According to analyst firm GlobalData, the mobile gaming market will be worth $272 billion by 2030 – a quite staggering figure. This should come as no surprise to the average tech news lover or gaming enthusiast, who has undoubtedly witnessed the dramatic increase of smartphone games and gamers who enjoy the convenience of gaming on mobile. It’s booming.
Given the expensive alternatives in the modern world, smartphone gaming doesn’t just offer convenience in the palm of your hand but also a more affordable option. The graphics and all-round detail might not be that of a sophisticated PS5 release, but smartphone titles are certainly catching up and have shown a deal of improvement in recent years. These improvements are down to the more powerful smartphone devices we all have access to in 2022, but also thanks to some innovative game development from some of the biggest mobile gaming companies. As such, mobile gaming has risen up the ranks to become a legitimate gaming platform.
With the future of mobile game development in seemingly good hands, let’s take a look at some of the major players responsible for its evident growth.
Tencent
Surpassing revenues of $500 billion, Tencent’s impact on mobile gaming has been huge. Based in China, the company has produced in-demand releases such as Arena of Valor and the Player’s Unknown Battlegrounds port. With many more releases expected to come in the future, Tencent will continue to add to its portfolio of titles.
Activision Blizzard
Recently purchased by Microsoft for a staggering industry-shaking deal worth $68.7bn, Activision Blizzard is a prolific developer in the space that is perhaps best known for its development of iconic smartphone release, Candy Crush. Developing games away from mobile, such as Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot and Call of Duty, the company is expected to develop more games in the smartphone gaming arena.
Pragmatic Play
After being established in 2015, Pragmatic Play is now a leading content provider to the iGaming industry and is widely regarded as being one of the best developers of casino games. Popular Pragmatic Play casino games include the likes of Sweet Bonanza, John Hunter and the Book of Tut, Power of Thor Megaways, and Monkey Madness. In the casino gaming world, Pragmatic Play is certainly one of the major players.
Niantic
The developers behind humongous augmented reality hit Pokémon Go, Niantic has quickly become a household name. One of the biggest mobile releases ever, the title signified a breakthrough moment in mobile gaming, with people immersing themselves outdoors while hunting for Pokemon in what is a truly unique gaming experience. Paving the way for more augmented releases on mobile, Niantic is a pioneer in the space.
Zynga
Behind commonly utilised options which can be accessed via social media sites like Facebook, Zynga is an incredibly successful gaming company. Notable releases include Farmville, Word with Friends and Zynga Poker, all of which have been played by millions.
Supercell
Based in Finland and behind massive releases such as Brawl Stars, Supercell is another company that has been making waves in recent times. With an estimated worth of $10 billion, the company is also behind other notable successes like Hay Day and Boom Beach. Supercell’s rise clearly didn’t go under the radar either, with the aforementioned Tencent now owning a large stake in the growing company.
Disruptor Beam
A developer behind games based in fictional worlds, Disruptor Beam is another company that is growing in reputation. Despite being ended in 2019, one of its top releases was Game of Thrones Ascent. Other hit titles include The Walking Dead: March to War and Star Trek Timelines.
