Online gaming but, specifically mobile gaming, has experienced incredible growth when it first became introduced in around 2007, when smart mobile phones started getting released – such as the iPhone in 2007. In 2019, around 2.4 billion people played mobile games which, if you ask me, is not a bad decade of growth for the mobile gaming industry, but how exactly has mobile gaming experienced this breakneck growth?

Subscriptions

The growth and popularity of subscription services and games is at the core of the growth in the mobile gaming industry. This is seen in the raw data from services such as Google Play, which was observed over 70% year-on-year growth in gamers subscribing to games. The subscription business model is amazing for revenue generation, as it provides a steady source of income for the games developers, such that their research & development can continue far into the future, as well as it being rewarding for gamers, since they get monthly access to the game, or specific features within the game, which are then updated far into the future. This is also popular for the current generation, as it does not tend to be too expensiv and research from betting sites shows that younger audiences spend more time online.. Sure, over the course of the year this payment system may add up to a lot, but each month, these payments may be just a few dollars.

In-app purchases

In-app purchases and gamers have a bit of a love-hate relationship. On the one hand, gamers sometimes give outrage to firms who hide a lot of their games’ features behind microtransactions in games, such as playable characters or other features but, on the other hand, other gamers may not have a problem with paying for other cosmetic features, or coins to purchase other in-game items with. These in-app purchases of virtual goods are all made online, and provide more revenue for developers, as well as access to more features and cosmetic features for the gamers which are willing to pay more.

In-game rewards

This feature is seen especially in free games, but gamers can earn in-game rewards like coins or extra lives by watching video ads. So not only does this provide revenue for the firm, and a free game for the consumer, but it also encourages the gamers to stay in the game more and consume more content. This kind of built-in loyalty programme makes a free game profitable for developers, and keeps the players engaged.

Social trade

Although this feature is not specific to mobile gaming, it is still one which has contributed a lot to the growth of the industry. Players can barter, share and compete with one another for the virtual goods specific to their games. In games such as Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, where players seek to earn cards and gems to improve their playable characters, players can get together in Clans and share cards amongst themselves, so if a player as an excess of cards required by another player, and vice verse, they can trade with one another. This kind of cooperation and economy specifically is exclusive to mobile gaming, and just a few games in particular, but it creates a unique bond between players and it solidifies the loyalty of players to their clan and therefore the game.

In conclusion

A large chunk of the success mobile gaming has seen over the past few years can be attributed to the fact that unique loyalty programmes, and social trade mechanics make sure that players come back to the game as they forge interesting bonds between themselves, the game and its players.