It’s no secret that we’ve been gaming more and more on our mobile devices, but just how much? The folks at Geekaphone have put together a comprehensive infographic demonstrating to main areas of growth. So what are they? Read on.
The mobile entertainment industry was estimated to be worth as much as $33 billion in 2010 and is expected to continue steadily growing over the next few years to be worth as much as $54 billion by 2015. Out of this humongous number, which includes, but isn’t limited to, adult content, social networking and mobile gaming, the latter is expected to make as much as $8 billion this year and as much as $11.4 billion in 2014.
Most mobile games, which are available for major mobile platforms, are sold for a very low price or for free, often under $10. The way game developers are able to provide high-quality games for such a low price is a new monetization model that relies less on the initial purchase of the software and more on content or accessories that can be acquired over time. These accessories can include extra levels or tools which are usually completely optional but highly recommendable for any user who wants to enjoy the game’s full experience. In general, if the game is good-quality, players will end up spending an outstanding amount of money on add-on content.
Alternatively, free or low-cost games can simply include a fair amount of advertising built-in and still make the game usable, if done well. This model has proven to work, since last year developers have collectively made roughly $87 million off advertising, a number that’s expected to grow exponentially to about $894 million in 2015. If you think these numbers are good, keep in mind that in-app purchasing is expected to grow at an even faster pace and soon grow to be twice as profitable as advertising.
According to a survey, 84% of tablet owners play games on their devices, while 68% spend an hour a day or more using these devices. A market that was virtually nonexistent a few months ago has now grown to become a great new market for mobile game developers. The relatively large form factor makes way for new gameplay paradigms that weren’t previously possible on smartphones.
OK, enough of me talking. Check out the whole infographic below:
(Thanks Patrick O’Neill | via Geekaphone)
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