The mobile market is growing so rapidly, while the development costs are typically much lower than they are for console or PC games. Professional game development is a business based on what makes the most financial sense for the game company.
Here are reasons why game developers have increasingly focused on mobile platforms:
- Wide audience reach: Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have a massive global user base. The accessibility and affordability of mobile devices have made gaming more accessible to a larger audience. Developers can tap into this vast market and reach millions of potential players.
- Increasing mobile technology: Mobile devices have seen significant advancements in terms of hardware capabilities, graphics capabilities, and processing power. This allows developers to create more immersive and visually appealing games on par with traditional gaming platforms.
- Portability and convenience: Mobile devices are portable and always within reach, allowing players to enjoy games anytime and anywhere. This convenience has made mobile gaming a popular choice for people who prefer gaming on the go or during short periods of downtime.
- App store ecosystems: Mobile platforms have well-established app store ecosystems, such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. These platforms provide developers with a centralized distribution channel, making it easier to reach potential players and monetize their games through in-app purchases or advertisements.
- Lower development costs: Compared to console or PC game development, mobile game development generally has lower barriers to entry and development costs. The tools and resources for mobile game development are more accessible, and the development cycles can be shorter, allowing for quicker iterations and updates.
- Free-to-play model: The free-to-play model, where games are initially offered for free and monetized through in-app purchases or advertisements, has gained popularity on mobile platforms. This model allows developers to attract a large player base and generate revenue through optional purchases or ads.
- Social and multiplayer integration: Mobile devices are highly connected, allowing for seamless integration of social features and multiplayer functionality. Developers can leverage these capabilities to create engaging multiplayer experiences, social interactions, and competitive elements in their games.
They aren’t doing it for the specs. They are doing it for the potential money.
The Mobile userbase is massive, and the barrier of entry is minimal, and the devices are nearly uniform in spec which reduces development costs by a lot.
PC has so many permutations in spec that you would need a good testing setup to guarantee your game would run decently in most machines. It raises cost.
Console has many barriers of entry too, and a much more limited installbase.
Those are some of the main reasons. However, it can be that a developer simply likes the mobile platform more, and prefers making games for it.
These factors combined have made mobile platforms an attractive market for game developers, leading to an increased focus on mobile game development in recent years.
