Games

2025 Games Industry Predictions Part 1

BBG News

Looking ahead, the growth trend in the gambling sector appears poised to reach new heights by 2025, bringing forth a wave of groundbreaking advancements and shifting trends. The integration of AI, cloud gaming, enhanced chipsets on portable devices, and an increasing number of games being developed promise a future for mobile gaming that is bursting with potential. Although we have our own assumptions about what lies ahead, some prominent figures in the Gaming Industry are eager to share their intriguing predictions for 2025, which I will outline below.

Joaquin Montesclaros

Marketing Creative Director, Gameloft for Brands

Prediction for 2025: Intersection of Games & Brands

In the thrilling intersection of games and commercial brands lies a unique chance to reinvent interaction, as today’s children, born into the digital age, swiftly consume or dismiss content like never before. The challenge for game creators is twofold: captivating young minds and gaining the confidence of cautious parents.

Let’s envision games that truly capture a brand’s spirit while aligning with contemporary goals – storytelling that tackles real-life issues. By combining our efforts, we can utilize the strength of our communities, expanding our reach and creating memorable shared adventures. With artificial intelligence leading the way, we can elevate involvement by turning interactions into games, unveiling exciting new possibilities. The advent of 5G technology and cloud gaming will break down barriers such as bulky downloads, making it effortless for brands to integrate into enjoyable, immersive mobile experiences. As blockchain and NFTs become more mainstream, we have the chance to revolutionize ownership and worth in gaming, equipping the future generation with the know-how to thrive in a digital era.

Instead of focusing solely on games or logos, let’s work towards building a synergistic alliance that lifts both entities, providing valuable experiences for our audience without compromising our principles. By collaborating, we can produce more than just content; we can establish an enduring impact that transcends the digital world and influences real-life situations positively.

Andrew Mattingly

Founder/ Director, NineZyme

Prediction for 2025: The visibility challenge for developers

At present, I’m not overflowing with ideas to discuss. Nevertheless, I believe the main hurdle that game creators will consistently face is making their games visible to the general populace, as well as specialized market segments.

In essence, the marketplaces for iOS and Android apps continue to be largely controlled by popular games that have already established a strong presence among audiences. It’s quite challenging for smaller studios to get their new games noticed in these prominent spots, even when they offer top-notch quality. With thousands of new games being released each month, the majority end up overlooked due to the sheer volume of competition.

Therefore, it’s crucial and advantageous for sites and enterprises similar to yours to assist in boosting visibility for those who might not typically appear on the first pages of Apple or Google search results. This could be due to unfavorable algorithms or financial constraints that prevent us from purchasing placement.

Ilya Gutov

CEO, Meridian Play

Prediction for 2025: Mobile game developers and publishers may face significant challenges

By 2025, mobile game creators and distributors may encounter various significant hurdles. Initially, intensified rivalry from established giants who can afford substantial promotional expenses will escalate competition within an expanding market.

Moving forward, the task of acquiring users across multiple platforms becomes more intricate, necessitating tailored marketing approaches to engage players effectively. Furthermore, developers must adapt their revenue models to align with evolving player preferences, all while ensuring profitability. This could pose challenges for smaller studios due to resource limitations, potentially hindering their ability to expand internationally and execute extensive marketing initiatives.

To prosper in the mobile gaming industry over time, independent developers should guard their unique ideas (intellectual property) when collaborating with others. It’s essential to keep abreast of technological advancements so you can leverage data analytics for enhancing user acquisition and game efficiency. Moreover, keeping an eye on regulatory changes impacting mobile apps is crucial as they may shape market tendencies, necessitating developers to remain vigilant and adaptable.

Taewon Yun

SVP & Head of Game Strategy, NCSoft

Prediction for 2025: AI, Discovery, IP, and Meta game drive the mobile game market

Key concepts I’ve been pondering for the year 2025 are Artificial Intelligence (AI), Discovery, Intellectual Property (IP), and Meta game. These four elements are instrumental in driving the evolution of the mobile game market. Initially, AI has advanced to a stage where it empowers small teams to swiftly develop smaller games, thereby democratizing the market. However, this could exacerbate existing challenges related to discovery on distribution platforms. As a result, established studios will need to adapt in two distinct ways:

1. By leveraging AI and other advanced technologies to improve their own game development processes and stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.
2. By focusing on creative and innovative strategies to stand out amidst the growing number of games being developed, ensuring that their titles remain discoverable and engaging for players.

1. One approach is using established intellectual properties to boost the initial popularity of the games.

2. Another strategy involves investing more effort into creating mechanisms for including meta-games within our games, which could enhance user interaction and potentially improve revenue per download.

Oliviero Camilleri and Dani Rovin

BD Manager and Account Manager, Gamelight

Prediction for 2025: User acquisition and Rewarded UA

2025 user acquisition is characterized by swift advancements and flexibility. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape, especially in gaming promotions, as it reduces time and costs while boosting personalization on a large scale. Although AI tools are continuously refining their aesthetics, they are effectively simplifying the generation of highly customized content and predictive analytics, thus increasing user engagement and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).

The use of Rewarded User Acquisition (UA) is becoming increasingly crucial, fueled by the growing trend of hybrid monetization methods among mobile apps. This transition has escalated competition for ad space and boosted the popularity of rewarded marketing platforms. These platforms are particularly effective at attracting a wide range of users and optimizing multiple revenue sources simultaneously.

As more mobile apps adopt mixed-earning strategies, Rewarded User Acquisition (UA) has become very important. This change has made it tougher for app developers to get ad space and has made rewarded marketing platforms popular. These platforms are good at attracting different types of users and managing multiple ways to make money.

The strategy of Rewarded User Acquisition (UA) is gaining traction, thanks to the increasing number of apps using hybrid monetization methods. This change has led to more competition for ad space and a rise in popularity for rewarded marketing platforms. These platforms excel at engaging various user groups and maximizing revenue from multiple sources.

More apps are using mixed-earning strategies, which makes Rewarded User Acquisition (UA) important. This change has made it harder for app developers to get ad space and has made rewarded marketing platforms popular. These platforms do well at attracting different types of users and managing multiple ways to make money.

Regardless of persistent issues such as privacy laws, increasing costs per impression, and diminishing ad effectiveness, the user acquisition (UA) ecosystem persistently evolves and expands. In response to this competitive and rapidly changing environment, a marketing approach centered around privacy protection, utilizing first-party data and contextual advertising, is becoming increasingly popular among UA managers. This strategy empowers them to navigate successfully in this complex, dynamic marketplace.

Adam Smart

Global Director of Product – Gaming, Apps Flyer

Prediction for 2025: Valve OS into PC, seamless cross-platform experiences, Out of store payments, and others

Why Valve’s Move into PC Gaming Handhelds Is a Big Deal

Valve’s move to introduce SteamOS on Lenovo Legion Go isn’t just a technical upgrade; it signals a direction the gaming industry is taking. Portable PC gaming devices are establishing their unique niche, shaping an environment that seems tailor-made for gamers. Unlike iOS and Android, originally not developed with gaming in mind, innovations like SteamOS are redefining the rules—figuratively speaking.

This is significant due to the fact that it encompasses more than merely the physical components. It’s about creating a harmonious environment that ensures smooth access, enhanced functionality, and a gaming-centric experience. For individuals active in the gaming sphere, particularly developers and businesses, this transformation merits careful observation. It signifies the importance of adapting to these gamer-oriented tendencies—not just for staying current, but for flourishing within this dynamic environment. However, this isn’t the sole trend influencing the scene.

Key Trends to Watch in 2025

  • “Play Anywhere” Revolution: Gamers increasingly expect seamless cross-platform experiences, pushing developers to prioritize accessibility and integration across PC, console, and mobile.
  • The Rise of Steam and Switch 2: Steam is dominating handheld gaming, while Nintendo’s Switch 2 promises innovation and backward compatibility, further solidifying hybrid console gaming.
  • Performance Marketing Meets PC and Console: As the line blurs between mobile and traditional gaming, free-to-play models and user acquisition strategies are becoming vital for PC and console developers.
  • Niche Creators Reshape UGC: A shift from global influencers to niche creators is redefining community engagement with personalized, authentic content.
  • “Out of store payments” 2025 is shaping up to be the year of developers taking out of store payments to the next level by giving players more payment options in game.

After a tough season, the industry is gearing up for strength and continuous expansion, opening doors for advancement and possibilities. The upcoming year 2025 seems significant in the gaming world, as developers, providers, and artists are adapting to transform in response to changing player preferences and market trends.

Paulo Trezentos

CEO & Co-founder, Aptoide

Predictions for 2025: iOS App Store, Google’s Lowered Friction, and expansion of Third-Party App Stores on Google Play

2025 promises significant changes for the mobile gaming sector, fueled primarily by regulatory adaptations and shifting market patterns. Here’s a glimpse of what I foresee as likely developments:

1. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) games will surge in popularity, offering immersive experiences to gamers.
2. The rise of cloud-based gaming will enable seamless gameplay across various devices, without the need for high-end hardware.
3. Mobile esports will become a major revenue stream, with tournaments attracting large audiences and lucrative sponsorship deals.
4. Social gaming platforms will integrate more deeply with other social media networks, allowing for easier sharing of gaming experiences.
5. The industry will increasingly prioritize inclusivity, with developers creating games that cater to diverse audiences, including those with disabilities.
6. Mobile payments and subscriptions will dominate the monetization strategies, providing gamers with flexible options to access their favorite titles.
7. Privacy concerns will lead to stricter regulations regarding user data collection and protection, ensuring a safer gaming environment for all players.

The Opening of iOS App Stores in the UK and Japan

As a result of Apple needing to establish iOS app markets in the UK and Japan because of new laws, developers will find themselves with unparalleled chances to connect with audiences directly. This change might spur tougher competition, stimulate advancements in how apps are found and financed, and potentially offer developers more advantageous revenue-splitting deals.

Google’s Lowered Friction on Android

Due to the demands posed by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google might streamline Android processes, aiming to lessen complications for both developers and users. This change could foster a more open and competitive marketplace, inspiring the expansion of various app distribution methods and advantageously impacting smaller developers who have faced obstacles due to existing limitations.

The Expansion of Third-Party App Stores on Google Play

According to Judge Donato’s groundbreaking ruling, Google may permit multiple third-party app markets to function alongside Google Play. This move aims to broaden the range of options for users and encourages developers to explore different income streams and promotional tactics.

These modifications signal the dawn of a fresh chapter characterized by openness and competition in the mobile gaming scene. This shift offers developers increased creative liberty, ensuring that gamers benefit from enhanced gameplay and a broader array of content. Navigating and seizing these evolving opportunities will be a key task for players within the industry.

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2025-01-15 23:11

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