Take a look around your local park, bus, or even your own living room. What do they all have in common?
Plenty of people playing the mobile gaming game.
There are three big reasons for this mobile explosion: First, mobile games are just convenient. We always have our phones on us, and we don’t have to pick up controllers, change inputs on the TV or load or a profile. We’re spending much less time at the office and more time at home, using mobile phones more frequently to connect, work, learn play and escape.
And, the third reason: Wherever we are, we want to have fun.
But how did mobile gaming get here and where is it going next?
1. 23 YEARS AGO, A STAR WAS BORN…
The mobile games you see now are hyper-fast, immersive, social and generally awesome. But it wasn’t always that way. So how did people in the 90s survive?
With Snake, of course. Regarded as the first majorly successful mobile game, this thumb-smasher let you control a snake as it moved around the screen gobbling delicious, pixelated dots.
Starting in 1998, it came pre-loaded on Nokia phones. A million ignored math classes and family dinners later, it’s safe to say that little snake wormed its way into our hearts, kicking off the mobile game phenomenon we see today.
2. THE HEAVY HITTERS
The all-time mobile gaming champ these days is Roblox – a mobile gaming platform that lets users program games and play games created by other users.
But there are a few not-so-small upstarts nipping at Roblox’s heels. If you’re in need of a new challenge, maybe some of these recent favorites will help you out:
TOP iOS APP STORE GAMES:
TOP ANDROID GAMES:
- Donut Country
- PUBG Mobile
- Civilization VI
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
- The New York Times Spelling Bee
BEST MULTIPLAYER GAMES:
And don’t worry, you’re not alone in your mobile gaming love.
3. MOBILE GAMES ARE LEVELING UP
This year, consumers are expected to spend over $120 billion on mobile games, with audiences growing for both casual and core gaming. In fact, the mobile gaming audience is 1.5x the size of all other platforms combined – consoles, PC, MAC and handheld. And from just July through October of 2020, mobile games saw a 15% spike in weekly downloads.
The numbers are staggering, but it’s pretty easy to imagine why. We’re using our phones more than ever to connect, work, learn and play. And we’re all looking for a welcome, wholesome distraction these days.
But how can we get the best mobile gaming experience?
4. MOBILE GAMING AND XFINITY MOBILE 5G: THE ULTIMATE TEAM-UP
So here’s the skinny…
Mobile gaming uses data. A lot of it. The bigger the game, the more the data.
Fortunately, Xfinity Mobile offers an Unlimited data option so you can play to your heart’s content. Plus, Xfinity Mobile gives you access to over 20 million secure Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide to help you save on data.
If you find yourself gaming and streaming less (you can only conquer the world so many times, right?) you can switch to the By the Gig data option anytime on the Xfinity Mobile app so you only pay for what you need. What's more, if you're a heavy user, check out these tips on preventing your phone from overheating.
And when you’re playing on the go, you’re going to want some pretty solid bandwidth to keep your game streaming at the highest quality. With Xfinity Mobile, you’re on our fast, reliable nationwide network – with 5G included at no extra cost! Let the lagging end and the mobile gaming begin. Looking to amplify your mobile gaming experience? Check out the best phones for gamers.
