The mobile game is one of the fast evolving app niches. While 2016 has been a happening year for the mobile game industry, in 2017 we can see many of these trends to solidify. If we saw a never before blockbuster like Pokemon Go this year, in the coming months, we can see more games to create such feverish craze. This is the right time for mobile game development companies to take a fresh look at the most promising mobile game trends that are going to rock 2017 and beyond.
VR going to be more affordable and mainstream
While the buzz and hype around VR games seem to be louder than all others, you need to shell out a hefty sum to enjoy the experience of playing VR games at home. For a complete VR game experience right at your home, you are likely to pay as high as $4000 for the VR hardware. The biggest constraint for the VR games going mainstream is the lack of affordability. A dedicated room with an expensive hardware is something that an average gamer may not find right for their budget. This has been the case with mobile game apps in 2016. In 2017 we can see this change.
The new Sony Gizmo, the new PlayStation VR from the ace Japanese tech giant, may just change the scene. As per Super Data survey, 31% of the console gamers in the US are reported to have a plan to buy this new VR game hardware. This new upsurge of interest in buying VR hardware became possible because of the affordable price tag that the company already mentioned to be something around $400. Other brands are also doing enough to make a VR a mass market technology. The Gear VR is going to be offered at an unbeatable price of just $99 with Samsung phone compatibility.
2. Free-to-play games going to embrace free-to-start
Free-to-play (F2P) games as we all have seen struggled for retention and monetization. While the struggle is far from its comprehensive solution and end, new maneuvers to boost retention and revenue have surfaced. One of the useful maneuvers is ‘Booster Pack’ or ‘Free to Start’ game pack. A whole array of games adopting this strategy got considerable success. In 2017 we can see the proliferation of this monetization method.
3. The popularity of streaming game video will continue
Game video streaming has become a widespread popular trend in the recent times that created a new niche audience for passive game watching. But the ultimate step in this trend has not arrived yet. We are going to see more in this trend. It has primarily affected the game scene as a distribution method that allowed audience is having a spec of the game without buying or downloading it. Secondly, it fetched more game playing audience to the games as streaming allows them to broadcast their impressive success and skills. Can there be a better way to promote a game? Certainly not, and this is precisely why game streaming will continue to be popular in the coming months. As VR games are going to be more common and mainstream, we can expect them to dominate the game video scene.
4. Customizable game graphics and game mechanics
Gaming experience is continuing to be more personalized and player specific these days. This is one major contributing factor to the addictive quality of many games. It is one incredible way to engage the audience and make them feel addressed personally while playing a game. But, until now addressing personalized preferences has limited options as no games can let their players tweak with the primary game graphics and mechanics. Such dynamic personalisation of mobile games seems to be the next big breakthrough, and we can see this happen in 2017 alone.
5. Bigger, richer and more promise-laden game updates
What does a game update means to a seasoned player? Well, most possibly an update is perceived as a fix to bugs, faulty game mechanics or something that can boost device feature integration or overall app performance, right? But, updates these days are continuing to emerge as more valuable and fundamental to the evolution of s game app than mere fixes to specific performance issues or other problems. In the time to come, we can expect mobile games to make updates as big as incorporating significant changes to game graphics and mechanics. Game updates can be targeted to retain users with more twists for the gaming experience, or it can target new users with something new that they did not recognize earlier with the game brand. While reviving interest to an old game is crucial, game updates will play a significant role in this.
6. Mobile game playing to TV gaming
Games are no longer limited to any specific device. Earlier we had gaming consoles the success of which was soon challenged by mobile game experience and then suddenly the game consoles evolved as the new all-round entertainment device allowing game playing, movie watching and browsing possible through the same device interface. So, while mobile games will continue to grow in all directions, they will be integrated more and more with gaming experience in other connected devices including modern game consoles and smart TVs. This multi-channel gaming is going to be the next big reality for the gaming industry. With most people enjoying their pastime activities indoor these days, mobile as well as all home entertainment devices will be used seamlessly for a fluid and supple gaming experience that does not know any bounds. The diversified gaming experience will become even more intense with the game playing smart wearables. Tapping with a pair of smart sneakers you can control game playing actions on smart TVs, consoles and mobile.
Aren't there any game trends worth mentioning? Obviously, several others are equally important to assess where the mobile gaming is heading for. But, these six trends may be the most immediate ones to change mobile gaming.
While the buzz and hype around VR games seem to be louder than all others, you need to shell out a hefty sum to enjoy the experience of playing VR games at home. For a complete VR game experience right at your home, you are likely to pay as high as $4000 for the VR hardware. The biggest constraint for the VR games going mainstream is the lack of affordability. A dedicated room with an expensive hardware is something that an average gamer may not find right for their budget. This has been the case with mobile game apps in 2016. In 2017 we can see this change.
The new Sony Gizmo, the new PlayStation VR from the ace Japanese tech giant, may just change the scene. As per Super Data survey, 31% of the console gamers in the US are reported to have a plan to buy this new VR game hardware. This new upsurge of interest in buying VR hardware became possible because of the affordable price tag that the company already mentioned to be something around $400. Other brands are also doing enough to make a VR a mass market technology. The Gear VR is going to be offered at an unbeatable price of just $99 with Samsung phone compatibility.
2. Free-to-play games going to embrace free-to-start
Free-to-play (F2P) games as we all have seen struggled for retention and monetization. While the struggle is far from its comprehensive solution and end, new maneuvers to boost retention and revenue have surfaced. One of the useful maneuvers is ‘Booster Pack’ or ‘Free to Start’ game pack. A whole array of games adopting this strategy got considerable success. In 2017 we can see the proliferation of this monetization method.
3. The popularity of streaming game video will continue
Game video streaming has become a widespread popular trend in the recent times that created a new niche audience for passive game watching. But the ultimate step in this trend has not arrived yet. We are going to see more in this trend. It has primarily affected the game scene as a distribution method that allowed audience is having a spec of the game without buying or downloading it. Secondly, it fetched more game playing audience to the games as streaming allows them to broadcast their impressive success and skills. Can there be a better way to promote a game? Certainly not, and this is precisely why game streaming will continue to be popular in the coming months. As VR games are going to be more common and mainstream, we can expect them to dominate the game video scene.
4. Customizable game graphics and game mechanics
Gaming experience is continuing to be more personalized and player specific these days. This is one major contributing factor to the addictive quality of many games. It is one incredible way to engage the audience and make them feel addressed personally while playing a game. But, until now addressing personalized preferences has limited options as no games can let their players tweak with the primary game graphics and mechanics. Such dynamic personalisation of mobile games seems to be the next big breakthrough, and we can see this happen in 2017 alone.
5. Bigger, richer and more promise-laden game updates
What does a game update means to a seasoned player? Well, most possibly an update is perceived as a fix to bugs, faulty game mechanics or something that can boost device feature integration or overall app performance, right? But, updates these days are continuing to emerge as more valuable and fundamental to the evolution of s game app than mere fixes to specific performance issues or other problems. In the time to come, we can expect mobile games to make updates as big as incorporating significant changes to game graphics and mechanics. Game updates can be targeted to retain users with more twists for the gaming experience, or it can target new users with something new that they did not recognize earlier with the game brand. While reviving interest to an old game is crucial, game updates will play a significant role in this.
6. Mobile game playing to TV gaming
Games are no longer limited to any specific device. Earlier we had gaming consoles the success of which was soon challenged by mobile game experience and then suddenly the game consoles evolved as the new all-round entertainment device allowing game playing, movie watching and browsing possible through the same device interface. So, while mobile games will continue to grow in all directions, they will be integrated more and more with gaming experience in other connected devices including modern game consoles and smart TVs. This multi-channel gaming is going to be the next big reality for the gaming industry. With most people enjoying their pastime activities indoor these days, mobile as well as all home entertainment devices will be used seamlessly for a fluid and supple gaming experience that does not know any bounds. The diversified gaming experience will become even more intense with the game playing smart wearables. Tapping with a pair of smart sneakers you can control game playing actions on smart TVs, consoles and mobile.
Aren't there any game trends worth mentioning? Obviously, several others are equally important to assess where the mobile gaming is heading for. But, these six trends may be the most immediate ones to change mobile gaming.