Because smartphones continue to be the central nervous system in human lives, smartphone dependency has increased over the last year on the job, on studying, and particularly on socialisation. Mobile gaming, powered by ubiquitous smartphones and the abundance of cheap data, was in full swing even before the pandemic. Our continuing study into gaming has given some fascinating perspectives at CyberMedia Research (CMR). Mobile gaming in India is, for example, powered by a variety of games, from the extreme to the casual. The increase in smartphone gaming was not driven by serious players but by hyper-casual players. Smartphone usage can trace the modernization of gaming. The need for dedicated game equipment is not felt for smartphones. No need for consoles. Mobile game applications often offer users a feeling of familiarity. More users than ever, who usually don’t describe themselves as ‘gamers,’ have gaming easily accessible via the ‘freemium’ online application. Experts analysis shows that there are different attempts at gaming between consumers. For example, serious players play mainly to “relieve stress,” while casual and hyper-casual players try to “fun.” The games are selected on the basis of friends and family feedback. Social networking and social communication networks are two of the leading consumers’ knowledge sources for new games. Today, on average, gamers have almost seven smartphone games built. There are at least four games among these they play with enthusiasm. Interestingly, in the early evening, men like to relax in mobile sports, while women mostly choose to play in the late evening. On average, the duration of gaming play spans close to 90 minutes. Indians have historically loved and seek profit in freemium offerings. During the pandemic, the increase in time caused many players to pay for the games. Six out of ten serious players, for example, decided to use paid-for mobile applications and others kept using freemium. In the context of the national lockdown at the beginning of 2020, paid gaming has risen 15%, while ‘freemium’ gaming apps have increased only by 8%. How this development settles in 2021 and beyond would be fascinating to see. Possibly ‘Freemium’ will be the core pillar. In smartphones, today’s gamers are looking for more – more RAM, improved battery life, expanded bandwidth, quicker touch response, and improved processors. Brands of smartphones meet the evolving requirements of mobile games. The emphasis is on high refresh rates for smoother power, improved displays and larger batteries, amongst others. Mobile gaming is only becoming more commonplace as we look forward. This makes it more thrilling, engaging, and interactive than ever.
