Kapitall analysis highlights the growth of mobile gaming over the years
Mobile gaming may soon become the dominating force in the game industry. Kapitall, an online investment platform, has been tracking the decline of traditional console gaming and the sale of physical gaming products. As sales continue to drop, they are being replaced by sales made through digital platforms, such a Steam and Gamestop. Game developers that focus solely on mobile gaming, such as Glue Mobile and Zynga, are also seeing significant gains as traditional platforms begin to wane.
Retails sales dropping off for consoles and games
According to Kapitall, retail game sales have dropped by 25% year-to-date, while console sales have plummeted by 30% year over year. A volatile economic climate is to blame to some degree, but so too is the retail price of most video games, which can range from $30 to $60, depending on the publisher of the game. Mobile gaming is faring much better, largely due to the fact that most mobile games are very inexpensive, with many being completely free.
Mobile gaming accounts for only a fraction of the entire market
Despite the strong advent of mobile gaming, however, mobile games account for only a fraction of the overall market. Digital downloads of games developed for consoles and PCs are strong and continue to gain momentum as more consumers show favor for online shopping over traditional forms of commerce. For these people, online shopping is simply more convenient and does not actually mean they are spending less on games, only that they do not have to pick them up from a physical store.
Gamers still willing to shell out money for console and PC games
Kapitall notes that gamers are not likely to abandon consoles in favor of mobile gaming. Mobile games typically offer a very shallow, linear experience that is designed around repetition rather than in-depth gameplay. As such, titles from companies like Electronic Arts, THQ, and Ubisoft are likely to continue selling well, even if those sales are not actually physical.
