The mobile market is growing – the advantages are obvious. Everyone has a smartphone, most games are available for free. But that’s exactly what poses problems.
Not the console, not the PC. According to “game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche”, the smartphone was again the most popular gaming platform in 2021. 23.5 million people played on the mobile device.
Why is it so successful? “You can play with it in bed, but ultimately it’s the technology that’s getting so much better. It’s no longer, ‘Hey, I want to play this shooter, I need to get on the PC for this,'” explained Patrick Perkins, Qualcomm’s Head of Marketing.
Old-established prejudices
However, there was also criticism, especially in the early days of mobile-eSport, as Rosenblatt reports, “When I was younger, there was that negative opinion too. ‘Kids don’t ride bikes outside, they’re only on the computer’. In terms of mobile gaming, there was that kind of criticism too. It comes from the fact that many don’t believe you can have a competitive game on a smartphone without something external.”
However, there is also criticism because of microtransactions. Many games are free – but the development costs still have to be refinanced, of course. This is usually done through in-game purchases with real money. In the worst case, purchases are a “must” in order to level up.
Distinguish between microtransactions and pay-to-win
This is precisely where Rosenblatt sees a problem, but microtransactions should not be equated with pay-to-win in advance. At the ESL, he says, they make sure to “select games that offer the possibility to get to a high standard without microtransactions.” It is possible to spend money, he said, but it is not necessary to be successful.
However, opinion has now changed, as Perkins reports, “It used to be, ‘Free-to-play, they’re taking all my money.’ Today it’s, ‘Free-to-play, I’ll give the game a chance’. Most games have in-game purchases, but in the form of cosmetics, like skins.”
In general, however, this is not just a problem in the mobile market either, he says: “The same difficulties exist on PC or console.” FIFA and NBA 2K, among others, are criticised for in-game purchases and gambling addiction.