Analyst: Mobile to be gaming’s primary platform by 2016

Mobile devices will become the gaming industry’s dominant platform in the next three years, according to analysis firm Juniper Research.

Juniper predicts consumers worldwide will spend $3.03bn on mobile games in 2016.

The company highlights tablets as the driving force, stating that they’re taking over where dedicated hardware would normally be used thanks to 3G/4G connections and more free-to-play offerings.

Major markets expected to be heavy influences include North America, China and the Far East, which add up to 86 per cent of 2016’s predicted total spend.

The figure is a bit awe-inspiring, especially when compared to the $301m consumers spent on mobile gaming in 2012. If Juniper’s estimate comes to fruition, it would mean a tenfold sales growth in just four years for the already sizable platform.