Tag: mobile games revenue

Mobile games may herald the demise of handheld devices

| September 30, 2013

Sony and Nintendo show concern over mobile games

The growing popularity of mobile games has been a good trend for developers around the world, many of whom had struggled for years to turn their passion into a lucrative career. While these games have become one of the most promising sectors of the global game industry, the popularity of mobile games may be causing some problems for two of the industry’s titans. Both Sony and Nintendo are beginning to show concern that games for iOS and Android devices are becoming more successful than those for handheld devices, such as the Playstation Vita and Nintento 3DS.

Mobile games are making four times the revenue as games for handheld devices

A recent report from research firms IDC and App Annie shows that games for iOS and Android platforms make four times the revenue when compared to games for Sony and Nintendo handheld devices. The vast majority of these mobile games encourage consumers to spend money by offering additional content, some of which can only be unlocked through the use of digital currencies, which can be bought at any time. Typically, games for Sony and Nintendo devices do not focus on micro-transactions and in-game purchases, which may be a missed opportunity considering the lucrative nature of mobile gaming.

Mobile Games - Handheld games lose groundUK consumers show a strong love for mobile gaming

A similar study from research firm comScore shows that more than 20 million consumers in the United Kingdom alone play mobile games every month. It is estimated that British consumers have spent an average of $400 million on mobile gaming this year alone. Many people are beginning to favor their smartphones and tablets for gaming, abandoning other handheld gaming devices that had once held their attention. This could be a problematic issue for both Sony and Nintendo, as both companies have a strong focus on promoting their handheld devices.

Publishers are flocking to the mobile sector

A growing number of influential publishers are beginning to take the mobile space more seriously. Companies like Electronic Arts and Activision are looking to take advantage of the growing popularity of mobile games, publishing a wide variety of titles that are exclusive to smartphones and tablets. Both Sony and Nintendo have expressed interest in the mobile sector, but the companies may soon be forced to embrace mobile gaming lest they be left behind by the changing interests of consumers.

Mobile games spending in Japan reaches new heights

| September 26, 2013

Japan surpasses US in mobile games spending

It is no secret that mobile games have become very popular throughout the world. These games also happen to be a very lucrative sector for the worldwide game industry. People playing mobile games tend to spend money frequently in order to unlock additional content or purchase in-game items and digital currency. Spending in the mobile games sector has been on the rise over the past few years and now Japan has surpassed the U.S. in terms of spending, according to a new report from NewZoo, a game industry market research firm.

iPhone proves popular among consumers, but Google Play is gaining momentum

According to NewZoo, the iPhone is one of the most popular platforms for mobile games in Japan, followed by Android devices. Since 2007, the U.S. had been the top grossing market for the iPhone when it comes to mobile games. Now, however, Japanese consumers are collectively spending massive amounts of money on mobile games for their iOS devices and are also showing a great deal of enthusiasm for games on Android devices. NewZoo expects that spending for iPhone games in Japan will exceed $1 billion this year, but spending for Android games will surpass that milestone.

Mobile Games SpendingGoogle Play is outpacing Apple

Google Play has become very popular in Japan. While many consumers favor the iOS platform, many more are spending money on Google Play. South Korea is the only other large country where Google Play outshines the Apple App Store in terms of mobile games revenues. Germany and Spain are close behind South Korea and Japan. Google Play is gaining significant momentum among mobile consumers throughout the world, except in China, where Apple has focused the majority of its efforts in the Asian market.

China proves to be important for mobile gaming

China is considered a valuable market, especially where mobile games are concerned. Mobile gaming has become one of the most popular pastimes in the country, which has sparked strong growth in the game industry. Japan, however, remains the top market for games in general. The country is home to a wide variety of mobile games, as well as those for consoles and the PC. Spending on mobile games in Japan is expected to continue growing at a fast pace for the foreseeable future.