The rise of mobile gaming in the UK

A quick look around at all the people on their mobile devices and it isn’t surprising to hear reports that mobile gaming is growing. Experts have predicted, in fact, that the number of mobile game users will be around 2,309.4 million users by 2026, according to data published by Statista.

Just like in many other places in the world, mobile gaming is growing in the United Kingdom. Stats published on Statista show that in an October 2020 to January 2021 survey of adults of 16 years and over, 39% of the respondents had played mobile games. This is up from the 23% of the previous year. This is a look at mobile gaming in the UK, some of the factors that have contributed to its popularity and what the future could hold for mobile gaming.

What makes online gaming so popular?

Mobile gaming has caught on in a big way, partly because it is so convenient. Players have the games right there on their phones and can access them any time they want. Not only that, but the games are much cheaper than console games. Any player who does wish to get into console gaming can try some casual gaming on their device first and, if they enjoy the experience (which they are likely to because mobile games are so easy to play!) can then invest in a console and some games later.

Mobile gaming spurring growth in gaming niches

Of course, the success of mobile gaming has been good news for creators and developers of a variety of games. Open world multiplayer games have taken off – the unbridled success of Pokémon Go! is testament to that.

Another big hit in this niche has been Fortnite, and the fact the game is free to play will certainly have helped. Fortnite is also renowned for its constant updates, which generate a lot of excitement among fans of the game.

Casual games have been a big hit, with popularity fuelled by their ease of playing and the general accessibility. Other types of game that have enjoyed major attention from the gaming community have been strategy games, puzzle game and role-playing games (RPGs).

Factors driving the massive growth in gaming

It is said that gaming is actually growing bigger than the movie industry, with more people spending their money on gaming than on movies. Large teams of developers may be necessary to work on high-end games, but the rewards are huge. But what is driving such massive growth in gaming?

One factor is the growth of social games, such as Farmville on Facebook. According to an article in online publication of the University of Washington, the creator of the game, Zynga, has reported that more than 50 million users play its games each day. Part of the reason for the growth of gaming is that games are reaching people that they never used to before.

Technological advances have also made a massive contribution to the growth of the industry. Streaming has been one big innovation, as companies pursue their goal of customers being able to stream games without the need for a console or a PC. Virtual reality has been another, as companies respond to the demand of players for more immersive experiences.

The future of mobile gaming

Gaming companies and operators are constantly striving to improve their offering since they conduct their business in a highly competitive industry. This makes it likely mobile gaming will continue to grow. The gaming world can expect to see more innovations as companies engage in this battle. Here are some that might materialise:

• Better graphics
  This should not come as much of a surprise. Smartphones have been improving, improving and improving. They are already capable of playing videos in high-definition, and colour clarity and brightness have also come a long way, so players can expect graphics to get better and better. These will not be quite up to the level of a games console, but they’ll still be more than respectable.
• Streaming
  Just as smartphone users can stream music or movies to their phones via platforms such as Netflix and Spotify, game streaming allows them to stream games onto their devices without the need for a console or PC. Image quality may suffer temporarily if the quality of the Internet connection diminishes, but as widespread 5G rolls out, the quality of game images is going to get better.
• More titles on mobile
  Game makers for consoles and PCs have started to want to get in on the massive mobile gaming market. As a result, the gaming community is likely to see mobile versions of titles that are already on PC or consoles.

Mobile gaming has exploded in the UK and in the wider world, and only looks set to get bigger and bigger. All of this is good news for fans of mobile gaming, naturally, as they can expect to witness new innovations that add even more to their gaming experience.

The editorial unit