Billions of people play games and gamble on their mobile devices – 2.6 billion to be exact – and most even admit to playing while they’re on the toilet. While the first mobile game was launched in the 90s, today, technological advancements have meant players can choose between popular casino games and even bingo – wherever and whenever they want. Plus, there are plenty more interesting facts when we delve deeper into the sub-sector of mobile gaming.
Rewind to the 90s
The first ever mobile game was launched in 1994 and came as a pre-installed version of everyone’s favorite, Tetris. Then, in 1997, Nokia launched Snake, but unfortunately, only a few phone models could enjoy it. Today though, more than 400 million devices have Snake installed on them, making it one of the best-loved mobile games across the globe.
As demand grew in the late 90s and early 00s, and game developers were forced to innovate to stay ahead of the curve, it was only time before new titles were released. What’s more, in order to offer an unrivaled experience, developers have teamed up with the latest technology and platforms to allow players to enjoy their favorite titles on the go. In fact, now, players can choose between poker, bingo, and even online casino slots remotely and even from the comfort of their own sofa. Enhanced graphics and visuals have meant the experience is only getting better too and investment into AR and VR could take this to a whole other level over the next few years.
It takes two
The multiplayer game debate has been going on for many years. But it was Nokia, again, that introduced the idea of it. Originally only available on the Nokia 6110, the technology giant allowed players to team up with their friends to enjoy the classic game of Snake on a mobile device.
What’s more, their team in Malaysia broke a world record for the biggest group of people to take part in a mobile phone game relay in 2011. During the game, more than 2000 people tuned in to play a 10-hour stint of Angry Birds. That wasn’t even the longest game as, in the same year, a group of Austrians played the game for more than 24 hours straight.
Growing demand
The overall gaming and gambling industry is growing at a quick pace, and mobile gaming is no different. In fact, the latest figures show that consumer spending in mobile gaming reached $116 billion last year. This was $16 billion more than the year before, and that number is expected to grow to $138 billion by 2025. Even more outstanding is the fact that over 82 billion games were downloaded by players last year. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Science has even added a Mobile Game of the Year Award to their Interactive Achievement Awards.
These are just a few facts about the mobile gaming sphere, but they certainly show how far the industry has come and where it might be going. If we look at current trends and predictions for the years ahead, it seems VR, AR, and cryptocurrency gaming are likely to take the industry by storm. This will have a huge impact on both players and manufacturers and it’s only time before new titles and games are launched too.
