Over the past decade, the games industry has been in decline, except for a handful of masterpieces. That’s why the popularity of mobile games has skyrocketed. Millions of people play games daily on their smartphones and tablets. Yes, it is mostly match-three and casual games. Despite this, there seems to be a lack of AAA games in the mobile gaming industry. We will look at the reasons for this phenomenon and find out why we have yet to see a true AAA mobile game.
First of all, the hardware limitations of mobile devices make it difficult to create a game. After all, not everyone can cram an RTX 3060, the size of five phones, into a phone. Therefore, such a platform could not match the graphics and performance of consoles or PCs. This is hard to deny. Genshin’s Impact, for example, looks pretty good for a mobile game. However, they still lag behind dedicated gaming hardware in terms of raw power. This means that developers like iLogos have to make compromises when making mobile games. For example, using simpler graphics or limiting the scale of the game world.
Another factor is the business model of mobile games. Mobile games tend to be free-to-play or have a low initial cost. In doing so, developers rely on in-app purchases or advertising to generate revenue. This business model encourages developers to create games designed for short bursts rather than long-term immersion. As a result, many mobile games focus on game mechanics that can be easily monetized. Gacha systems or energy systems, rather than complex storylines or deep character development.
In addition, the mobile gaming market is highly competitive, with thousands of games released every year. This means that developers have to work harder to stand out from the crowd and attract players. As a result, many mobile games rely on gimmicks or popular IP licenses to draw in players rather than focusing on creating a truly engaging gaming experience.
Furthermore, the mobile gaming industry is plagued by issues such as fragmentation and piracy. The fragmentation of the mobile market means that there are hundreds of different devices with varying specifications and screen sizes, making it difficult for developers to optimize their games for every possible configuration. Moreover, piracy is rampant in the mobile gaming industry. Many players opt to download pirated versions of games rather than pay for them.
Moreover, there are also concerns around the quality of mobile games, with many players feeling that the majority of mobile games are simplistic and lack depth. This perception can make it difficult for developers to secure the funding and resources needed to create a true AAA mobile game.
Finally, there is a perception among some gamers that mobile games are not “real” games. Therefore, they do not deserve the same level of recognition or investment as console or PC games. This attitude can make it difficult for developers to secure the funding and resources needed to create a true AAA mobile game.
Final Thoughts
Several factors contribute to the lack of AAA gaming in the mobile gaming industry. Although mobile devices have come a long way in terms of processing power and graphics capabilities, they still lag behind dedicated gaming hardware in terms of raw power. In addition, the business model for mobile gaming encourages developers to create games designed for short play sessions rather than long immersion sessions. The highly competitive mobile game market also forces developers to create games that stand out from the crowd. Often relying on gimmicks or popular IP licenses to attract players. If you’re willing to take a risk and create your flagship project for mobile platforms, you should hire a mobile game developer. Maybe you can be the one who can fix the situation in the market.
Fragmentation and piracy issues in the mobile game industry further exacerbate the problems that developers face. Finally, there is a perception among some gamers that mobile games are not “real” games, making it difficult for developers to obtain the funding and resources necessary to create a true AAA mobile game. Despite these problems, there is still room for innovation in the mobile game industry, and we may see a true AAA mobile game soon.
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