Mobile is expected to account for 56% of gaming revenue in 2023 | pocketgamer.biz

Mobile is expected to account for 56% of gaming revenue in 2023, compared to 22% for consoles and 21% for desktop, according to data forecasts from data.ai and IDC. Despite experiencing its first downturn in its history in 2022, the sector appears poised to rebound again in 2023.

Perhaps it was expected that accessibility would be identified as a key factor. The evolution of technology has put the mobile phone at the forefront of gaming, thanks to increased worldwide Internet penetration, affordability, and portability. Although PCs and consoles offer more power, they also require a much larger investment, making them less attractive to casual fans.

Meanwhile, mobile devices are constantly employing the latest hardware to improve the visual appearance of their games, giving players improved graphics and performance.

East versus West

while A recent report by Coda Payments, Examining the spending habits of mobile players in the East and West reveals that over 90% of mobile players are willing to make in-game purchases, yet there are significant differences in where consumers spend their money in each region.

Mobile game players in Eastern countries are more likely to be motivated by customization and collectible items, and are therefore more likely to purchase cosmetic items such as limited-time items, characters, or cosmetics. In contrast, game design is often user driven in the West, and thus they prefer to spend their money on unlocking new game modes, levels or maps.

Consumers in the West spend an average of $72.47 per month on direct purchases, compared to $30.70 per month in the East. Coda Payments points out that the West typically has a stronger currency, giving users in countries like Britain and the United States more purchasing power.

Notably, the report found that female gamers in Western countries spend an average of $22.93 more on mobile games than their male counterparts, once again highlighting the popularity of mobile gaming among women.

The report also notes that although e-wallets are particularly popular as a means of payment in the East, Western consumers prefer to make payments via debit and credit cards.

game time

Gamers in the East spend more time playing mobile games than in Western countries, with 40% playing more than 16 hours per week, compared to just 33% of gamers in the West.

Thailand emerged as the country with the most engaged gamers, with 45% playing for more than 16 hours each week. It was followed by Indonesia (43%) and the Philippines (40%).

Among Western countries, Brazil proved to be the country with the most interactive players with mobile games, with 36% of them playing for more than 16 hours, compared to 33% in Mexico and 30% in the United States. The strength of Brazil and Mexico once again highlights the strength of Latin America, one of the fastest growing mobile markets in the world. Brazil in particular is an established powerhouse in the mobile space, with 38% of all games developed within the country being mobile games.