Meta: Here is a closer look at why smartphones are gradually becoming the next frontier for today’s market-leading console manufacturers.
More people than ever are spending less time playing their favourite games on their preferred consoles and spending more time playing those same games on their smartphones.
The mobile gaming industry has exploded in recent years. Much of this is due to major technological developments in certain key areas, such as mobile phone technology and cloud gaming/computing.
There’s also the convenience of being able to play games on mobile from almost any location without the restrictions that come with gaming from a static console and monitor that can’t easily be moved around.
Let’s dive straight in to discover more about why smartphones are being touted as the next frontier of gaming for console companies.
Can mobile gaming ever truly replace console gaming?
Thanks to cloud computing and cloud gaming technology/capabilities, mobile gaming is becoming the platform of choice for millions of gamers across the globe. However, it’s unlikely that mobile gaming will completely replace console gaming any time soon.
The problem with consoles is that they can’t easily be updated and have a shorter shelf life. For example, the hardware in PlayStation and Xbox consoles is only designed and manufactured to last for around five to seven years or so.
When it comes to desktop computers and smartphones and the digital cloud services these devices can access, frequent upgrades are made regularly throughout the year, meaning these devices should last much longer.
It doesn’t mean to say that gaming consoles will become obsolete any time soon because there is still a huge market for them, and around half of all gamers still prefer playing games from a console rather than from a mobile device.
However, there will come a point when the hardware inside your gaming console will become redundant and either need replacing or upgrading to the newest available console.
All that’s needed to access cloud gaming software and services, such as Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming, is a modern iOS, Windows, or Android smartphone or tablet device and a mid-range or higher macOS, Linux or Windows desktop computer or laptop. The hardware in most of these devices can easily be upgraded.
What are the most popular mobile games in 2024?
In recent years, market-leading console manufacturers have started developing their biggest titles for the mobile gaming sector. There’s a huge amount of money to be made in the mobile gaming market, so it makes sense that the console companies would want to enter this lucrative market and take a piece of the pie.
Traditionally, mobile games were more for the casual gamer and included basic games like Pokémon GO, Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, Puzzle Quest, and Bejewelled, and not triple-A games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Red Dead Redemption 2 or Final Fantasy VII.
Today, it’s different. All of the best console games, including these hit titles mentioned above, have been fully optimised for mobile phones and are now widely available to play on the cloud using any modern smartphone or tablet device.
Players can enjoy a thoroughly immersive gaming experience from their mobile devices like never before. The only limitation and downside to mobile gaming is the screen size.
Many players prefer watching the action over a larger screen or monitor instead of a smaller mobile screen. Additionally, the touch controls in some mobile devices make it much harder to pull off certain character moves or drive vehicles compared to how easy it is to pull off those same movies using a console controller or PC keyboard.
Superfast internet speeds and improved mobile smartphone battery technology have also helped take the mobile gaming industry to the next level. There are huge amounts of money to be made, which is the main reason why today’s most notable console manufacturing companies are focusing heavily on mobile gaming.
You can also now play cutting-edge live dealer casino games, thousands of online slots, and table & card games at a handful of fully licensed and regulated mobile casinos. For more information about slot machine games for mobile phones, one of the most trusted iGaming review sites you can turn to in 2024 is the official Casinos.com website.
Which mobile phones are better for gaming in 2024?
It all depends on what kind of games you want to play. For example, if you specifically want to play any of the more graphically demanding triple-A video games, the best way to experience these games from the palm of your hand is to do so from one of the following top-rated mobile gaming devices:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition
- Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Poco X6 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you’re more interested in playing Indie games, casual games, live dealer games, table & card games, video poker games, puzzlers and party games, and solitaire games, and not high-end games, then any modern smartphone or tablet device will suffice. It doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-range smartphone costing thousands.
Final thoughts
There’s no denying that mobile gaming is huge, but whether it will one day completely replace console gaming remains to be seen.
There is still a huge market for consoles, so until the day comes when there is a huge decline in sales because people have stopped buying them and switched to gaming from a mobile device, consoles, for the time being, are here to stay.
