Published on April 17th, 2018 | by Sunit Nandi

Leaps and Bounds in Mobile Gaming Technology

The gaming industry is constantly at the forefront of innovation, and rightly so. With new technologies constantly changing how we game and keep ourselves entertained, it’s no surprise that more people are playing games now than ever before. From console-based epics to handheld 8-bit classics that we still love to play, there is plenty that the industry has to offer – but what about mobile gaming? The rise of smartphones has made mobile gaming more accessible than ever before, so we’re exploring a little deeper into the technology behind our mobile games below.

Hardware

The hardware we use for mobile gaming is, of course, our mobiles, but recent years have seen more and more improvements focused purely on our gaming experience when it comes to the devices being released onto the market. Just like we might reach for a gaming PC over a traditional one when it comes to PC gaming, picking and choosing the right mobile device can make all the difference. With that in mind, what are the best smartphones? Well, that truly depends on your personal preferences.

Razer is offering incredibly smooth graphics, with the Snapdragon 835, 2.35 GHz processor, giving you the optimum speed of gameplay no matter what your genre preference may be. Meanwhile, the iPhone 8 is the perfect choice for Apple fans looking for a gaming powerhouse. Like any iOS fan will tell you, the app store is full to the brim of incredible games, and with the iPhone 8 offering an extremely fast hexa-core processor to boot, there’s certainly a choice for Apple and Android fans.

Software

Software plays a huge part in the gaming industry, and recent years have, of course, seen plenty of improvements worthy of note. From Apple’s constant iOS updates to each of Android’s growing roster of games to choose from, you can’t deny that software updates and innovations are making gaming better than ever. In fact, recent months have seen changes in Flash and HTML5 based games that provide the same online gaming experience we know and love, but with the ability to download these games onto our mobiles and play them anywhere at any time. The ease and speed in which games can be developed, distributed and downloaded are truly remarkable, and this is not only down to the games themselves, but the software available on the devices we’re using.

Augmented Reality

If you’ve so much as heard of Pokémon Go, then you’ll already have some idea as to just what augmented reality is. For those that still aren’t sure, Augmented Reality gives you the opportunity to use the environment around you as a playing field. Essentially, gameplay using augmented reality will usually use your camera and add additional digital elements to enhance your environment.

Every app store, whether Apple or Android, is full of amazing apps to sink your teeth into, and we could see more and more of the top spots filled with augmented reality apps in no time. From games like the aforementioned Pokémon Go, to Yelp’s Monacle that allows users to utilise AR to find out more about restaurants they might be interested in, the possibilities truly are endless with this technology, especially on a mobile level.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is a term that most will have heard of by now, but not everyone is quite as aware of just how prominent it already is in the world of gaming. While devices like Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR aren’t exactly mobile-friendly, there are plenty of options available to suit a range of budgets. From something as simple as Google Cardboard that allows you to just slip your phone in and play, to the slightly more highly priced, but definitely cost-worthy Google Daydream that’s a little more high-tech and compatible with a range of newer smartphones, there are options for those who don’t own a Samsung for the Samsung VR, or who want to take their VR mobile.

What Could The Future Hold?

The future of mobile gaming technology could rest in consumer demand; however, there are some upcoming trends that are certainly worth keeping an eye on. From the introduction of cryptocurrencies into mobile gaming on a larger scale, to voice or expression control, there is plenty that the industry is already working on that is, and could be rolling out in the upcoming months. Here are just a few trends to watch:

Voice-Controlled Gameplay – While voice control is hardly anything new – after all, we’ve seen the likes of Siri and Amazon’s Alexa in recent years – the use of this technology within gaming is looking to reach a level of maturity we’ve only ever dreamed about in the past. The opportunity to go controlled – or rather tap – free within your games could make gameplay not only easier but a lot more immersive.
Cryptocurrencies – In-app purchases are hardly anything new, but what if you could buy one set of coins on one app, and use them on another? Mobile game developers are working on introducing ways to let users do exactly that – essentially, by creating their own currencies. This could revolutionise the world of in-app purchases, and possibly even make users more likely to actually spend their money.
Wearable Gaming – The introduction of wearable technology into mobile use is something that has been ongoing for years, and most notably with smartwatches and display glasses. The introduction of these into gaming was only a matter of time and is already well on its way to becoming commonplace. The Apple App Store is already filled with Apple Watch friendly games and apps, and this will only expand in the future.

Mobile gaming has come on leaps and bounds in the past few decades, and only time will tell just how far innovation could go.

Tags: bounds, gaming, leaps, mobile, technology

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.