers are breaking away from publishers in order to establish their independent pedigree, much to the delight of consumers.
Consoles may be in for a tough fight
As developers find more success with mobile games, they are beginning to hold more power over the game industry. The industry has long been dominated by consoles, such as the Playstation and Xbox, but mobile devices are threatening to dethrone these platforms. A new generation of consoles is expected to be released sometime this year by Sony and Microsoft, but whether these platforms will be able to compete with mobile games has yet to be seen. ABI Research, a leading market research firm, suggests that competition with mobile games may be fierce.
Research firm suggests that mobile games are cutting into console opportunities with casual gamers
According to ABI Research, mobile games have diminished the opportunities available to consoles in the casual gaming market. Mobile games have introduced consumers to a new business model, wherein they can get the games they are interested in for free or for a very small fee. In general, mobile games that do cost money are $5 to purchase, at their most expensive. The vast majority of these games, however, are free. Many of these games do have in-app purchases that are, at times, somewhat controversial with some consumers, but these have not diminished the appeal of mobile games in any significant manner.
