Is Smartphone Gaming Really More Popular than Traditional Gaming?
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If you’re someone who has even a passing interest in playing video games as a hobby, you might be a bit surprised to hear that gaming on a smartphone isn’t just a little more popular than gaming on a console or PC. It’s so much more popular, in fact, that it’s orders of magnitude more likely for someone to play games on their smartphone than on a dedicated gaming device.
How is this possible? Well, there are numerous factors that go into making smartphones incredibly popular gaming devices. Here are some of the reasons you might reach for your phone instead of your PlayStation the next time you want to do a bit of gaming.
One of the biggest barriers to entry when it comes to dedicated gaming consoles is the price. Some people just can’t afford to drop $500 or more on a game console, so they’re far less likely to ever play games on such a system.
On the other hand, almost everyone has a smartphone. Even in parts of the world where people have a bit less disposable income, the vast majority of people have some kind of smartphone. That makes it easier for them to download a free-to-play game like Fortnite and play it on their most-used device.
Typically, everyone has their phone on them basically all the time. If you’re stuck in line at the grocery store, waiting at the DMV, or just taking a short ride around town, you can pull your phone out and idly play a few rounds of your favorite game.
The pick-up-and-play nature of the most popular mobile games speaks to the popularity of this approach. Why worry about lugging a big gaming device around when you could just play a few rounds on your smartphone?
Beyond these points, many mobile games simply appeal to a wider audience than your average console game. Titles like Fortnite and other puzzle-style mobile games are universally likable, both in terms of their aesthetic appeal and their gameplay.
It’s not surprising to learn that people of varying age ranges and demographics are more enthralled by the idea of playing a no-commitment, short-burst mobile game than dropping hundreds of dollars on a hyper-competitive, niche product. At the end of the day, mobile gaming is here to stay–and it’s a great way to work gaming into an otherwise busy schedule.
