As the mobile gaming landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear - AI-powered apps are revolutionizing the industry. With the rise of competitive mobile gaming, esports organizations are taking notice and adapting their strategies to reach this lucrative market.
In the past two years, mobile gaming has experienced a significant surge in popularity, driven by the pandemic-fueled increase in idle fingers. The global player base increased by 12% between 2019 and 2020 alone. This growth is projected to persist post-pandemic, making it an attractive target for esports organizations.
The Southeast Asian market, in particular, has seen a staggering 87% saturation of mobile gaming, with the region's gamers skewing younger than their global counterparts. This presents a unique opportunity for esports teams to tap into this demographic and capitalize on their affinity for mobile gaming.
Riot Games' League of Legends: Wild Rift is leading the charge in mobile esports, with adaptations like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile gaining popularity. Esports organizations are following suit by adding mobile players to their rosters, recognizing the potential for growth and revenue.
Immortals Gaming Club's signing of Du-hoon "Hoon" Jang, a Korean-born MOBA player, is a prime example of this trend. Jang started his career playing Mobile Legends but transitioned to Wild Rift when it opened beta access in late 2020. Immortals is investing in mobile-native content like Wild-Rift-themed Snapchat lenses to reach the younger demographic.
Other large esports organizations are also jumping on the bandwagon, with Andbox signing a full Call of Duty: Mobile team in June and Team SoloMid picking up a Free Fire squad in August. These moves signal a shift towards AI-powered mobile gaming, which is expected to continue growing in popularity.
As AI-powered apps become increasingly prevalent, it's clear that mobile esports will play a significant role in the industry's future. With the potential for crossover between casual mobile gamers and more traditional esports fans, there are opportunities for growth and revenue.
In conclusion, the rise of AI in mobile apps presents a new frontier for esports organizations to explore. By adapting their strategies to reach this lucrative market, they can capitalize on the growth of competitive mobile gaming and tap into the younger demographic's affinity for mobile gaming.