Mobile gaming contributes to 90% of the Indian gaming revenue. This may seem like an anomaly when compared to the 37% in the US or the 62% in China. But unlike India, these mature gaming markets have relied on their gaming heritage. India’s games industry, on the other hand, owes a lot of its success to the rapid development in technology.
From the millions of rummy game enthusiasts who download rummy app to the esports fans in gaming events, India’s brush with online gaming has been a recent phenomenon. While technology has fuelled the rise of gaming in India, it is also continuously enhancing the mobile gaming experience.
The Communication Revolution
The rollout of 5G has revolutionised the gaming industry, which was already gaining traction in the 4G era. The theoretical download speed increased from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. The latency was reduced from 60 microseconds to less than 1 microsecond at the best of times. Internet connections have become incredibly faster and more reliable. The low latency became the stepping stone for an improved mobile gaming experience. And it only got better.
The convenience of mobile gaming means that gamers can now play on the go instead of huddling around a console or a PC. This attracted billions of casual gamers globally, who could flick their mobile screen and play puzzles or endless runner games. Besides, many popular Indian recreations, like the rummy game, have been translated into mobile games. For rummy app platforms like RummyPrime, this meant considerable success in terms of user base. Mobile gaming has become the fastest-growing segment in the gaming industry. It is expected to be worth $182 billion by 2028.
The cloud gaming market is another new technology, largely enjoying the piggyback of 5G speed. Cloud gaming eliminates the need for high-end gaming hardware and brings a high-quality gaming experience to mobile screens. All of this is powered by the near-zero latency of 5G. The high prospect of cloud gaming can be gauged from the fact that powerhouses like Xbox have come up with cloud gaming services.
The Experiential Journey
The more visible side of the transformation in mobile gaming is the gaming experience. The use of Augmented Reality (AR) has added an unmatched dimension to gaming. The success of Pokemon GO, with its 650+ million downloads, is living proof of the high hopes that AR technology promises.
Cross-platform gaming is another technological breakthrough, transforming how mobile games are played. Thanks to cross-platform play, gamers can now interact and play with one another irrespective of their device specifications. It eliminates platform-based immobility and enables gaming experiences across mobiles, computers, and consoles. This is further increasing gamer retention and engagement levels, particularly in multiplayer games. Games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile are achieving huge success in cross-platform play formats.
Meanwhile, the use of blockchain technology is bringing the experience of an alternate universe to gamers. Blockchain is facilitating a player-driven economy through its decentralised currency models. Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) have introduced the concept of in-game digital assets, allowing gamers to buy and sell unique digital items. It is receiving wide acclaim as the global gaming NFT market size is valued at $4.8 billion in 2024. Its projected growth of 24.8% CAGR is a reflection of the popularity of experiential gaming in general.
The Look and Feel
The experiential transformations in mobile gaming have converted the gamer from a bystander to the focal point of the game. Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, for instance, are instrumental in bringing this first-person perspective to gaming. VR headsets like the Meta Quest series and Samsung Gear VR are popular choices for mobile gaming enthusiasts.
The power of complex algorithms is evident in the intelligent Non-Player Characters (NPCs) that appear in many gaming titles. More engaging NPCs are resulting in increased gamer interest in these titles. The look and feel of mobile games, and games in general, has gotten even better visually.
The use of ray tracing technology renders more realistic lighting, reflections and shadows in games. This is making the gaming experience more realistic and accurate. In the meantime, the introduction of 4K resolution has brought high pixel density. This has resulted in more precision and detail in images, making the benefits of ray tracing more visible.
A Well-Rounded Transformation
The 5G network has served as the vehicle the mobile gaming juggernaut rolls on. It has paved the way for anyone with a smartphone to engage in a gaming session. Along the way, the introduction of cloud gaming and cross-platform play has made mobile gaming more accessible and convenient.
The use of cutting-edge technology like AR, VR, and intuitive NPCs, as well as graphical breakthroughs like ray tracing and 4K resolution, has made mobile gaming a wholesome experience.
