Why Should Game Studios Start Thinking About Mobile Versions of Their Games?

In recent years, mobile technologies have been developing rapidly, and as a result, the balance of power in the gaming industry has changed significantly. Smartphones are no longer just pocket devices; they have become full-fledged gaming platforms. And, it must be said, they are capable of competing with consoles and PCs. Today, the mobile segment accounts for approximately 49% of the global market, generating $90.4 billion in revenue. These figures make the mobile platform dominant, rather than just promising, as it was before.

PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact are not just gaming projects, but convincing proof that players are willing to spend hours with their smartphones in their hands, provided that the world is complex and well-designed. PUBG Mobile was released in 2018 and has since brought in over $10 billion for its developers. This made the mobile game one of the most profitable in its segment to date. Genshin Impact’s figures are no less impressive: by May 2024, more than 150 million people had played this mobile game, and revenue from the game on mobile devices exceeded $4 billion. This demonstrates that a game with complex graphics and a well-developed world can be successfully utilized on mobile platforms without compromising the user experience.

Not only game development studios, but also other representatives of the entertainment industry should consider creating a mobile version. Recently, bookmakers and online casino operators have been most enthusiastic about this idea: for them, mobile interaction is a key factor in attracting more users and increasing profits. Recently, 1win has already launched its app. It is clear that if the 1win application proves successful on the market, other operators will follow suit.

At the same time, smartphones guarantee the lowest possible entry threshold. Both consoles and computers are pretty expensive, while even a decent smartphone is affordable for many people today. Asia, Africa, and Latin America are regions where mobile internet is the primary means of accessing digital content. For example, nearly 10 billion mobile games were downloaded in India in 2023. This is not just a number — such figures are an indicator that reveals the genuine interest of the audience. Both interest and audience are equally huge.

The consumption format is also an essential factor. While gaming sessions on traditional platforms are often quite long, mobile games typically involve shorter interactions, albeit more frequently than on PCs or consoles. This is why the level of engagement is so high. Clash Royale, Subway Surfers, Brawl Stars, and other similar games demonstrate that 5-10 minutes can be enough to engage a user, and they will come back, having formed a habit. In 2023, mobile app users launched games an average of four times a day. In terms of total time spent playing, it was an hour and a quarter every day.

At the same time, developing mobile versions has become easy; technical difficulties are a thing of the past. Unity and Unreal Engine offer basic solutions for cross-platform development, including for smartphones. Accordingly, studios that have a working product for PCs can quickly adapt it for mobile devices with minimal financial investment.

For example, Dead Cells was initially developed for PC and console platforms. This hardcore action platformer was then ported to mobile devices in a way that preserved all the key gameplay elements. Additionally, the game gained a new wave of interest a year after its release.

At the same time, it is not only game studios that are focusing on mobile devices. Netflix and Disney+ are developing their mobile gaming projects, and we shouldn’t forget about market players such as bookmakers. All these companies are competing for the time users spend in front of their screens.

Game studios that create mobile versions of games can thus retain the attention of their current audience and attract new ones. This is especially true for large gaming projects. At the same time, the mobile version is no longer a side product, but a full-fledged branch of development.