THE RISE OF MOBILE GAMING in 2021

YASMINE JACOBS

LAST year was a rollercoaster ride for the gaming industry as many released their inner pro during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

According to market researcher Newzoo, the game industry, including mobile, will grow 19.6%, to more than $174.9billion (about R2.6trillion).

Bearing in mind that not one but two new consoles were launched in November, the industry is expected to grow exponentially once again this year.

We are also expected to see the rise of mobile esports. PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty and Clash Royale all saw an increase in popularity during the lockdown. That growth is expected to continue.

As 5G gets closer and more in reach, many more players are expected to get their (mobile) game on as internet gets faster and phones get smarter. With improvements in Chipset technology, mobile devices are expected to be on par with gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox in terms of performance.

Experts say more than 2.2billion people have used their cellphones for playing games in the past 10 years.

Gamers can also look forward to a host of new instalments from their favourite studios and will enjoy the thrill of openworld gaming or stick to the good ol’ shooters. Whether you are a PC gamer or if consoles are more your thing, one thing is for sure – 2021 will be an exciting year for gaming!