Now that 2022 is in the past, it’s time to focus on the mobile game market trends for 2023. The number of mobile gamers has increased dramatically in recent years. The most recent statistics show that there are 2.7 billion mobile gamers worldwide. In 2023, these figures should increase even more.
What are some industry trends for mobile games that you should be aware of in 2023? Find out by reading on!
The rise of AAA Titles!
The introduction of miHoYo’s Genshin Impact was one of the biggest events that affected the mobile gaming market the most in 2020. It received 15 million downloads in the initial month of release and generated above $150 million in sales.
The exceptional graphics and the open world, combined with gacha-style monetization, set this game apart from other mobile games. Also, the gaming experience is similar to that on a PC or a console. In other words, miHoYo successfully translated to mobile games the amazing single-player experience from AAA PC & console titles.
We anticipate additional AAA mobile gaming titles in 2023 and the years that follow, thanks to Genshin Impact’s immense popularity. Also, the market can become more dominated by Chinese developers.
AR and VR Gaming
Virtual and augmented reality games are hardly ever surpassed in providing a fully immersive first-person gaming experience. However, the introduction of Pokemon Go led to the sudden popularity of augmented reality gaming.
Incorporating AR and VR solutions in mobile and wearable technology and consumer demand for immersive gaming experiences fuels its growth. The cost of VR headsets will decrease over the next few years, seeing the rise in their popularity. VR gaming equipment, such as hand controllers and headgear, enables players to engage in interactive gameplay.
In contrast to a VR game where the player is completely submerged, AR places virtual scenery and noises over the player’s surroundings. It is what further enhances the format’s appeal and use. In addition, the increased use of smartphones has made it easier for game makers to use augmented reality as a storytelling tool.

Competitive Multiplayer Gaming
Mobile games with competitive multiplayer have become very popular over the past year. Multiplayer mobile games have established themselves as a significant gaming trend in 2022. Therefore, they will continue to rule 2023 as it becomes a global phenomenon and games like PUBG Mobile and others gain quick popularity.
Moreover, social contact and superiority over other players keep people interested in multiplayer formats. As a result, more and more players are keen to make in-app purchases and pay only to stay in the game. As a result, the popularity of multiplayer video games among players is expected to remain high in 2023.
eSports
In the 1990s, gaming was a source of ridicule or mockery. And right now, the world is experiencing NFT video games and eSports, which help individuals and businesses generate and increase their revenue. In addition, competent video gamers play together in a rising global sector called eSports.
eSports encompasses competitions in various video games, much as traditional sports competitions in games like basketball, football, cricket, etc. Giant worldwide firms are entering the eSports game market because the industry is becoming popular. The Asian Games of 2022 (Sat, 23 Sept 2023 – Sun, 8 Oct 2023) will debut eSports later this year.
Sooner or later, eSports will acquire recognition as an Olympic sport. A sizable audience base has already found it amusing.

Cloud Gaming for mobile
In 2023, the online gaming market is anticipated to transform thanks to cloud service providers. Gamers can stream gaming videos directly from the server using cloud gaming services that deliver material from the cloud to a gaming device. Connections happen quickly, and responsiveness is comparable to a local copy of the game.
However, the loading times can be reduced due to the upgrade of mobile internet technology; corporations like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been at the forefront of this shift towards cloud streaming platforms for the time being. But as fiber broadband & 5G mobile internet become more widespread, technological limitations will progressively disappear.
Cloud streaming can transform the mobile gaming sector by eliminating the need for hardware-dependent game development lifecycles.
Blockchain-based Mobile Gaming
As most of the games remain desktop games, blockchain gaming hasn’t taken off on mobile yet, but that will change in 2023. Furthermore, the mobile gaming sector is being disrupted because blockchain games exist, regardless of their platform.
Blockchain games introduce the ideas of ownership and earning. Games that reward players for playing and contributing to the game’s environment are known as “play-to-earn” games. Also, users control all in-game objects, even in some instances, in-game land. Mobile games are increasingly utilizing this approach, and several publishers are coming out with blockchain games.
When playing traditional mobile games, the game publishers would own every object, including any items players bought. Another improvement brought by blockchain gaming is that users never had a say in developing a mobile game. The goal of blockchain gaming is complete decentralization.
Publishers should be aware of this new trend and capitalize on it because the future of mobile gaming is headed towards blockchain technology.
The Metaverse is here for Mobile Gaming!
There is tremendous enthusiasm for the video game’s metaverse debut. Numerous game developers have already started to carve out their best and first opportunities in metaverse gaming. In addition, the use of metaverse technology in numerous fields is expanding daily.
It still affects the mobile video game business as it is currently one of the most talked about trends. By 2027, the market for metaverse video games is expected to be worth 710.21 billion.
Whether centralized or decentralized, metaverse video games are unquestionably growing in popularity, furthermore, the market forecast indicates that this phenomenon will continue well until 2023.

Mobile Gaming and the arrival of 5G!
The most powerful cellular network available today, the 5G network, allows practically everything and everyone to stay connected. Its strongest feature is its ability to produce peak data rates of multiple Gbps, and it has a remarkably low latency rate.
Mobile gaming is just one of the many industries that 5G internet could disrupt because it ensures high speeds with minimal latency, ensuring the gamers experience no lag during gameplay.

Conclusion
By the end of 2023, there will be more than 3.07 billion mobile gamers worldwide, as per industry experts. It’s safe to state that the industry for mobile gaming is rising and will keep doing so. Therefore, observing what this year delivers and how it affects the mobile gaming business would be interesting.