Revenue from mobile gaming will exceed $16 billion (£9.8 billion) worldwide in 2016, according to a report from ABI Research. That’s three times more than this year’s anticipated total, which isn’t expected to reach $5 billion.
The report says this growth in mobile gaming is being driven by touchscreen smartphones becoming a suitable gaming platform, along with innovation in casual games attracting users from all age groups.
Aapo Markkanen, senior analyst at ABI Research, said “An ever-larger share of mobile gaming revenue is coming from virtual goods and other purchases that take place within the game. These in-app payments will account for about one-third of the 2011 revenue base, but by the end of 2016 their share will increase to almost half of the total. Also, the in-game advertising revenue will increase considerably, as more and more advertisers take advantage of mobile games’ mass-media potential.”
ABI Research’s new Mobile Gaming study also says the ‘hit and miss’ nature of the mobile gaming business means we’re likely to see further consolidation among developers.