How the Biggest Game Developers Are Moving to Mobile

An article by USAToday.com revealed that the mobile games industry could be worth $100 billion by 2021. Mobile games are expected to make more than 70% of all revenue made from mobile apps, and as there are more than one billion owners of smartphones and tablets, that's a huge figure.

The potential amount of money that could be made from mobile gaming has led some of the biggest game developers to put more resources into mobile. Companies like Blizzard, Epic Games and LeoVegas may be known for console and PC gaming, but these brands are all trying to grow their fanbases on mobile as the industry just keeps growing.

App and Browser Versions

Most people on mobile devices will want to download their mobile games, but for people who have weak internet connections or don't have much room on their phones, that won't be an option. The casino review site, Bonus.ca, says that online casinos have learned that and so they allow players to access games such as slots, blackjack, and roulette, through their mobile browsers. Players don't need to download an app to gamble on their phone as many casino sites only ask people to create an account to start playing. 

For larger games with more textures, files, and game modes, being compatible with browsers just won't be possible. However, for those game developers who can make their games work on browsers, they can appeal to many more mobile gamers. 

Support for Cross-Play

Many developers, such as Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, got started first on PCs and consoles. This doesn't mean that they treat mobile gamers differently, though, and the company has tried to bring all of its players together by using something called cross-play.

Cross-play, explains Forbes.com, allows players to compete against each other whether they are playing Fortnite on iOS, Android, PC, PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch. Switch and mobile users will be grouped together, but you can still play together across platforms if you are in a team. As more developers release their games on all platforms, expect cross-play to become a regular thing. 

Releasing Smaller Games

By not releasing a mobile game, companies are potentially failing to appeal to a huge number of players. However, that doesn't mean that it is incredibly easy to just bring a game over to mobile devices. Some games were created for PC and controller inputs, or they are large games that mobile devices wouldn't have room for.

Some game developers, such as Blizzard, have tried to find a fix for this. An article from IGN.com explains that the company will be releasing a mobile game called Diablo Immortal, which will have some of the gameplay from its popular dungeon-crawling RPG series. This allows Blizzard to appeal to mobile gamers without trying to fit such a large game onto smaller screens.

As more game developers rush to the gold in the mobile games industry, things are becoming more competitive. It will be much more difficult for other developers to find success, which is why these companies are trying to get into the industry now.